[Paddlewise] Nearly Fatal

I see I could have saved myself some writing by reading ahead on the digests
that were already on my computer as may people had already made my points.
One of the troubles with the digest format is that I haven't been able to
figure out how to flag the individual posts so I can easily get back to the
ones I might want to respond to after I have gotten caught up on all the
post to date. It is so much easier to respond immediately (unfortunately I
may be several days behind the times). I would like to respond to some of
the later posts concerning our company, (Mariner Kayaks).



>Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 09:40:52 -0500
From: "John  Myers" <jmyers_at_longbranch.k12.nj.us>
Subject: [Paddlewise] nearly fatal

It seems a bit odd that manufacturer or dealer would sell a kayak lacking
adaquate flotation. The last boat I purchased [made by Wilderness Systems]
came with fore and aft float bags as standard equipment. An acquaintance,
new to the sport, purchased a Northwest Kayaks Sportee. This boat was
equipped with an aft hatch/bulkhead arrangement but there was no floatation
of any kind forward of the cockpit. I didn't discover this until the new
paddler had a few hours in the boat and when I pointed this out to him, he
expressed his surprise that the sales person hadn't mentioned the necessity
of floation in both ends of the boat. Said sales person had taken the time,
though, to convince him that a graphite paddle was essential. Mariner Kayaks
apparently do not supply float bags as standard equipment, either. But I
suppose if you've reached the Mariner level, you probably know all about
that stuff, anyway.
John<<

Since no store other than ours sell our kayaks and Cam and I are the only
employees in our store you can be sure that no customer who orders a kayak
from us and doesn't order the float bags for the end(s) of a kayak that
might need them doesn't get asked why he didn't order them. Sometimes they
inform me they have float bags already. In that case I question them further
about what size they are since there are a lot of float bags on the market
that are way too small to provide a maximum (or sometimes even adequate)
flotation.

>>Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 09:55:04 EST
From: Tomckayak_at_aol.com
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Mariner (was nearly fatal)

In a message dated 3/7/00 4:41:59 AM Pacific Standard Time,
jmyers_at_longbranch.k12.nj.us writes:

<< Mariner Kayaks
 apparently do not supply float bags as standard equipment, either. But I
 suppose if you've reached the Mariner level, you probably know all about
 that stuff, anyway. >>

By the time you pick up your new Mariner you will have received more then
enough  safety talk. If you think Matt's E-mails are long and informative
try
going into the shop and asking a question. That is if someone else has not
asked a question first, in that case you may have to cool your heels for a
half hour or so:)
Since they make kayaks without bulkheads, the need for Float bags is a
requirement that you pay for above the base price of the kayak.

I paddle a Mariner MAX  without hatches or permanent bulkheads.

Tom C.
Edmonds WA.<<

Thanks for the clarification Tom, but since your post could be
misinterpreted to mean we don't offer a bulkhead option as well, I would
like to make it clear that a rear bulkhead and hatch is also an option on
all our kayaks and front bulkhead is also an option on our Mariner II.
Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com


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