RE: [Paddlewise] Part-Day Tour Inspired Comments/Questions... (LONG)

Hi Jack and All,

Oh boy here we go again.  I'll take the extremely unpopular commercial side
of this.  I have my nomex undies on so flame away.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net
> [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net]On Behalf Of JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com

>
> <3.  How much rescue recovery training should people get in
> general for an outing like this?  we got none, and I don't know
> yet if my friends would have liked some or if ignorance was bliss?>
>
>

I have been leading tours ranging from 1 to 14 days as well as teaching
classes since 1988.  I have  a good safety record.  In those years I have
taken thousands of first time paddlers out and brought them all back, and
most of them (on tours) as dry as when they left.  I have a reputation for
getting folks very wet in classes as I like to teach rescues in a variety of
conditions not just in a pool.

> Any commercial outfitter that knowingly puts first-timers in
> decked boats on open water without some comprehensive wet exit
> and group and individual rescue training does not, in my opinion,
> deserve to be in business.  It's an accident waiting to happen,
> and the company is displaying unconscionable behavior.

If you mean pre trip discussion I agree, If you mean in water clases I
disagree.

I wonder if you could point me to examples of clients that were not rescued
by their guides on commercial trips?  I believe there was an incident in
Canada a few years back that resulted in one or more fatalities and there
was an incident here in WA where a group was rescued by a ferry.  How often
are clients not being rescued by guides in the event of a capsize?

This, in my opinion, is like requiring all airline passengers to have jump
training.  Or perhaps more like making wale watch tours do man overboard
drills.  Drivers education doesn't include skid school, or victim extraction
in the event of a crash.  It is the guides job to keep the group in safe and
manageable conditions, and to keep new paddlers out of conditions where a
capsize is likely.  Yes I know that a capsize can happen in calm water 2
feet from shore but it isn't likely.  Risk can't be eliminated, so we try to
reduce it to an acceptable level and manage it responsibly.  Believe me when
I lead a tour I feel extremely responsible for the well being of my clients.
They have put their faith in me and I don't take that lightly.

During my pre tour talk I always discuss the possibility of capsize and what
to do if it happens, how to exit the boat, and how a rescue will be handled
if it happens.  I generally use singles for my tours so capsize is more
likely than with outfitters that use only doubles.  Even in singles it is
unusual for me to have a capsize on a tour.  Some years I have a couple of
clients capsize and others I have none.  The boats I use are all easy to
enter and exit and I use skirts that will blow off the cockpit very easily,
they will not keep the paddler attached to the boat even if they forget to
pull the skirt.

Entrapment in the boat is hard to achieve, it is usually more difficult to
get new paddlers to stay in the boat for roll lessons than it is to get them
to exit.  I have seen students exit the boat and not even get their hair wet
because they bailed out so quickly.

I agree that some outfitters are better than others and I have seen some
shake and bake outfits, but the high volume of people taking tours, and the
low number of fatalities indicates to me the problem isn't very large.
People shouldn't be afraid to ask questions of an outfitter before signing
up for a tour.  How much experience does the guide have? Has he led this
trip before? What is the guide to boat ratio? Am I likely to capsize? I have
no experience, is this tour appropriate for me?


I agree that a guide should discuss capsize procedure before ever putting
clients on the water.  A guide should be so comfortable with rescues that
they can do them in their sleep in conditions far worse than they would ever
take their clients in.  But most importantly a guide should understand
conditions that are likely to cause a capsize in the first place and reduce
exposure to them.

Regarding the foot braces.  I either check the footbrace adjustment myself
of have an assistant check the braces pre launch.  I also tell clients that
they can be re-adjusted on the water.  I always tell clients that if they
have any questions or are uncomfortable with any aspect of the tour they
should speak with one of the guides; we really are there to help.

The perception of safety is also a relative thing.  I know I have had
clients that were very nervous in conditions that were extremely safe, and I
have also heard tales from paddlers that were in way over their heads that
weren't nervous at all.  Fear is a funny thing.

So there you have it, my Monday morning rant.  I hope you all have a fun and
safe week and spend more time in your boats than in front of a monitor.

Cheers,

Rob Cookson

 "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"
Benjamin Franklin






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