The idea that a person in a boat -- any kind of boat -- should exit that boat to rescue someone in the water strikes me as wrong. I have been an MOB in cold December waters in Eastern Long Island Sound, without a PFD (but I am a good swimmer), and I can tell you for certain that it can become a very very frightening situation, much faster than one might think. I would not want to risk my own life by getting into the water to aid a swimmer. If it were a loved on, well, all rules are forgotten. But otherwise, no. I agree with the notion of paddling to them and trying to calm them to the point that they could hold on to the kayak. If possible, I would paddle slowly to the dock. If not, I would use some communication method to summon additional help. I might throw them my PFD, if I was close enough that I *knew* I could swim to shore if I had to. I might try to inflate a paddle float and throw them that. But I would not get out of the boat voluntarily. Mark *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Aug 17 2000 - 13:10:02 PDT
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