Been following this thread and I have a few observations, sea kayaking need not be expensive: I have built several skin on frame kayaks for under well under $100 each, I could probably do it for less if I had more time to salvage materials. I have made native style paddles from scrap lumber and have made a lot of the other gear for me and my family for next to nothing. Yes it is a lot of work to make the gear, but I enjoy the creative break where I can work with my hands (beats watching TV in the evenings). Besides, if I did not we could not afford it. We have purchased used wet suits at garage sales and used equipment stores for $5 to $25. The only thing I will not compromise on is a PFD, especially for the kids, but I have picked up good ones on-sale for only $35. (It occurred to me to make one but it would not be USCG approved and why bother for only $35). I have also purchased used canoes and kayak (that need repairs of course) for only $20. I consider sea kayaking, once you have all of your gear, like hiking and wilderness camping, one of the least expensive outdoor activities we can do as a family. A lot less expensive than skiing for example, even after you own all of your gear, it cost my family over $100/day just for lift tickets (one reason we have not gone as a family for the last few years). Even car camping fees have become pretty costly. In fact sea kayaking one of the least expensive ways to get on the water in a serious way. Even if you paid retail for everything you need for safe sea kayaking you would spend less money than just about any other type of boating outfit. (and I am not talking about the department store variety of inflatable boats, yes we have owned them too but I would never attempt any long distance travel, or even overnight travel, in one. They are just play boats). An observation on minorities (not necessary for anyone to comment): I have had close friends of nearly every race since highschool with whom I have enjoyed all kinds of outdoor activities: Rock climbing, mountaineering, sailing, canoeing, sea kayaking, skiing (both X-C and downhill), mountain biking, skin/SCUB diving and others. They were of MexicanAmerican, Japanese-American, Jewish-American, and of course European backgrounds among others. But I have never had the opportunity to even see one African-American in any of these activities (except perhaps D/H skiing, though even that is rare) and I have always wondered why for I can see no reason for it. They are often such good athletes is so many other sports, why not outdoor sports too? I can only guess it is cultural. I do not mean to imply that there are not any, I just have never seen any over the last 30+ years of being active in these sports. Perhaps some of the clubs in the large cities could start making efforts to attract these minorities, like coordinating lessons or beginner paddles with inner city rec. departments, posting flyers inviting kids and their families from these neighborhoods to meetings and events. And by all means, make them feel welcome! Peter *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Peter makes a very good point. There was an organization in a Economic - Upper Middle and Upper Class community that targeted "At Risk Youth". These kids were at risk for: drugs, gangs, violence, etc. JoAnn and I along with a lot of other people volunteered evenings to open the club up as a safe haven for the kids in the community. It was amazing that many of their parents just didn't care what they were doing. Observation - Culture, Race and Economic status did not seem to matter. Some of the kids just had more money to get into trouble with. Example: Two Kids (Gang Members) arrested transporting Cocaine for sale in Daddy's Lexus 400 - Car Confiscated and Kids Now Felons. Someone made a point that sea kayaking does not need to be expensive. He went on to say that he had made much of the equipment at a very low cost (Forgive me, I can't remember who and I deleted as I read this morning.) so his family could all participate. Combine the two and you have an excellent program for any one who might be interested in learning to sea kayak. Think of the pride of accomplishment that these people would experience in addition to the new skills gained and history learned. I believe that I would have been far better off building my first kayak rather than swapping my touring bike for one that I knew nothing about. Fred At 03:23 PM 9/27/2000 -0700, Peter A. Chopelas wrote: >Perhaps some of the clubs in the large cities could start making efforts to >attract these minorities, like coordinating lessons or beginner paddles >with inner city rec. departments, posting flyers inviting kids and their >families from these neighborhoods to meetings and events. And by all >means, make them feel welcome! > >Peter *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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