[Paddlewise] paid rescues?

As glad as I am that Jack's experience on Mt. Bachelor ended happily, I 
think he misses a vitally important distinction between on-the-water rescues 
and the kind of rescue he almost needed.

Jack made a concious decision to ignore postings warning him of the cost of 
his risky behavior.

One of the sea's greatest attractions is its very lack of lane markers 
(outside of harbors and other congested areas)and the freedom to venture 
where one pleases.  I can't imagine any tyro making a decision to risk his 
life.  Bad decision-making is based on lack of experience.  Conversely, much 
of our most valuable experience is based on past bad decision-making.  Some 
of us are more careful-lucky-blessed than others, apparently.

The high-handed rant from Down Under about paid rescues smacks of frat boy 
hazing mentality: "you have no business here until you've suffered the 
outrages I have."

Doug Lloyd's experience in his Storm Island account is common: most people 
resist summoning help until their situation is desperate.  Adding a 
financial disincentive can only further imperil the safety of a few.  Even 
if they are foolhardy and inexperienced,they're seeking what some of us are 
fortunate enough to have found.  Should they risk paying with their lives 
because they're reluctant to pay with their wallets?  The same inexperience 
that put them in danger's way may cause them to resist doing the sensible 
thing when it counts.

The Coast Guard is most directly comparable to police and fire services.  
Can you imagine the messes resulting from a user-pay system?  It's like 
insurance: we all contribute in advance, paying for the availability of 
services we fervently hope never to need.

Speaking of messes, I think we'd be asking to dive headlong into the same 
quagmire that represents our civil judicial system if we began to try to 
assess degrees of responsibility after the fact.  Aside from the legal 
wrangles, it would inevitably (and quickly) result in the same liability 
fears that already govern much conduct.  We could expect closed put-ins, 
high use fees, shoreside safety checks.  Should that happen, it'll be time 
for some of us to swap our boats for something that once again offers us a 
few hours of real freedom to make our own decisions and take our own risks.  
I'm confident I'll never need the services of the Coast Guard, just as I'm 
confident that I'll never make a claim on my fire insurance.  Just the same, 
I'm glad I have access to both.



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