Ralph wrote --- <BTW, don't use the word "bow" even with English speakers. You and I know what it is but lots of people don't. ..... Keep it simple...say "front".> In the Navy, we called it the pointy end. At least that's what we aviators called it, usually to upset the "surface warfare" types who still liked to refer to that bit as the bow. But, in our case, "pointy end" is risky, too. <Also its strange to throw a PFD unless the person is entangled in a strainer of some sort and you want to avoid getting snared yourself. ..... A line on the PFD would help control that and allow several throw attempts.> I'm going to help, Chuck, but, like Ralph, I'm not going to throw my PFD. It's more important to me than it is to "us" --- the rescuee and me. I'm his ticket out of there, and I'm keeping my PFD, rescue equipment and all. If you put your bow in his face, my guess is that the victim is going to see something bouyant in front of him and grab without waiting a second. (I've even seen that reaction during mega-swim supports with competitive swimmers in a near-panic state --- they'll hang on to the bow!) The risk is that they'll think they can climb aboard. Which is when you want that lethal paddle tip coming at them. How many of us, I wonder, routinely carry a solid foam paddle float rigged on deck for quick use in a case like this? I don't always, but usually will have it under the aft deck bungies. If it's tethered by a line --- or if the thrown PFD had been tethered --- is the line long enough for safe distance from the victim and the danger area, and how many of us have a quick release cam lock on the foredeck so that we can drag someone away from or out of a strainer? Or an integrated tow line or contact tow in our PFDs? And have we practiced using it? Just some thoughts, following up on Chuck's report and Ralph's response. Jack Martin --- just finishing his homework for his first class at UM, wishing he were at the DelMarVa Paddlers' Retreat instead ... *************************************************************************** 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 Sat Oct 07 2000 - 03:45:30 PDT
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