Pete, You stated: An individual paddler is always 100% responsible for their own actions. Excuses (my boat is too short or it's just a S-O-T and not fast enough) don't cut it. We, as the legal (and moral) master of a vessel, must accept all responsibility for that craft and crew (of one or two). I don't mean that at all! Everyone gets used to their boat and develops the skills necessary to control it. The point Bill and I were trying to make was that the amount of effort and skill required to do this is different for each boat. A weather cocking boat is going to take a lot more of both to keep with a pack of hard tracking ones. The hard trackers are going to require more skill to turn in tight quarters. Yes, with developed techniques this becomes easier, but it is certainly more demanding. Many boats are ranked "beginner or expert" because of this. I accept the fact that I must be proficient paddler for my plastic boat to keep up with a fast fiberglass one. With the debate raging on skill levels, we MUST look at the individual's boat. Point: Don't classify a paddler's skill level or effort without looking at his vessel! There is a degree of difficulty involved. This forum is just another utility to help us master our vessels. Tim Boat'n in the Ozarks *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Dec 04 2000 - 09:48:37 PST
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