Charles said: To Ralph Diaz, I don't think that "latte" paddlers setting out into 45 degree water with no safety equipment would think too much of Lloyd's equipment until they noticed...<snip> I suppose those new to paddling and this list must wander what's with all of this gear, technique, and safety equipment. After all, just check your weather, jump in your boat, stay close to shore, and simply paddle forward. What's with all this superfluous discussion anyway. If I was a new paddler, I'd certainly be scared off buying a closed deck kayak after reading PW recently. Heck, with all that reenter and roll business, knives, skirt entrapment, I'd even maybe stick to canoeing. Of course, larger-than-life incidents do happen, and death is a reality (as noted recently here). Where's the balance? I obviously can't answer that question. I just hope new paddlers don't take me too seriously. Though I'm deadly serious with what I do and why I do it, it is not the norm. When I direct info and examples to the list, it is for consideration of the individual components only, not the whole package. And don't ever depend on technology to save you. You need to save yourself, through developing skills, including seamanship and navigation. It would be nice to see some more of that on PW from time to time. The ability to read water, dump the go-no go modus operandi, and elect something more realistic like constant awareness and the ability to change plans on the move, are far more important matters than lots of safety gear. Do have a few back-ups however. You will regret it the day you need them, and don't have anything. And, if anyone wants to challenge me and my heavy Nordkapp to a race in heavy air/sea conditions on open water, drop me a line... Going back to lurker mode due to work load, DL *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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