In a recent posting, Melissa mentioned a fellow that stood up in his kayak to exit onto a dock... providing all in attendance with a good laugh. She said " luckily he did not hit his head on the dock while disappearing into the murky depths" This put me in mind of a recent back channel tip that I gave someone. One of the first safety rules that I learned was to put on my PFD before I even approach the water. I had read that more people injure themselves launching and exiting on land than they do in most other boating incidents, and when I slipped on a cement boat ramp and fell into the water I was lucky on two counts...That I only whacked my elbow and not my head...And that I had read that tip about starting out in your PFD. As a fairly new kayaker I find the ongoing information shared on this list to be often amusing and invaluable to those of us just "getting our feet wet". Thanks to all who contribute! Rob Dee Austin, Texas *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 3/14/01 11:25:13 AM, plz_at_swbell.net writes: << I had read that more people injure themselves launching and exiting on land than they do in most other boating incidents, and when I slipped on a cement boat ramp >> My own take on this is that the getting in and out is that it is the event most likely to provide humor and embarrassment. The first time I paddled a glass boat we stopped at a pebbly beach and I didn't want to scratch the boat. I had never perfected the behind-the-cockpit exits and I was unable to get my leg up because the cockpit was smaller than I was used to with my plastic boat. I ended up literally flipping the boat on its side as my paddle slid away from me. I had to slither out of the now swamped boat much to the amusement of the guys fishing on the pier. Joan *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Absolutely, and not just for kayaks. I've been tempted to bring a video camera to the local boat ramp to capture some footage for one of those "real TV" sort of shows. With all the trouble mentioned getting into and out of kayaks, I think the bigger, trailer boats still take the cake for foolish things happening getting into and out of the water. Good ammo to bolster yourself next time you worry about embarrassing yourself in front of other boaters while getting into a kayak.... I've seen trailers not hooked correctly, so as they try to pull the trailer away from boat and out of the water, the trailer unhooks and stays in the water. I've also seen someone get their boat on the trailer (pulled on with winch), but forget to set the one way ratchet on the winch. As they pull out, the winch unwinds, the boat falls off the back of the trailer, and is dragged up the boat ramp. And of course, just watching most people try to back a trailer down a ramp. or trying to launch at low tide when there isn't any more ramp... And I've done my share too. paddling along in an estuary with my daughter on my lap. peaceful, calm, smooth water. Paddle back to shore, brace myself and swing one leg out to start climbing out, only to realize my leg has fallen asleep and I overturn as I try to put weight on a non functional leg. At this same location, I've had someone berate me for wearing a PFD, all the time going on about how he likes to run class 4 rivers.... So approach the water with a bit of care, humility, and some spare, dry clothes close at hand. Anything you do to return safe and sound is a good thing, and realize that even with the best precautions, you will have days when you are playing the fool for someone else's amusement. Get over it, laugh along with everyone else. JSpinner_at_aol.com wrote: > My own take on this is that the getting in and out is that it is the event > most likely to provide humor and embarrassment. -- Dave Uebele (daveu_at_sptddog.com) Spotted Dog Systems http://sptddog.com/daveu.html *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 11:18 AM 3/14/01 -0800, Dave Uebele wrote: >Absolutely, and not just for kayaks. I've been tempted to bring a video >camera to the local boat ramp to capture some footage for one >of those "real TV" sort of shows. When I was a kid we used go to a campground/marina in the Sacramento/San Joaquin river delta. Next to the two lane boat ramp they had built some bleachers where one could watch people load their power boats after a long day of drinking beer. It was highly entertaining. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
>One of the first safety rules that I learned was to put on my PFD before >I even approach the water. Even more important, wear a seat belt while driving to the put-in. We had to go to the national sea kayaking forum last weekend - past one fatal and one near fatal vehicle accident, plus also the Paddlewiser who recently had a vehicle accident. The near fatal accident happened an hour before we got to it - a milk tanker up a tree!!! Imagine something like a Mack truck with the front 15-20 foot up a tree!!!!! Wear your seat belt while driving. Alex . . Alex (Sandy) Ferguson Chemistry Department University of Canterbury New Zealand *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> One of the first safety rules that I learned was to put on my PFD before > I even approach the water. Even more important, wear a seat belt while driving to the put-in. We had to go to the national sea kayaking forum last weekend - past one fatal and one near fatal vehicle accident, (plus also the Paddlewiser who recently had a vehicle accident) - getting dangerous out there on the road. The near fatal accident happened an hour before we got to it - a milk tanker up a tree!!! Imagine something like a Mack truck with the front 15-20 foot up a tree!!!!! Wear your seat belt while driving. Alex . . Alex (Sandy) Ferguson Chemistry Department University of Canterbury New Zealand *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> > One of the first safety rules that I learned was to put on my PFD before > > I even approach the water. > >Even more important, wear a seat belt while driving to the put-in. (and from) AND don't forget your sunscreen! Hal *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
No wonder you're all bumping into each other -- you drive on the wrong side of the road! ;) >We had >to go to the national sea kayaking forum last weekend - past one fatal and >one near fatal vehicle accident, -- getting dangerous out there on the >road. > >The near fatal accident happened an hour before we got to it - a milk >tanker up a tree!!! Imagine something like a Mack truck with the front >15-20 foot up a tree!!!!! > >Alex (Sandy) Ferguson >Chemistry Department >University of Canterbury >New Zealand > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
MP - >No wonder you're all bumping into each other -- you drive on the wrong >side of the road! Actually a large part of the world drives on the same side as us including the major car manufactures if you consider the Japanese major. Population numbers, Japan and India alone make up a hefty number.... The two accidents I mentioned, a woman (in a 4WD vehicle) drove over a cliff on an easy bend after a very tight section and just before another VERY slow section (100 metres between the 2 sections). We saw the wreck being recovered about 8.00 p.m. The "professional" tanker driver rolled the empty tanker on a straight section of road just after coming out of a speed restricted area, 9.00 p.m. on a Monday !!!!!!?????? Accidents by foreigners make up about 1% and as they surely are less than 1% of the drivers, not a good record, though our officials didn't look at the numbers that way (1% - not a big number). Often the froreign drivers aren't used to the narrow windy roads or at times, gravel roads. There was one section, recently sealed, where the foreign accident rate was about 50% of the accidents on that road and it was not a popular road for tourism i.e. not a major route. Also remember that Japanese drive on the same side of the road as us though they have the advantage back home of always having someone in front to follow where as here there might not be another car on the same road for an hour. Alex . . Alex (Sandy) Ferguson Chemistry Department University of Canterbury New Zealand *************************************************************************** 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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