Re: [Paddlewise] St. Clement's Island; kayaker death

ralph said:

<snip>
I recall seeing discussion of a self-evaluation point system somewhere.
Basically, you take various variables of paddling conditions against
your
own preparedness in terms of skill, gear, etc.  You score yourself on
these
and come up with a figure.  If the figure of risk is too high, you then
either lower the risk elements of the paddling conditions or you add to
gear
and skill to compensate for it.  Some of these charts seem pretty
arbitrary,
and frankly, people who prepare them tend to lay the system out in a way

that supports their kind of skills and type of boat.
<snip>

Some of these rating systems are better than others. The most effective
use of these rating systems is to the new paddler, who upon reading over
one, may indeed realise just how many variables there are to contend
with at times.

One thought where other paddlers are present is a cognitive model, and
derives from 4 variables:

1. Environment
2. Experience Level
3. Group Dynamics
4. Rescue Equipment

If you draw a cross hair, and place each item above at the end of each
line, you have the model. Draw a small circle in the middle. If each
piece of the pie is equal, you are in the safe zone. You can expand the
circle, but must keep all factors equal. However, as the circle expands,
the situation isn't as tight. A sudden storm, a weak paddler, a dead
battery in a VHF radio, can all cause the circle to burst.

I should go to bed now.

Doug Lloyd

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