[Paddlewise] Incident at Boat Ramp

I had a wonderful time Sunday  kayaking with my 9 year old daughter along


the Columbia River here in Oregon.  We launched using the


public access boat ramp near St. Helens, Oregon.


Unfortunately,  a serious and potentially deadly incident occurred involving a

vehicle backing up to unload a boat.  Being that there is no other launch


facility at this particular site for kayaks, I used the boat ramp to unload


the kayak (as is common practice for the many kayakers there).... being very


careful not to cut in line, and staying to the far side of the ramp... I was
trying to stay out


of the way of the boaters.  It was not possible to use the docks as there were
other 


kayakers and boaters using up all of the space on the docks.








I unloaded all the stuff successfully keeping everything in the kayak, and


quickly parked the car.  On the way back as I quickly walked back to the


ramp, a person in a vehicle towing a large boat asked if I was launching the


kayak to go out.  I said, yes.. indeed I was, and just needed to get a few


things ready and we would soon be gone and out of his way.  I went back down
to


the kayak and began to snap up my daughters PFD.  Suddenly -- without ANY


warning -- the guy with the big boat began backing down the boat ramp.  His


wife was right near the boat (she was apparently suppose to give him


directions)... but never gave any signs of trouble.  The boat went over the


top of my kayak and the blades of the propeller were going right towards my


daughter.  I yelled and waved my arms the whole time, but the guy seemed to


ignore my warnings!!  FINALLY he stopped (thank God) when the blades of the


boat were only about a foot away from doing some serious injuries to both me


and my daughter ... however my new kayak sustained a major slash on the top


from the blades of the boat.  The boater didn't seem very concerned nor did 


he seem very sorry.. however he did blame his wife for not telling him when to
stop.   














Now, I've been into water sports for over 15 years...


been around enough wacko boaters, sneaky barges, intrusive ships, kooky jet
skiers, and crazed


windsurfers to know all of the dangers out there.... I've seen 'em all, and I
know what to watch out for.  However,


this was something that  was something out of the Twilight Zone.... something
so odd that it


would have even amazed  Rod Sterling.  This was WEIRD STUFF !!









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