At this point I only have scetchy details but Ken Schaffer the owner of Biadarka Boats in Sitka died thrusday while paddling in Sitka. It appears that Ken suffered a medical problem of some sort. He was only a couple hundred feet outside of one of the boat harbors in Sitka. He was with some others paddlers when he decided to practice some rolls. He did a couple sucessfully but then on his last attempt stayed under for a while. When he did roll up he was coughing up water and posibility blood. He said he was o.k. and the group headed back to the harbor. Ken then flipped over and did not roll up. The harbor master anwered the distress call but Ken could not be revived. All this happened within a half mile radious of the coast guard station, the boat harbor and the hospital. Ken bought Biadarka Boats about a year ago. He had been a diary farmer in Vermont when he saw and add in a magazine (Sea Kayaker I think) about the Sitka kayak shop for sale. He said it was a dream come true to move to Alaska. Though he was a novice at kayaking he was able to expand the boat shop and was very liked amid the kayaking community of Sitka and southeast. He was single but I believe did have family back east. with sorrow Bob *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I began communicating with Ken right after he had taken over Baidarka Boats from Larry. He was very helpful and informative both calling me and E-mailing me with questions and answers that help us decide which boat was best for me. I ended up bying a Raid II from him and he continued to maintain contact to help me with accessories for the boat. I was so happy with his service I wrote Ralph Diaz to give a recommendation as a place to buy folding boats. I mourn his loss and send condolences to his friends and family. Phil Newton newbert_at_swbell.net Galveston, Tx "Rev. Bob Carter" wrote: > At this point I only have scetchy details but Ken Schaffer the owner of > Biadarka Boats in Sitka died thrusday while paddling in Sitka. It appears that > Ken suffered a medical problem of some sort. > > He was only a couple hundred feet outside of one of the boat harbors in > Sitka. He was with some others paddlers when he decided to practice some > rolls. He did a couple sucessfully but then on his last attempt stayed under > for a while. When he did roll up he was coughing up water and posibility > blood. He said he was o.k. and the group headed back to the harbor. Ken then > flipped over and did not roll up. The harbor master anwered the distress call > but Ken could not be revived. All this happened within a half mile radious of > the coast guard station, the boat harbor and the hospital. > > Ken bought Biadarka Boats about a year ago. He had been a diary farmer in > Vermont when he saw and add in a magazine (Sea Kayaker I think) about the > Sitka kayak shop for sale. He said it was a dream come true to move to Alaska. > Though he was a novice at kayaking he was able to expand the boat shop and was > very liked amid the kayaking community of Sitka and southeast. He was single > but I believe did have family back east. > > > > with sorrow > > Bob > *************************************************************************** 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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