Re: [Paddlewise] Deep Trouble with New Boat Purchases

----- Original Message ----- 


  ----Nonetheless, your point was that not enough people are buying


  the necessary equipment, and with that I agree 100%.  I met someone who


  has been paddling a small rec boat for about 3 years, and didn't even


  know what a paddle float was or why in the world you would ever need to


  pump a boat out!!!!!  Scary stuff.


        For a long time I have had the impression that many of these small
recreational boats are perceived by purchasers as gym machines, not boats.
For many of them it is just another kind of stairstepper for the upper body
and it gets them outside where they can breathe the good air...  A body of
water becomes to them perhaps a track around the park or a basketball court;
it is nothing more than a venue for exercise.  There is, ultimately, no
thought given to the act/practice of paddling in and for itself. 


        They start with a very different perception of the sport than we do.
Why and how should they know better?    Recreational kayak sales have zoomed
in recent years, but memberships in paddling clubs have not kept pace.  Their
interest and understanding is simply not there.  And, unfortunately,  I don't
think there's much we can do about that....









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