How long were the two Victoria victims in the water before one went under and the other was rescued? Courses widely advertized and promoted are good. Course certificates can be helpful. My argument is that all sources of information are not speaking with the same voice. I believe this is a critically important flaw in the marine information stream. I believe that most of the low end paddlers that are getting into trouble come to rec boat paddling from the "Tin Boat" culture that follows the USCG advice to dress in layers, keep their clothes on if the are over the side, and "huddle" motionless until help magically appears. Picture two circles that contain all small craft boaters (tin boats for fishermen, kayaks-canoes for trained paddlers). Give the paddlers one circle and color it green (Ridge safety rating system). Give the tin-boat folks the other circle and color it RED. Let the tin-boat circle overlap a little into the Green circle. Make the overlap RED to indicate tin-boat people that get the idea one day that it would be fun to try one of those REC boats-SOOO easy, ya see!) Our courses etc, as before, ain't reaching these folks. Until the tin boat magazines, small open boat training programs, fishing clubs, teach the red circle people the same message that we provide the GREEN circle people, we will continue to have an ample supply of VICTORIA-type cases. This isn't promoting regulations; it's getting everyone to speak the same language relative to open water boating. NONE of the RED circle people have ever heard of fuzzy rubber. Most victims with such gear and a PFD would end up listed as survivors. It would be a vast new income stream for folks that manufacture that stuff. WHY AREN'T THEY INTERESTED? I just don't understand. Chuck Sutherland *************************************************************************** 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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