Peter wrote: On one hand I think that all of the gear is a good thing. On the other hand, most of it is a means of getting outside assistance. I have to wonder if it wouldn't be better put more emphasis on taking measures so that you don't need assistance from outside your group. Kevin Wrote: I have no problems with it, if your diligent, and things do happen to the most experienced, but if your in real trouble, help out with a star flare, smoke, or whatever. It's not fair to have a large group of people searching who knows how many square miles of ocean for you with no clue where you might be. I would add that most SAR groups would rather rescue a live person than retrieve a lifeless body. I have to believe it is cheaper overall to rescue someone that has signaling gear then to have to search and search with only the most vague of ideas as to a victims location. Please understand I have the same mixed feelings as Peter. I question myself every time I go paddling. In the end the gear wins out based on Murphy's Universal Laws. "If I bring it, I won't need it. If on the other hand I leave it at home, it could mean seriously bad mojo." I would rather have a novice over-equipped and alive than under-equipped and dead. I can teach the novice about safety and seamanship but only as long as he's breathing. Jed *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Sep 11 2002 - 09:50:47 PDT
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