Kait O'Hara - you have opened up a can of worms and you're hearing a lot of good stuff from fellow Paddlewisers. I will only speak to your saying "Mark Zen, a experienced paddler who is disabled, stated that he thought he could have really used sponsons; furthermore for the disabled they would be great." As with so many of your other comments, this one has no context. I, also, can describe myself as an experienced paddler who is disabled. But what in the world do you know from that? My opinion of my self as experienced counts for nothing without some details. And my disability was, in many ways, a huge advantage for me in racing because the lack of muscle in one leg makes me really light and, therefore, pretty fast. I would be nuts to speak for all disabled paddlers and anyone would be nuts to listen to me if I claimed to do so. The fact that most people think I'm nuts generally will be conveniently ignored here. Anyway, you're getting enough flak from paddlers who know more than I do about sponsons and speak to the idea better, so that's all I'll say. Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> From: "Kaitlin O'Hara" <kohara_at_potomacmgmt.com> > Hello, > > My name is Kait O'Hara. I believe Kirk Olsen may have written you about my > project. The U.S. Coast Guard has hired me to do a search for information > on sponson use in the paddling community. Why? I have yet to see you state the objective. <big snip> > Other Recommended Devices > > Langmaid suggested that there is no substitute for avoidance of dangerous > situations and solid paddling skills because training is far better than > being outside of your boat. Bob Myers suggested that using California > Ballast Rocks T with inflated float bags to keep rocks in place was a far > superior method of achieving temporary stability. This statement demonstrates that you are not only not a sea kayaker, but you are conducting a "study" via a very unprofessional manner... conducting a study from a casual conversation on a listserve of individuals whom you have no idea as to their credentials about a subject on which you are quite ignorant. > Bob Myers commented that he tried sponsons on his tippy boat, and they > "really slowed the boat down, at least subjectively." He felt as though he > was "plowing through the water." Diaz, on the other hand, found that in > actual paddling conditions, they cause a minimal amount of drag. He found > that if they were properly setup, they would only touch the water if the > boat was being tossed around, under which conditions they would be serving > their purpose. A friend of Diaz's used them with his Aerius 2000 (very > tippy) and he frequently used them for comfort. According to Diaz, it You have taken Ralph Diaz' comments out of context. Bob Myers is referring to the unsponsoned Khatsalano, a point he made in his original message. Ralph was not responding to Bob Myers' comment. Are you aware of the differences in these two boats? As the originator of PaddleWise (a list repeatedly and publicly referred to by Ingram as "that murderous cult"), I object to a _casual_ conversation on PaddleWise between fellow paddlers regarding sponsons being used in this manner. I have difficulty seeing any good in this type of "research" and the only quote you may make on my behalf (not that the US Coast Guard should consider any decisions about sponsons based on anything I have to say about them) is this: "I think the illusion of safety created by the US Coast Guard mandating the carrying of sponsons will get paddlers killed, especially novice paddlers. I don't think the US Coastguard will want to enforce that kind of illusion." Please feel free to use my title. Jackie Fenton/Myers Registered Five Star Expert Level US Bogon Society of Advanced Sea Kayakers p.s. I am unable to view your word and excel documents at your website. I assume it contains only what you presented to PaddleWise readers in your post. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Rich Kulawiec - you gave a good list of what makes a whitewater paddler safe, and your comments about sponsons fit my own view. But, especially in whitewater paddling, I believe the most important safety feature is having a companion. Sea kayaking can be done safely alone in good conditions, imho, but whitewater is never safe alone. Even slalom races, where the boater is on the course alone (ideally!), have safety crews and boats. Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Thu, Oct 31, 2002 at 02:20:26PM +0000, James wrote: > Rich Kulawiec - you gave a good list of what makes a whitewater paddler > safe, and your comments about sponsons fit my own view. But, especially > in whitewater paddling, I believe the most important safety feature is > having a companion. [...] You're absolutely right, and I was wrong to omit this. Having a companion, or multiple companions, can make a team that is safer than any of its individuals acting alone. Everything from scouting rapids to choosing the best lines to trivial/complex rescues gets easier when a team of paddlers works together. (I know this first-hand: it is only thanks to the knowledge, skill, and self-sacrificing courage of my companions that I came back from a trip on the Gauley a few years back.) We lead, we follow, we teach, we learn, we cooperate, we support. And we are stronger together than we are alone. ---Rsk *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Thursday, October 31, 2002, at 6:33:44 AM PST, James wrote: > The fact that most people think I'm nuts generally will be > conveniently ignored here. Okay Jim...I'll try not to focus too much on this fact. ;-) -- Melissa *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In my reply to Kaitlin O'Hara's message to PaddleWise, I said: > Please feel free to use my title. > > > Jackie Fenton/Myers > Registered Five Star Expert Level > US Bogon Society of Advanced Sea Kayakers I've had a few questions about the sea kayaker society I mention here to Kaitlin O'Hara. Someone also wanted to know what the "acronym" stood for. For the curious, go to http://dictionary.com and search the word - bogon - and check out entry number 4. :-) Cheers, Jackie (thinking of making Tim an honorary member) US Bogon Society of Advanced Sea Kayakers *************************************************************************** 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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