Just another thought on the safety/cold water thread: I was talking with the owner of a SCUBA shop - also sells a few rec kayaks. He was commenting that people feel SCUBA is very dangerous but he believes it is much safer than paddling from the standpoint that no one would consider stopping by the shop, buying a SCUBA outfit and heading to the nearest lake without some training. He added the same comment about rock climbing/ rappeling - most people wouldn't buy a rope, tie it to a tree at the top of the cliff and proceed to jump into space without first having some sort of guidance or training. But he thought no one perceives any risk with a kayak - heck, they have a "life preserver", right? He sells boats to people that he knows have no experience (asking if they should get a single or double bladed paddle to go with their new boat) - and he's quite sure they are heading out with zero guidance. Granted, this shop's location (N Wisconsin) means that 99.9% are heading to protected inland waters - but still...entrapment and hypothermia aren't limited to coastal waters (although without a doubt, there is less risk involved). I was talking to the owner of another outdoor shop (various sports - from climbing and skiing to paddling). I suggested that the store give a 'certificate' for a free pool session with the local paddling club to each person that buys a new boat. The litigation snake rears its ugly head again - no way the shop would make such an offer as they could be held liable (I understand their concern). But they also refrain from offering such a session themselves for the same reasons. Which means that new owners likely head out unprepared....and scared spitless about capsizing and hanging upside down until dead....unable to fully enjoy the amazingly enjoyable sport of kayaking to its fullest. Keith *************************************************************************** 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 was talking to the owner of another outdoor shop (various sports - from > climbing and skiing to paddling). I suggested that the store give a > 'certificate' for a free pool session with the local paddling club to each > person that buys a new boat. The litigation snake rears its ugly head > again - no way the shop would make such an offer as they could be held > liable (I understand their concern). But they also refrain from offering > such a session themselves for the same reasons. Which means that new > owners likely head out unprepared....and scared spitless about capsizing > and hanging upside down until dead....unable to fully enjoy the amazingly > enjoyable sport of kayaking to its fullest. I recall Matt Broze raising that very same point. His shop was dispensing safety advice and his lawyers said that this raised his liability not lowered it. I am not doing justice to the thoughtful message that Matt posted here but the whole situation strikes me as turning the world on its head. "Do ya mean to tell me that if I try to straighten out someone from doing harm to himself and he does I am liable?" Crazy world!! ralph diaz *************************************************************************** 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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