Re: [Paddlewise] ACA Report

On Thursday, April 17, 2003, at 06:04 PM, Blankibr_at_aol.com wrote:

>
> My concern is that the ACA is representing itself rather than 
> paddlers.  As a
> sea kayaker who does not do whitewater, I would like to see the 
> statistics
> broken out.  I have not seen the report but I bet the majority of 
> accidents
> are either whitewater or alcohol related.  My point is despite 
> recreational
> kayaks being the fastest growing group, I doubt that is where most 
> accidents
> are.  By promoting this type legislation, ACA is promoting a 
> requirement for
> people to take their courses.

A majority of the accidents are people like the guy outlined in my rec 
boat scenario. It may well be true that the ACA does not truly 
represent the interests of sea kayakers, but the other groups having 
input into canoe and kayak regulation in Connecticut are farther 
removed. At the public hearing on registration one of the speakers was 
from the Connecticut Marine Trade Association 
http://www.ctmarinetrades.org/. CMTA membership includes primarily 
marinas, boat yards and boat dealers. Only one of its members is 
involved with sea kayaks and it is retailer.

The Connecticut DEP hosts a Boating Advisory Council. Members of this 
council include a rep from the above CMTA, a sportsmens association 
lobbyist, and reps from a bass fishing group, a sports fishing group, a 
yacht club group, a commercial boaters group and the Power Squadron. A 
woman who is a kayaker has asked to become a member. They have agreed 
to let her attend meetings but she is not yet a member.

It is very likely other states have similar people influencing future 
legislation which will affect paddlers. While the ACA may have concerns 
beyond sea kayaking, I am glad they are making an effort to make their 
voice heard. It will be tough to get past the other groups already 
asking for attention.

If you do not feel the ACA will represent your needs, I suggest you 
make an effort yourself or join/organize a group which will.

>
> Nick Schade is also snipped: <<What is the easiest thing to teach a 
> casual
> paddler so he or she can deal with a capsize...A casual paddler will 
> not take
> the time to practice sophisticated self rescue techniques...If you had 
> his
> attention at a demo for 3 minutes, what would you show the guy that 
> could
> potentially save his life? >>
>
> Assuming the question was not rhetorical:  First teach them about 
> proper gear
> like float bags and pumps.  Then teach them to right the boat and bail 
> the
> water out until they can get in and finish bailing.  If the boat has 
> no bow
> floatation at all, they are SOL and should have listened to the part 
> about
> floatation.

The question is not rhetorical. This is very much the kind of accident 
which is driving up the fatality statistics. Remember that many people 
buying recreational kayaks do so because they are very inexpensive. The 
list price of the Pungo is $579 and other recreational kayaks go for 
far less ($350) and are not as well equipped for safety. It is 
worthwhile to tell people to spend another $100 on safety gear, but 
chances are they won't. They "know for a fact" that they will _never_ 
need it. The dealer they bought the boat from probably doesn't even 
stock float bags that will work in short recreational kayaks. I've gone 
into many "good" kayak shops and have been unable to find a paddle 
float.

You can write the guy off and Darwin will do his duty and kill the guy 
(my example guy already has 27 grandchildren so it is too late to clip 
his branch of evolution). But even if his death does not bother you, 
the fatality of the fat fisherman will be used in the next round of 
legislation to justify regulating kayaks.

I would like it if everyone who ever uses a kayak has all the 
appropriate gear and spends the time and money to learn from a ACA Open 
Water Coastal Kayaking Instructor, but the fact is they don't have the 
gear and they don't think they will ever get into a situation where 
they will need all that fancy stuff. That stuff is for those "extreme" 
kayakers that paddle on the ocean. All the casual kayaker wants to do 
is cruise slowly around the lake on a calm summer afternoon and maybe 
catch a fish or two. Its just a little fun, its not dangerous. Is it?

If we write off this guy as too stupid for his own good, we may end up 
paying the price in unwanted regulation. So either we figure out a way 
to get him to safety before he slips below the surface, or we let him 
die and accept the consequences.

Maybe there is no practical, simple way to protect people like this 
fisherman. But if people like this group at paddlewise can not come up 
with a way to get a fat guy back in his little kayak I for one would be 
very disappointed.
Nick Schade

Guillemot Kayaks
824 Thompson St
Glastonbury, CT 06033
USA
Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/

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