Brian Blankinship ACA Open Water Coastal Kayaking Instructor wrote: <Snip>>>>>>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.<<<<<<Snip> I'm glad someone finally made this point. I'm kind of surprised it's coming from someone who is part of the ACA system though. But, will they let you keep your certification after revealing the organization's secret motives? A good rule of thumb with any organization government or even individual would be to look at what motive they may have that would increase their income or power if enacted. I personally hate set in stone requirements imposed on others, but Scott's idea of making "Deep Trouble" mandatory with every kayak sold somehow appeals to me. Let see now, I make roughly $.60 or $.70 each time a copy is sold and that new law should definitely substantially raise my income from it above the $1200 a year income (I'm now paying income tax on) because of it. First let my check my royalty contract concerning the movie rights before I decide if a mandatory video of Deep Trouble should come with each kayak sold.;-) BTW, Brian, congratulation on getting your stolen kayaks back. 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? >> Three minutes for a demo. Okay, I'd put him in his own kayak with what he wears for kayaking, then shove him over, when his head surfaces again I'd tell him that if he can't get most of his body out of cold water in the next 2 and a half minutes (and if the shore wasn't within a hundred yards or less) that almost certainly he would quickly become incapacitated and probably die from drowning or (if he brought a PFD) exposure or drowning. Let him spend what remains of the three minutes without any guidance trying to get his body up out of the "cold" water. He should have learned a lot by then. Most importantly, that it was a real good thing the first time he capsized, and failed in his attempt to deal with it, happened in a relatively safe place. As for Nick's fat fisherman capsizing when out fishing in a Pungo with no bow flotation, at least his fat will help insulate him longer against the cold. If I could talk to him but not help him, I'd tell him to stay calm and focus on what he must do, which is to get himself out of the cold water as soon as possible. About the only way I can see that he might succeed in doing that is to get the kayak as level as he can and pull himself up the ramp of the deck (or hull) while straddling the kayak belly down. If he can get his trunk out of the water he must then do what he can to help stabilize the kayak so he doesn't fall off it again. Given that the Pungo doesn't come with sponsons (if he did have sponsons he might be able to use them for bow flotation--either internally of externally and he wouldn't be in such a predicament), he might try leaving his legs spread out and feet dragging in the water as far out to each side as he can put them. That would still leave his arms free and the kayak relatively streamlined so he might hand paddle it to the easiest shore to reach. Since wind may be a factor he also needs a way to judge if he is making any progress so he should line up two sets of landmarks about 90 degrees to each other to see if he is making good progress in his chosen direction or fighting a losing battle. If he finds himself rolling over back into the water he should probably next try to lay over the kayak's remaining flotation perpendicular to the length of the flotation compartment so he doesn't fall off as easily. If I were in this fisherman's position, I'd try to pull and push the stern (flotation end) of the Pungo down until the kayak was level and then I'd try to rotate the kayak while still pushing down at the stern until the cockpit edge broke the surface, hopefully allowing the water in the bow to drain out as I pushed down more on the stern. If that worked I'd quickly twist the kayak right side up after having drained most of the water from the bow. With a wide kayak like the Pungo I'd probably next try to do a cowboy rescue over the stern. Pulling myself forward with my arms (while straddling the kayak belly down with my legs well spread apart in the water with my big feet in the water acting like rocker-stoppers) until my hips were over the seat. At that point I'd quickly lift my chest off the deck rock back and drop my butt down into the seat. With the big cockpit it should be easy to then bring my feet in especially if I still had the paddle to brace with. If I had lost my paddle I'd hand paddle over to pick it up and then paddle back to shore. If it was real windy and I had still managed to dump the water out and right the kayak, I'd next try to fashion a paddle float from something (including my PFD--if nothing else was available). I've never tried dumping or reentering a Pungo, with or without bow flotation, so I don't know if either of the above proposed methods would have much chance of success with that particular kayak. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** 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 Thu Apr 17 2003 - 23:39:52 PDT
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