Paddlewisers, After hosting my annual rescue practice for several of the local kayaking clubs today, I am convinced that paddlefloat owners are too optimistic. Somehow, many of them seem to think if they carry a paddlefloat, they will be able to get back in their kayak with it even though they don't practice. I say this because I was alarmed today by seeing more than a few sea kayakers with years of tripping experience barely able to get back in their kayaks using a paddlefloat in calm water. Of course, once they were given some tips and did some drills today, they did OK. I would bet that nine out of ten sea kayakers who go on trips would die if their lives depended on them getting back into a kayak with a paddlefloat in conditions rough enough to tip them over. All I can say is practice, practice, practice! Duane Strosaker www.rollordrown.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/ ***************************************************************************
> After hosting my annual rescue practice for several of the local kayaking > clubs today, I am convinced that paddlefloat owners are too optimistic. > Somehow, many of them seem to think if they carry a paddlefloat, they will > be able to get back in their kayak with it even though they don't practice. > That's OK. As long as you can at least project an image of being a good safety conscious paddler by using a top of the line boat and paddle, wearing your pfd and drysuit and having a bow line and paddlefloat, pump, bailer, VHF radio, GPS. EPIRB, towing equipment, flares, signaling mirror, paddle leash and anything else you can think of to make yourself look like a competent paddler, then the skills are really not important. Scott So.Cal. *************************************************************************** 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 a message dated 7/13/2003 6:20:05 PM Eastern Standard Time, strosaker_at_cox.net writes: After hosting my annual rescue practice for several of the local kayaking clubs today, I am convinced that paddlefloat owners are too optimistic. Somehow, many of them seem to think if they carry a paddlefloat, they will be able to get back in their kayak with it even though they don't practice. ... In a message dated 7/14/2003 9:38:20 AM Eastern Standard Time, KiAyker_at_aol.com writes: That's OK. As long as you can at least project an image of being a good safety conscious paddler by using a top of the line boat and paddle, wearing your pfd and drysuit and having a bow line and paddlefloat, pump, bailer, VHF radio, GPS. EPIRB, towing equipment, flares, signaling mirror, paddle leash and anything else you can think of to make yourself look like a competent paddler, then the skills are really not important. You mean we missed the point of "sea kayaking" all these years, wearing and carrying merely minimal (although at least useful and functional) gear, which is often salt stained at that, and usually paddling ratty looking boats? Oh boy! ;-) This is a very important subject, however, and it reminds me of the day we were supposed to cross Long Island Sound in a bit of a breeze, when instead I ended up staying behind with a relative newcomer to the sport who, even in the protected calm of an inlet, was barely able to reenter his boat with assistance in a controlled artificial situation, nevermind do so by himself. He did have some flashy gear on him though ... Best regards, Ralph Ralph C. Hoehn Folding Boat Center P.O. Box 700 Enfield NH 03748 info_at_FoldingBoatCenter.com www.FoldingBoatCenter.com phone: +1-802-649-2555 -- Ralph phone: +1-603-632-9500 -- Alv (yup, they rhyme) *************************************************************************** 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 a message dated 7/16/03 7:30:23 AM, owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net writes: > That's OK. As long as you can at least project an image of being a good > safety conscious paddler by using a top of the line boat and paddle, wearing > > your pfd and drysuit and having a bow line and paddlefloat, pump, bailer, > VHF > radio, GPS. EPIRB, towing equipment, flares, signaling mirror, paddle leash > and > anything else you can think of to make yourself look like a competent > paddler, > then the skills are really not important. > > Otherwise known as "Fake it 'til you make it." douglas in sf *************************************************************************** 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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