Re: [Paddlewise] Fatal Accidents Involving Folding Kayaks?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jochen Grikschat" <grikschat_at_web.de>
To: "Dave Kruger" <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>; "Paddlewise"
<paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 4:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fatal Accidents Involving Folding Kayaks?


> > What gives?  Do paddlers of folders use better judgment ... have
guardian
> > angels ... or just fail to tell others of their mistakes?
>
> Do you remember the very fatal incident with "Lone Madsen" during
Greenland
> paddling? She died after capsizing in suddenly strong winds, while her
> friend was unable to paddle back to her.
> VERY sad and in some way unbelieveable story.

Lone Madsen was not in a folding kayak but there have been a number of
deaths in folding kayaks:

--A fellow floating in double Klepper in Jamaica Bay (in the Queens borough
of NYC) was killed when a speedboat ran over him.  He was laying down in the
boat snoozing.  This was in the 1980s.

--Another incident involved a couple in double Klepper somewhere on the
Pacific Coast. Both died.  I can't remember the exact circumstances but it
involved exposure after a capsize.  I don't believe they were particularly
good on getting back in, which is relatively easy in a double Klepper since
they remain quite stable when filled with water.

There have been quite a few capsizes in folding kayaks but mostly when being
sailed.

As for the better judgment/smarts of folding kayakers, I have over the years
found that it is often lacking.  Chief lapses are things like: not wearing
PFDs (albeit this is improving somewhat) based on a mistaken belief that
they can never tip over; not filling their boats with sufficient flotation
since they have sponsons (sponsons will help keep a boat afloat but not with
enough freeboard once re-entered); failure to practice rescues (belief that
they won't capsize); and failure to wear cold water gear or even much in the
way of waterproof paddling gear.  Guardian angels are another matter and do
make themselves known often to cover such mistakes as above...but don't
count on it!!!

ralph diaz
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