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From: Doug Lloyd <dalloyd_at_telus.net> subject: Re: [Paddlewise] SV: SV: T-Rescue not T-brace Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 21:14:46 -0800 · This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:36 PDT

>>>...often expressed by these sublime jesters.<<<

>Hey, I resemble that!...However, I have to believe that the very vast
majority of "sea kayaking"
is NOT done in extreme conditions and the novice reading this and other
newsgroups about this sport might get the impression that they cannot
participate in this activity responsibly unless they invest thousands of
dollars in rescue and safety equipment and fill their boat up with an
abundance of high tech crap!<

I can't remember, is it against listserver etiquette to openly bait?

No problem Scott at my end, always good to hear folks and their _reactions_.
As long as you know it's _always_ in fun and the interest of provoking
thought/discussion. However, you do make a bit of a jump from a discussion
about decklines (and PFD's I suppose -- that dead-horse we've beat so many
times, Paddlewise should be marketing its own signature-series glue by now),
to "thousands of dollars in rescue and safety equipment..."

Your post brought back some interesting memories from bygone days: In the
early eighties, a small group of Victoria paddlers allied themselves with a
local paddlesport retailer (who sold British kayaks) and formed a kayak
association (called O.K.A.B.C). We were wanting to adopt a BCU style
assessment/coaching scheme that might eventually spread across the land. A
group of dedicated paddlers in Vancouver changed their name to S.K.A.B.C
eventually and did everything they could to prevent "Victoria" from trying
to represent the sport.

At the first public meeting on this rather emotional-at-the-time subject, I
was sent over as a representative of the OKABC, and basically faced a
ravenous crowd who were none too happy to see me. There must have been
"SUCKER" written all over my head for volunteering to go. It was supremely
bitten off you might say. Anyway, the audience wailed away about the
possible implementation of mandatory decklines for all kayaks used on the
ocean. I'm not sure where they got the idea that the OKABC was trying to
foist this on BC paddlers (well, maybe I do; could have been the Brit-boat
retailer), but I was rather amused. This thread reminds me of that day long
ago.

Well, sorry for the history lesson. I would like to go on to quote Wayne
Horowich on the subject of PFD's however. Surely, he is a man of moderation
and balance from your neck of the woods. The following excerpt is off
Wayne's University of sea Kayaking website:

"Over the past few years I have re-evaluated my priorities and my
responsibilities to myself and others. Even though I have practiced putting
my PFD on in the water under all kinds of conditions I have to admit it is
impossible to do when you are unconscious. Once you admit to the possibility
that you could be rendered unconscious without significant warning then you
may start rethinking your desire to paddle without wearing your PFD.
Possibilities for sudden unconsciousness are: heart attack, stroke, seizure,
dehydration, hit by motorized craft, impact from large marine life, allergic
reaction to marine organism when hands or body are in the water (i.e.: jelly
fish type creatures, electric rays,...), hit by your own kayak or partner's
kayak in a surf zone, hitting a submerged object... only to mention a few."

He continues:

"I love my wife dearly. If she were to pass away suddenly I would be
devastated. She tells me she feels the same way about me. (Although I do
wonder why the sudden increase in my life insurance, by her request.)
Knowing how I would feel convinced me to minimize the possibilities of
making my wife a widow and put her through what I would never want to feel.
To put this in perspective, I still do things that are high risk but I also
calculate the possibilities. However, losing my life over a decision of
wearing a PFD is a no brainer. "Put up with a little discomfort Wayne and
wear the PFD!!!" are my words to myself."

He does go on to talk about occasion not to wear one's PFD, as well as
anecdotal highlights of backup uses of PFD's, etc. Food for thought, anyway,
for those interested in a balanced diet.

See you on the water some day. I'd like to see some of you Paddlewisers in
some real surf -- see if folks can put their money where their mouth is.
Likewise, I'm sure. 'Till then.

Doug Lloyd
Victoria BC
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