Re: [Paddlewise] Who picks up the rescue tab

From: Nick Schade <nick_at_guillemot-kayaks.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2004 10:51:32 -0500
On Dec 6, 2004, at 9:27 AM, John Winters wrote:
> I consider this kind of thing a PERSONAL philosophy. If anyone 
> disagrees and insists on searching for me of their volition then have 
> fun. Enjoy the challenge. :)

If it were just your wife doing the searching, I would say this is a 
sufficient answer. However, while your wife or someone else may call 
you in missing, it is rarely that person who puts them-self at risk in 
the search. One example of how equipment such as an EPIRB might help in 
this situation is if the search team knows you have an EPIRB, but you 
have not yet turned it on, they will have good reason not to search for 
you.

Also while your wife may agree to not do anything to save your life, 
she may after 6 months decide that the probate paperwork would be a lot 
easier if she could point to a body. So, despite your best efforts you 
will may end up with a search team looking for you. Do you have any 
responsibility to minimize the risk undertaken by the search team?

I generally agree with your philosophy. One of my friends I paddle with 
is under orders from his wife to carry a cell phone and call in 
everyday. This only serves to make her worry needlessly when there is 
no cellphone coverage, and causes my friend to spend a lot of time 
looking for coverage to keep her from worrying. It is easier when there 
is no possibility for making contact, then the absence of contact is 
not itself a problem. If we were to have a satellite phone, she would 
see no reason why we couldn't call twice a day, and there would be no 
way to explain that water got on the battery and the thing died.

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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Received on Mon Dec 06 2004 - 07:51:51 PST

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