Re: [Paddlewise] Local motorboater killed by jet ski

> > I always have a small airhorn in my PFD pocket, but am considering
> mounting
> > it directly on my boat for easier access in an emergency situation.
> > Has anyone done any like this or do you have other ideas. I have a
> > red boat,
> red
> > and yellow PFD's and reflective tape on my paddles.
> 
> I'm carrying a whistle on a short bungey tied PFD shoulder, so it's
> always accessible. It seems to be quite loud, - don't know whether the
> psychological effect on a jet-skier would be the same as with a horn.
> Mentality of teenagers is already beyond my comprehension :-) ...

I've tried a number of whistles: many of them _seemed_ loud at the 
time, but out on the water with wind, waves, paddle splashes, they 
suddenly don't seem as effective. My loudest whistle is two fingers 
in mouth (but not 100% reliable if I'm in a hurry).

To return to the original situation -- a jetski driver turning away 
from watching where they are going -- I really don't know if even an 
airhorn is going to make much difference. First, there's the engine 
noise that the jetski driver will be hearing, and second there's the 
whole "paying attention" thing. If you're close enough to get their 
attention ("Hey, that noise might be something important!"), it'll 
probably be too late for the driver to turn around, find you, and 
take corrective action.

I hate jetskis, myself. Mostly they seem to be driven by people who 
have zero sense that anyone else might be out on the water and 
wanting to do something other than making big waves and lots of 
noise. They dart about like crazy and one can never be sure of where 
they're going, in order to take evasive action.

I'm looking for some help developing a deck gun that will be a mini-
EMP for small engines, so I can leave them sitting dead in the water 
as I paddle by. I'm going to make a killing (rhetorically speaking) 
when I get this baby perfected!

-- 
  Darryl
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