[Paddlewise] California Tragedy & the idea

I was also greatly saddened to read about the untimely death of  Steve's
friend, Len Goodman. His accident has generated a good  deal of comment 
about what he should have done differently. I have  always found it 
pretty easy to jump into comments of that sort. 

In fact, Len was doing what I have done many times and was  prepared in 
about the same way that I outfit myself in similar semi- cold water 
situations. My gear is not calculated to support infinite  survival time
in the water. My objective has been to be comfortable  enough to get my 
rescues done and get underway again. 

It seems something unusual happened to Mr. Goodman. Did the  wind and 
waves strip his boat away from him after a capsize? Was  he skilled at 
rolling? At this point, we don't know enough about Mr.  Goodman's 
skills, his boat and gear or the conditions in which he  was paddling. 
We are dealing with a well trained paddler here  paddling in his home 
waters. In general, he was adequately  outfitted for most problems that 
he might encounter. But he was  alone, and that changes things a bit. 

Changing the subject slightly, some of you may recall that I wrote  a 
little story about PFD rules changes proposed by the PA Fish  and Boat 
Commission. I belong to the Traditional Small Craft  Association. They 
asked me to write the story for their journal,  which I did. I put it 
out for a test run on Paddlewise. As anticipated,  I got nicely hammered
for my trouble. That was perhaps in  October, '06. In the story, I told 
folks where they could send their  official comments during the official
PUBLIC COMMENT period,  then I discussed the importance in general of 
wearing PFDs  especially when out on cold water. 

Folks wrote back that they needed to dive under waves, described  their 
right to die the way they want (i.e. for no good reason) and  implied 
that their was some sort of hero's death. 

I toned down my story and got it published in various places.  Readers 
of one magazine and their editor, not a paddling  magazine, blamed me 
for the PA Boat Commission proposals and  and have hammered me 
(Continueing in March '07) for being pro- PFD. PFDs were described as 
"Those silly things". 

These responses caused me to invest large amounts adrenaline- mediated 
time contemplating the problem here. I consider the no- PFD folks to be 
pursuing TESTOSTERONE-Driven suicidal  behavior. Having discussed these 
issues with some PA Fish and  Boat folks, I am convinced that many of 
them, coming from the fish  and game community, also don't agree with 
any proposed PFD  rules. One spokesman said it's strictly "Freedom of 
Choice"--Not  fear of being seen wearing one of those "silly things" by 
one's  peers! NO NO... NO way they would admit to such a thing!! 

One day it occurred to me that we are fighting an unwinable fight  on 
this issue, not making progress and no likelihood of a change in  the 
future!  We need a different approach. Some of you may recall,  I posted
a question on Paddlewise "What's on ur PFD?" and  described the minimal 
stuff I carry on my two PFDs (one for  paddling, another for canoe 
sailing).  

Several thoughtful Paddlewisers generously described how they  outfit 
their PFDs. My intent was to take a shot at trying to change  the way 
PFDs are perceived by boaters. Fishermen wear vests that  are loaded 
with fishing lures, pliers, leader lines etc. Carpenters  have tool 
belts that are loaded up with hammers, pliers, screw  drivers, tape 
measures etc. These things are part of their rig! We  need to have the 
PFD be seen as essential as the tool belt or  fishing vest. We can give 
it some necessary MOJO by showing  how we use the PFD to carry stuff 
that we need in emergency  situations. I liked Chris Cunningham's quote,
in his April  Seakayaker editorial, from his USCG friend that.. "if you 
aren't  wearing it, you don't have it !" 

I hope his effort to promote the utilitarian uses of PFDs will help  
change the way PFDs are viewed by the boating public. My own  brother is
a no PFD kind of guy. He learned that from our father and  he takes his 
kids out canoeing on the early run rivers in CT. They  don't have 
wetsuits because they cost a lot and he doesn't take the  kids out very 
often. Add to that, twice in the past two years fathers  have taken 
their young sons fishing on cold water. In both cases,  when the son 
fell overboard, the fathers jumped in to save them. All  four died 
without PFDs. Sure enough, they "DIED doing what they  loved." It's just
freedon of choice, as the PA Fish and Boat guys  say!  Damn, here comes 
another adrenalin surge! 

Chuck Sutherland  
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************