[Paddlewise] identify boat

I mentioned yesterday that a 34-yr-old fellow capsized and 
disappeared in the Kaw River in Kansas City, Kansas on March 6, 
2007. His body was recovered March 21 after it was spotted by 
fishermen. His name was Ladd Fish. He ans a friend were out 
fishing appently be casting small nets from their single seat 
recreational kayaks. 

The river was said to be up, running hard and rough. Water 
temperature was about 46-47 o F. The men were not wearing pfds 
or clothing for cold water boating (no wet/drysuits). One man was 
able to swim to shore, but Mr. Fish was visible at the surface for 
only a minute or two before disappearing from sight.

There are a number of incomplete reports on the web from the 
Kansas City Star. The boat is seen in a photo accompanying the 
story at 
(http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/print/11185145/detail.html)

I have obtained a photo from another source and interviewed a 
member of the recovery squad. The boat appears to be at least 
very similar to poly boat called the Necky Manitou 13. Large rec 
boat cockpit and about 12 ft long. The Kestral 120 by Current 
Designs is also much like the boat in the photo, but wrong color.
The boat in the photo is entirely awash except the upper deck and 
cockpit rim, thus, no bulkheads or airbags bow or stern.

Who can identify the boat? 

We go on about what to wear and how to train and we all go away 
and make our own compromises based on what we know and train 
to do. Mostly, when things go bad, we are able, with our skills and 
equipment (what ever it is), to solve our problems in a way that 
avoids death. We end up with various levels of training exercises.

The hunting-fishing crowds, that not only abhor pfds, but totally 
reject such devices without any notion of any boating conditions, 
are coming into kayaking in a total state of ignorance about cold 
water issues.

In this case, five kids and a wife no longer have a husband/father!

Now say something about pfds, kayaks, training and the general 
public! I suggest that this is real life-- as opposed to subtle 
distinctions of wetsuits vs pfds in surf with or without boggieboards 
and fellow surfers in kayaks or not, blasting over or under waves 
and doing so intentionaly after years of training.

Chuck Sutherland  
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