Just happened upon this: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=49911§ion=homepage It was, when this article was written, not known if alcohol was a contributing factor, but empty beer cans were found onboard. But I do think this is a common combination: alcohol and no PFD! Often nothing bad happens, but ... Tord PS Locally, a man charged straight across a sailboat with his big US-style motorboat, after having had quite a few. By some miracle no-one was killed, just minor cuts. I hope he rots in hell ... *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Some are not so lucky. Also this past weekend in Minnesota, a 73-year-old California man visiting relatives died while kayaking on Long Lake (Ramsey County, I think -- there are several Long Lakes in the state). He had never been in a kayak before, was not wearing a PFD, and was paddling alone. The kayak was borrowed. The newspaper report didn't say, but it was probably a recreational kayak. Lake temperatures in the area are typically in the 70s or 80s at this time of year. Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Some can be lucky for a long time. A friend's father visited here last week and told me about taking his plastic recreational kayak out of Trinidad alone in "10-foot" swells. No drysuit (or even drytop), no practice at self-rescue, no spray skirt (!), no paddle float, no VHF. Nice guy and very intelligent (passed his Professional Engineer exam as a CE in his 50s without having gone to university). He did have a PFD (I'm pretty sure). We had ourselves a little paddle on the lake (I let him use the Express and the Wing) and chatted a bit about these issues. But it's difficult for people - even very intelligent people - to get a handle on them. And I should know, because for a long time I would just wear the same things sea-kayaking as I wore when white-water kayaking without a thought as to the differences in boats, conditions, and how far you might have to swim to shore. He was pretty impressed with the Express but didn't much like the Wing. Craig Jungers Royal City, WA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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