Peter, It looks as though you have an excellent presentation coming together. You touched on some of the problems of mounting an EPIRB on the deck of a sea kayak (or any kayak) but did not mention that mounting externally might actually degrade the performance of a kayak to an unsafe level. Kayaks are designed for the (the bottom) to be in water but, unlike "normal" boats, also the topsides. The EPIRB could make a significant difference in the way the kayak handles in wind and it could create a spray problem which would make it unsafe in wave action. In fact many sea kayakers make it a point to carry nothing on deck.. At least they're willing to listen. I wonder if they'd consider a SPOT device as an adequate substitute for EPIRB in additon to a PLB. In fact I wonder if they haven't gone to an obvious extreme just as a bargaining point. In other words, make the rule so onerous that those affected would be happy to get down to some lower level. So put forward a couple of lower alternatives (like just a GPS plus a VHF) yourself. Bargain towards the middle, in other words. There are some very good reasons that the GPS and VHF combination might even be more effective than any automated device; especially a device that stays with the boat and not with the paddler. I think I'd throw a few of them out. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA www.nwkayaking.net *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Nov 11 2009 - 08:27:59 PST
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