Re: [Paddlewise] PressHerald report today

Thanks for your thoughts here Craig. The problem doesn't just relate to kayak activity of course, but to small boating in general, including kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and other floaty things. The omission of PFD's are the usual exclusions cited in these reports. Next comes experience (or lack thereof) followed by inproper immersion apparal. It is assumed in many of these cases, that a weather related factor played into the incident, as well as some lack of sound judgement. And, it is spring and we always get a few incidents this time of year. Here in BC there are adds on buses and billboards about the dangers of cold water -- usually a person is shown slightly submerged under the water, dead. Effective, especially for today's image-bound generation.

I don't know what the answer is. I do know Jackie was asking what happened to her beloved Paddlwise here a few days ago on a different thread. Apparently, at least, we still discuss safety  on Paddlewise thank goodness. I do know the discussion must go on.

Doug Lloyd


> Chuck,
> 
> Thanks for the link. I tried to create an account there but it 
> failed for
> some reason (they didn't say what it was). I also couldn't 
> locate the
> author's email. Maybe it's just too early in the morning here.
> 
> It would be nice if someone could let the author know that 
> paddling groups
> all over the country are trying to come to grips with this 
> problem and
> devise a solution but it isn't easy.
> 
> We need a new idea to get the idea out to casual kayakers about 
> the dangers
> of cold water and the difficulty involved in getting back into 
> your kayak if
> you find yourself in the water. Clearly, what we are doing now 
> isn't working
> as well as we'd like.
> 
> One of these girls was apparently at least somewhat experienced. They
> paddled about one mile to a small island but by the time they 
> returned the
> wind had kicked up to 22mph and there were small craft 
> advisories. They
> don't mention how experienced the second girl was but she was a 
> guest at the
> island and when they invited her they mentioned where they'd go 
> in kayaks.
> 
> To their credit they were both wearing PFDs. But otherwise they were
> appropriately dressed for a day on the beach; not for a night in 
> 48F water.
> It's likely that neither had any training or experience with 
> even the most
> rudimentary self-rescue techniques. They were in "12-foot" 
> kayaks. One of
> the kayaks was found capsized but the other was floating 
> properly with gear
> (at least a coat) inside.
> 
> We've all seen people like them. Paddling happily along 
> peacefully on calm
> water dressed in a tee-shirt and shorts... or jeans and hiking 
> boots. Some
> wear a PFD, usually it's nothing but an orange "life jacket" 
> behind the
> seat. If we say anything they think we're crazy. I've watched 
> entire groups
> like this paddling in the San Juan Islands headed for Sucia or 
> Stuart across
> water that could turn from calm to boiling with the change of tide.
> 
> How do we get the word out to at least wear a water ski light 
> wetsuit and
> not a bikini? To carry a VHF? These girls were lost less than a 
> mile from
> home on a spring weekend in an area crowded with other boaters 
> (including at
> least one kayak school group). A VHF would have likely changed 
> the outcome
> of this story.
> 
> Reading Matt and George's book, "Deep Trouble", is excellent 
> preparation for
> kayakers but I think casual users of kayaks don't think of 
> themselves as
> "kayakers" and would probably think that those sorts of books 
> are for "real"
> kayakers.
> 
> And how likely is it that someone will spend the money for a 
> drysuit, paddle
> float or VHF radio to paddle a $399 12-foot kayak?
> 
> There is always an element of risk when you go out onto any body 
> of water in
> anything and kayaks certainly add to that risk. All we can do is 
> try to
> reduce that risk to a point where it's acceptable.
> 
> How do we get the word out without getting the activity over-
> regulated?
> 
> Craig Jungers
> Moses Lake, WA
> www.nwkayaking.net
> 
> On Tue, May 18, 2010 at 5:56 AM, skimmer <skimmer_at_enter.net> wrote:
> 
> >  PressHerald accident report on two women: www.pressherald.com
> >
> >
> >
> > Report is on todays front page.
> >
> > There is place for comment at end of story
> >
> > Comments from paddlewise might be appropriate
> >
> > Authors e-mail is also there, another place for useful comment
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Chuck Sutherland
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