Re: [Paddlewise] lost kayaker in tampa bay.....

Craig,
 
i couldn't agree with you more ..... a large part of the problem around  
here is that most of the kayaks
used in these parts are "sit-on-tops"..... open tops, self bailing  
w/scupper holes.....and after a month or
more of "ugly, cold" weather, when the day dawns - clear, calm, &  sunny 
with the air temps getting close to
80, some folks just don't realize how cold the water still is  .... i have 
4 kayaks... all of them "sit-on-top" ....
and to be honest  i too have been guilty of paddling "under dressed"  ..... 
i have neoprene shorts and top that i wear .... not all the time, but i  
have them...... and i don't even want to talk about the rentals..... i could 
go  on and on about that problem.  i have introduced a number of people to 
the  sport.... i have taken groups on paddles to include overnight 
camping..... even  after giving out printed information on what to bring, and what
not to bring .... i still get some folks who just can't seem to grasp the  
situation ....
you said it best .... "you can't fix stupid"
 
steve
tampa/st. pete
 
 
In a message dated 2/1/2011 3:40:17 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
crjungers_at_gmail.com writes:

Educating paddlers about the effects of cold water on warm days is  one of 
the "layers of complexity" in kayaking that affect no other sport that  I 
know of and I think needs to be emphasized in paddling magazines and  
instructors. It is VERY difficult to tell someone that they could be in  
life-threatening danger by paddling their canoe/kayak on a nice day across  cold water. 
And this is complicated by the simple fact that no one is going to  buy a 
$900 drysuit (or even a $120 farmer john) for a couple hours of time on  the 
water. Maybe those of us who paddle 100 miles or more a year lose sight of  
this. But lots of kayakers and canoists only do it two or three times a 
year,  don't read paddling magazines, don't take lessons, and don't understand 
the  issues.

A PFD is a simple "solution" to only one "layer" of the problem  
(flotation) but you can buy them everywhere for $50 (or even less); marinas  have them 
on hooks at the head of docks for FREE!. Even with government  agencies, 
news journals, blogs, magazines and word-of-mouth about PFDs we  still see 
paddlers on significant journeys across quite cold water not wearing  them. Pam 
and I have seen entire flotillas of kayaks crossing from James  Island just 
off the west coast of Orcas Island on their way to Sucia Island  (ten miles 
or more) with no one - not even the "leaders" - wearing their PFDs  and 
every youth (it was some sort of youth group) in swim suits or tee shirts  and 
shorts!

There is really nothing out there that we can tell them to  wear that they 
can simply buy at a local store.  Maybe we should start to  promote those 
little "water skier" shorty-wet-suits that you can buy at Costco  for $39.95.

I really don't know the solution to this. Or if there even  is a solution. 
People look at you like you're crazy when you suggest it.  

I can understand Chuck's frustration but if they don't even wear their  
PFDs when wearing them is so highly publicized getting them to wear fleece or  
wet suits or anything other than a cotton tee shirt and jeans with sandals 
is  going to be a struggle.

Maybe you just can't cure  stupidity.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
_www.nwkayakng.net_ (http://www.nwkayakng.net/) 

On Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 2:33 AM, <_Nole4ever_at_aol.com_ 
(mailto:Nole4ever_at_aol.com) > wrote:

craig,

i agree that more information would have  been appropriate, but i find a
general disregard of safety
around  here..... and with the air temp  this week in the low to  mid  70's,
i'm surprised that we don't
have more accidents like  this....
steve
tampa/st  pete
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