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Re: Implying ...
By:Rob Macks
Date: 1/22/2001, 2:20 pm
In Response To: Re: Implying ... (Ross Leidy)

: Implying that you're safer providing sea kayak plans because they don't find
: the body? ;)

No.

That was my short, smart assed way of saying the foaming, gravity induced water/rock/boat interface is an anticipated daily component of whitewater paddling. A builder of a WW strip kayak may go out to try his/her new boat neglecting the years of training/experience and group support that what be a normal expectation of survival for this sport.

Not the say sea kayaking is safer. It is not. I some ways it is more dangerous. Novice paddlers can go out on the ocean or other large body of water many times and hit good conditions paddling without consequence. Unless they learn the importance and how to react to the MANY factors; wind, wave, cold water, squalls, fog, to name only a few, they will be in DEEP trouble. And unlike WW paddlers, sea kayakers will not have a river bank to crawl out onto when they get in trouble. Fortunately most novices fear large bodies of water. Fear is good.

A strip WW kayak is only a boat suitable for an expert WW paddler. I have paddled and have friends who paddle Glass WW boats all the time. This is not a boat you would want to use on a rocky low water river. Special materials/glass lay-ups are in order for a WW stripper. Even with the best construction and lay-up and the best WW paddler using such a boat destruction is inevitable.

I think the potential is much greater for boat failure and serious personal injury with a WW stripper in the wrong hands.

I see too many whitewater boats creeping into TV commercials today. Just one of the extreme sports that are popular with young adults who think they are invulnerable. People in whitewater boats go looking for trouble.

Before I would sell WW stripper plans I would want to have a very long waver gone over by some very good lawyers

Rob

Messages In This Thread

Whitewater Kayak plans
Mark -- 1/19/2001, 1:53 pm
By George...
Ken Finger -- 1/22/2001, 8:08 am
Re: By George...
Rob Macks -- 1/22/2001, 11:27 am
Re: Implying ...
Ross Leidy -- 1/22/2001, 11:36 am
Re: Implying ...
Rob Macks -- 1/22/2001, 2:20 pm