Brian Nystrom

Paul does that kind of thing all the time. He's the only guy I know who seems to like back surfing better than surfing forward! ;-)

There are plenty of waves in the sea. We'll find more.

Besides, the "Rubber Ducky Award" recipient hasn't been determined yet. Peter K leads the competition with his major whacking by a 10'+ dumper, but the rest of you will get your shot at it before it becomes official.

BTW, anyone who wants to bring still or video cameras on future rough water fiasc....er...I mean workshop, is encouraged to do so. It would be nice to capture some of these "Kodak moments" for posterity. Just make sure your equipment is waterproof and that it floats! ;-)

"So girls, if you want to improve your forward stroke run, do not walk , to the next Jed Luby's Forward Stroke Clinc for Women."

So, would that be "Chicks with Sticks - II" ? ;-)

"So, what's the solution? Plain old leaky -- and cheaper -- compression sacks inside a bona-fide dry bag?"

That's what I do, but only for my sleeping bag. For clothing, I use the tapered float/dry bags from Voyageur. They allow you to use the fine ends of the boat pretty efficiently and without the potential hassle of having items get stuck there (been there, done that).

I'm certainly not going to argue with the doctor! ;-)

Seriously, thanks for correcting my misconceptions, Andrew.

I'm not sure what the issue with me and Gatorade is, but I just can't drink the stuff straight out of the bottle. Hydrolyte is isotonic and also contains glucose (the original name was E.R.G.- Electrolyte Replacement with Glucose), but it seems much lighter and more palatable.

Other than reduced rates of carb absorption, are there any other disadvantages to drinking fluids that are more dilute than isotonic? For the length of time I paddle and the effort level involved, I don't imagine that hyponatremia would be a problem.

I'm glad to hear that you all made it back safe and sound. Thanks for sharing your experience, so that we all may learn from it.

The most effective way I've found to prevent the bonk is to carry an energy drink and have it accessible enough that you can drink frequently, even in rough conditions. While it won't replace eating entirely, the steady stream of fuel is a good hedge against both bonk and dehydration, which can compound each other.

It's important to be aware of the potential negative effects of overly concentrated drinks. While intuitively one would think that liquid jello or other such drinks would be a big help to a bonked paddler, that is only true if they're properly hydrated. The body can only absorb solutions at a specific concentration (isotonic solutions). Consuming highly concentrated drinks actually causes water to be drawn from your system to dilute the solution enough for absorption. If a paddler is already dehydrated, it will make their condition worse, rather than better. Abdominal cramps may result, as well.

Even many bottled "sports drinks" like Gatorade are too concentrated. I find that most work best when mixed 50:50 with water. Powdered drinks are generally a better bet, since most I've used are isotonic at their recomended mix ratio. They're also a LOT cheaper. My personal favorite is Hydrolyte (aka "E.R.G.") from Gookinaid, which is available at REI or direct from the manufacturer (www.gookinaid.com). It's really cheap by the case.

Lastly, you need to be able to drink no matter what the conditions are. For me, that means using a hydration bladder in a pack on the back of my PFD. Regardless of the system you use, you need to be able to drink while paddling and it needs to be well secured. Bottles stored under bungees or in the cockpit can be less than useless in rough conditions.

Part of the problem with our overly-litigious, "victim mentality" society is that every product we buy is plastered with warnings about improbable dangers. Some of them are so stupid as to be insulting (Don't use a hair dryer in the shower!). This has had the effect of desensitizing many people - if not most - to these labels and they are routinely ignored. When was the last time you read the all the warnings that came with a product you bought? Perhaps you are one of the conciensious few who do read it all and take heed, but I have to admit that I typically don't. While they MAY provide some liability coverage to manufacturers, warning labels - as they've been implemented in most cases - are not likely to have much of a positive effect on the public.

Perhaps if there was a uniform rating system for kayaks industry-wide, it might help. Not so much a warning label as a "selection guide", with boats rated as to their suitability for various purposes. Some manufacturers do this, but many don't.

Another possibility is a standardized booklet about "Getting the most enjoyment from your new kayak" or something to that effect. Explain basic paddles strokes and such, with safety information interspersed throughout. As with labels, there's no guarantee that people would read it, but an enticing title may be less off-putting than a WARNING! label.

The industry could certainly do a better job of promoting safety, starting with making safer boats. IMO, there is NO valid excuse for selling ANY kayak without adequate floatation, either built in (foam, bulkheads,etc.) or supplied separately (float bags). It seems to me that this is especially critical in rec boats, since the padders are more likely to be unskilled beginners. Some manufacturers do this, but most don't.

Manufacturers could also do more to support safety training programs offered through dealers and clubs.

Although it may be somewhat of an unfair burden, much of the responsibility for educating consumers has to fall on the dealers. Unfortunately, you can buy a kayak anywhere, so there is no control over who's selling them. You can't expect a stock clerk at a Sam's Club to know much about the limitations of "kayaks" they sell. Consequently, the buying public is left to their own devices.

Ironically, I think part of the problem is that kayaker deaths - particularly rec and sea kayaks - are relatively few. The risk of lawsuits is minimal, so there's no great pressure on the industry to do anything about it. I'm not saying that this is a conscious decision, but why should manufacturers spend money on improved boats and safety programs that may well reduce sales, if there is no pressing need to do so?

Fortunately, groups like the NSPN exist and do what they can to spread the safety message. We can only reach a small fraction of the paddling public, but it's still worth the effort. Perhaps we should look into soliciting industry sponsorship of our efforts. Specifically, it would be nice to find someone to underwrite the cost of printing a few thousand of the safety brochures, so we would have more to distribute to dealers and directly to the public. Perhaps this is something that the ACA or TAPS (Trade Association for Paddle Sports) would be interested in? Has anyone investigated this avenue?

Great job or the re-do! Very professional looking and it really gets the message out about what kind of organization we are. Way to go, guys!

One thing comes to mind in you lobster boat situation: audible signals. If you'd had a storm horn or something similar, you might have been able to at least warn the boat that you were in the area. If he heard the noise and throttled down, perhaps it would have given you an opportunity to contact him on the radio.

...Greenlanders DID have dry suits. However, they were used for hunding whales from larger open boats (umiaks) and not in kayaks. The tuiliq and kayak function as a single unit to provide protection and floatation. Effectively, the kayak is the Greenlander's PFD. Techniques such as the Petrussen Maneuver illustrate this.

Steve, I think you've captured the raison d-etre of the club perfectly...

'Em were GOOOOD rangs! ;-)

First, I'd like to thank Paul, Chad and Mike for a thoroughly enjoyable trip. It was a great day at sea and the PPPO was outstanding!

Second, a suggestion:

"We need a term for this practice..............."

How about "deck surfing"?