Surfski Knowledge Base

Reivers Dustin
11/19/09 #7409

1) VHF
2) Leash system
3) PFD

What should this list means to me if you do not have these?
a) not paddle with you if the conditions are interesting.
b) stay close and watch over you.
c) loan you stuff.
d) chaulk it up to free will (or destiny).
e) hope Darwin's principle takes you out before you procreate.

There may be other list items such as poor equipment, continual disregard for personal limits, continual disregard for group dynamics, skill level not suited for the conditions, halitosis, poor moral fiber.

If we continue to test ourselves as we like to do, it makes sense to acknowledge consequenses. We've had one very expensive warning. I intend to give that the highest possible value by attending to the learnings. No one else can really do that for you. But, perhaps we should try. If you become another 'lesson' it will cost this wonderful little group a great deal.

rd

Jeff Hegedus <jhegedus@…>
11/19/09 #7411

And include safety lighting when paddling near dusk. Lots of opportunity for arguing about what kind, but no excuse for not having any emergency marine strobe light on the CG approved pfd (save the dinky Mocke for monitored race events).

Larry Goolsby
11/19/09 #7413

The only reason this banter is happening is because we care. Two years ago we lost a friend on an evening when conditions went downhill just as it was starting to get dark. A repeat of this situation would devastate us and would bring the CG down on us hard. We need to equip ourselves with a first line of safety (leash) and a second line of safety (a radio) for when that first line of safety isn't improving the situation. If you are leashed to your boat but you can't remount, the leash is not doing you much good.

As for PFDs, the Mocke isn't CG approved but I had to do a forced swim with it last winter and I grew to love it. They are not dinky, mine has an abundance of flotation that is spread out. Spring of 08' I was using my CG approved pfd while trying to remount the S2-X. I couldn't get back in the boat until I took off the pfd. That was not a safe situation. All the flotation in my approved pfd was centered low and in front of me. The other advantage with the Mocke is the large front pocket; it can carry a large hand held radio and much more. Most approved pfds give you a pocket only big enough for one of those compact radios and nothing else. I was very happy to see Mike show up last Saturday wearing a Mocke and I (along with the rest of the Saturday morning crowd)would be even more happy when he fills the pocket on it.
LG

fennmako
11/19/09 #7415

I've been reading all the safety posts with a good deal of interest, and here's my take on it:
1. I like to paddle in waves on a social basis, without always having to compete.
2. My bias toward social paddling gets messed up in winter because if I'm in a group, I could never see myself adopting the “every man for himself” philosophy.
3. If I “buddy up” in serious conditions, I'm not going to leave my buddy and head for shore. Therefore I will expose myself to considerable risk, particularly if my buddy was inadvertently chosen for me and doesn't have the necessary skill set. Conversely, my skill set is equally likely to endanger the poor sucker who got buddied with me.
4. Given 2 and 3, group paddling becomes problematic.
5. Given 4, I will generally only head out alone, in conditions that I feel comfortable with (25 mph or less, lots of daylight, well dressed), but in all honesty, I'm probably just going to leave the boat in the garage until the weather warms up.
6. We need to get a lot of the ego out of decision-making.
7. There is too much emphasis on equipment taking care of skills that may be lacking.
8. My wife and 3 kids are precious to me.

Simon

No VHF?
Shane Baker
11/19/09 #7416

Simon says it all: There is too much emphasis on equipment taking care of skills that may be lacking.

I will add: You can't buy common sense.

More on safety
lori & beau whitehead
11/19/09 #7417

Yes more… sorry.
Over on the Whatcom SUP forum, there has been a good discussion on safety as well.

When I posted my video from Sunday the 15th I didn't think to make mention of the safety precautions we took. I also did not realize it was the 2 year anniversary of Bips accident.

Anyway, it started some healthy talk about safety from the SUP side of things… pretty much the same stuff you guys talk about. Cold water kills no matter what craft you are on.

This is what we did that day, not perfect, but more than some I've been reading about…

1)PFD's
2)Full wetsuits/booties/gloves
3)leashes
4)only one VHF… I bought one yesterday(-:
5)plenty of people who knew our intended route and ETA
6)plenty of daylight!
7)two of us!

Falling in is not an issue with a SUP… it is a common occurrence and remounting in the wind is pretty darn easy. That day I probably fell in 20 times. Worst case scenario is a broken leash and losing that 14' flotation device. That is why the PFD and being dressed for submersion is so important.
I know there is a lot of knowledge out there on this subject and I'm glad people are willing to share their experiences.

Re: Morris? are you holding out on us?
lori & beau whitehead
11/20/09 #7421

I called the Coast Guard after I heard that they were out looking for 2 “stand up paddlers” on Sunday. I was told by the CG that someone “sitting in a coffee shop with binoculars called them when they saw 2 paddle boarders fall-in.”
Guess I shouldn't fall-in so much…

Beau Whitehead
http://paddlesurfnorthwest.blogspot.com/