Oci-One Kanubi ) writes:
(William R. Watt) typed:

... Too many boaters drown every year
in North America, in the course of "teaching themselves", as Watt
advocates.

I'll have to take you to task on that one. Data please. I believe you'll
find its not paddling skill but ignorance of local conditions which
constitutes the greatest risk. For that you'd need a guide. I know the
Province of Ontario licences knowlegeable locals as guides. I know because
members of my family have been licenced guides. I don't know what is done
in other jurisdictions.

I'm pleased to see posters in this newsgroup accepting the fact that many
people teach themselves the simple act of paddling naturally, and have
done so at least since the beginning of human occupation of North Amercia.
I consider it a shame that 80% of the population of NA are currently
raised in congested cities, have little contact with water in its natural
state, and lack the necessary experience should they come into contact
with it in later life.


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