"Michael Daly" writes:

On 23-Oct-2003, Mary Malmros wrote:

There you go! You got a divine right to scuba.

Hardly. You'd have a hard time finding a dealer that would
sell you air without a license unless you're in a tourist
haven offshore (Cuba's a good example). The key is that
it's a standard that's enforced within the industry - there's
no equivalent in paddling.

Michael, I will point out for the third time that an industry
practice by consensus does NOT equal a law. You DO have the legal
right to scuba. Do you want to start talking about moral rights?
Theology debate down the hall, please.

My local whitewataer outfitter won't rent a boat to
anyone except if they sign a pretty long form in which they have to
specifically initial statements that they have various skills.

Does a retailer similarly not sell a kayak to anyone who
walks in the door? Sorry, but this is where it breaks down.
While some may be reluctant to rent, there are lots of places
to buy gear without restriction.

Do you think that it's impossible to buy scuba gear off the net?
Would someone check my license if I tried to do so, and tell me I
couldn't buy without it?

I've heard this assertion many times, but not once yet heard a
convincing argument to support it

After several teenagers were killed in an avalanche in the Canadian
Rockies, a western federal politician has been ranting on setting up
controls for backcountry skiing. So far, her hysterics have been
largely ignored. Skiers aren't ignoring her yet.

Still no convincing argument. You are talking about a questioning
of outfitter practices related to backcountry skiing in
avalanche-prone territory, not governmental restrictions prohibiting
kayakers from taking to the water for their own good. There's no
slippery slope here, even if this particular one were sliding, which
it ain't.

If she wasn't
in a minor opposition party, her voice in government might carry
further.

And if the little frog had wings, he wouldn't have bumped his ass.
Do you think that perhaps there's a relationship between her
membership in a minor opposition party, and her championing of this
"cause"? Think about it.

Sea kayakers in Canada are required, by law, to carry a throw rope
at all times. Most of us, even those with WW rescue training,
question the need. Other than towing, I can think of very few
uses for a throw rope in a sea kayak. A tow rope, maybe, but a
throw rope makes a mediocre tow rope. Someone thought it would be
a good idea and imposed it.

And kayakers blow it off, and no one gets busted.

Meanwhile, here in Massachusetts, two women died kayaking
within the last couple of weeks, in what was quite likely a case of
insufficient preparation and/or skills and/or judgment.

Must have got that gear from one of those responsible dealers with
lots of guts.

Look, Mike, for all you know they built the boats themselves, or
borrowed them from a friend, or found them washed up on the beach,
or stole them from under someone's deck. But this brings up another
interesting point. You're opposed to the government being the nanny
and keeping us from hurting ourselves...but you want outfitters to
take on the role instead? Help me understand this because I'm
really not getting it. Regulation is regulation, and if someone's
saying, "Tut tut tut, no kayaking for YOU," what do you care if
their badge says The Gummint or Joe Bob's Kayaks?

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Mary Malmros
Some days you're the windshield,
Other days you're the bug.