wrote in message
...
On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:06:55 -0400, Tosk
wrote:

In article ,
says...

On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:34:54 -0400, Jeff wrote:

So I could believe that canoes are responsible for a disproportional
number of deaths, but not kayaks. My hunch is that most kayakers wear
PFDs, but many canoe users are actually fishing and don't think they
are
at risk.

Although I often wear a PFD while kayaking, I have trouble convincing
my
wife to do so, because we almost always kayak in very protecting
fla****er, often only a few feet deep.

The only difference I see is canoes can carry a bigger cooler so they
may drink more beer. PFD use is spotty for both craft on our river.
The real scary thing is they seem to have no respect for power boats
and assume they are not only seen but will be yielded right of way.
When the power boat is a PWC things can get real dicey since most PWC
drivers refuse to give anyone quarter. They assume they have no wake.

I think the mentality of a kayaker is that they may end up in the water
so they are inherently more prepared than "casual canoe paddlers". Also,
older or less mobile folks tend to choose to sit in a canoe rather than
kneel or sit in a kayak... My point again is that kayak paddlers are
more equipt and prepared for a swamping...

Maybe the "owners". I am just talking about the renters I see.

The owners do seem to carry around a bit of attitude and defy power
boats to encroach on their right of way, real or imagined.
When they are in the channel that can be a dangerous attitude to have.
I am glad they are prepared to get swamped. I go slow most of the time
but I am in the minority.
Wayne knows, this can be a pretty tricky river to negotiate and some
guys push it pretty hard. I am real surprised we haven't had a bad
accident.

We have the collage (shell) rowing teams practicing all winter in the Grand
Canal over here. It's good, sheltered water and a great place for them to
practice but they haul ass with everyone looking the wrong way!
I was almost hit in the pontoon when I kicked it into neutral after seeing a
manatee right in front of my boat. Thing was going faster than we were when
we were in gear when my wife yelled for them to look out. Yeah, we got the
dirty looks.
Rear view mirrors would be a good idea on those things.