"No Spam" wrote in message
news:Vb_Id.14464$1l2.1670@trndny05...
[snippage]
I don't really bother to
think in terms of a standardized rating system. I may not quantify
conditions "by the numbers", but I guess somewhere inside me there's
my own mysterious and particular (peculiar?) rating system. :-)

- --
Melissa

Being a relatively new paddler (about 3 years and can't get out enough). I
also have developed my own peculiar rating system.

1- Oh how boring, but maybe the view will make up for it.
2 - This looks promising.
3 - I think I can
4 - See you folks later for dinner, cause there ain't no way I'm goin out
today.

So far it has worked. I only had to invoke number 4 once last year on a
trip
to Lake Erie. They were breaking 4-6 footers and I'm not ready yet. It
would
have been a launch from rocks on top of that. I was the first to say no
and
quickly everyone decided that the river was a better bet for the day. We
did
the Vermillion river that day and ended up doing one of the protected bays
the next. We paddled out and took a look at the lake but I'm not even sure
we could have pushed out past the breakwater. We did have 2 people that
went
out past the breakwater from the Vermillion river the first day. They were
doing pretty good and then one of them went for a swim and in the process
of
3-4 reentries his paddle broke. While they did have a spare on the rear
deck
of one of the boats they made the decision to tow the capsized boater into
shore. They landed on a private beach quite to the amusement of the
homeowner. He offered a ride to one of the guys and they came and got the
rest of the group to bring the kayak trailer around to collect the boats
and
the swimmer. Gave us something to talk about during dinner.

Both you, Ken, and Melissa bring up a very good point. Ocean and lakes are
NOT rated by the traditional river rating system, because the conditions are
so variable. As a result, folks who play on the beach are welcome to devise
their own rating system, and it is inevitably based on their own ability
to run that particular water. And on any particular day, three different
boaters may rate the same beach waves differently, depending on their skills
and equipment.

River runners need a similar system, or else there will be the same old
arguments forever about whether or not class 4 is 'runnable' in an open
boat, or class 5 is 'runnable' at all.....

--riverman

....stuff deleted

Both you, Ken, and Melissa bring up a very good point. Ocean and lakes are
NOT rated by the traditional river rating system, because the conditions are
so variable. As a result, folks who play on the beach are welcome to devise
their own rating system, and it is inevitably based on their own ability
to run that particular water. And on any particular day, three different
boaters may rate the same beach waves differently, depending on their skills
and equipment.

River runners need a similar system, or else there will be the same old
arguments forever about whether or not class 4 is 'runnable' in an open
boat, or class 5 is 'runnable' at all.....


Valid points, all. After reviewing the Tsunami Ranger's rating system, I
was fairly impressed by the number factors they consider, but as was
pointed out, common sense (gee, this looks dangerous) is the best
defense. Too many seem to lack the skill and are overly optimistic about
the conditions.

In my ocean trips, I always ask others for an assessment of the
conditions. Often, I stay out of it, entirely, until everyone has their
say. If anyone feels uncomfortable with the conditions, we change the
paddling plan (calmer sites are often available). Sometimes, I make the
choice for the group to change the plan (if I am leading, that is).
There are times when novices choose conditions that are beyond their
skill and I've seen this both in paddling and diving.

Sadly, nobody is completely innocent of this. Sometimes, having a mix of
novices and experienced paddlers is what keeps a group from making the
wrong choices.

Rick