Someone finally got to the real issue here, but it goes further than just
insurance. These personal freedom folks who don't wear
motorcylcle helmets, car seatbelts, PFD's, ad infinitum, fully expect the
rest of society to suck up the social and actual costs of
their rescues and injuries when they occur.


The real issue here? Personal freedom folks? Oh really? I do not consider
myself to be a "personal freedom" zealot. Instead I see myself as a seeker of
the truth. I have stated previously that pfd's cannot be compared to automobile
seatbelts or motorcycle helmets. Both have been shown beyond any reasonable
doubt to make a significant contribution towards safety on the road. But since
you insist on lumping pfd's into the equation then I would very much appreciate
it if you could state your sources which show the pfd to be of equal
effectiveness to the automobile seatbelt or the motorcycle helmet.
Ulli mentioned the report released by the American Canoe Association
entitled, Critical Judgment, Understanding and Preventing Canoe and Kayak
Fatalities." Although I believe they have taken some liberties with some of
their conclusions, let us nonetheless take a quick peek at that report, shall
we?
On page 17 it is reported that;

"Operator inexperience or inattention and hazardous water or weather by
themselves, or combined with other factors, were the major causes of canoe and
kayak fatalities. These factors accounted for 57% of all canoeing fatalities,
and for 90% of all kayaking fatalities."

Hmmm, no mention of a pfd there. Then on page 18 is a chart which shows that in
the years from 1996 to 2000, 50% of the kayaking fatalities WERE WEARING PFD's,
while 44% were not! This hardly presents a startling picture of the
effectiveness of pfd's in kayaking. Yet so many of you insist that pfd's are
the answer and anyone who paddles a kayak without wearing one should be
punished! Why? No, really, I would like to know. Why? Since you people are so
fervently adamant about pfd's then I'm certain your opinions must be based on
some pretty substantial evidence which somehow I managed to overlook. So please
enlighten me! I'm all ears.

Scott
So.Cal.