More on mandated education

Last week I found a story about a proposal to require kayakers take boating safety classes. And I didn't like it. The story focused on sea kayakers and made the case we needed to be licensed. I thought the problem was bigger than sea kayaking.

Today, John Fetterman responded to my blog. You have to read it. He makes a good case for education. States that required motorized boater safety classes saw a 30 percent drop in fatalities.

In 2007, six people died in kayak and canoe accidents in Maine. Only one of those people was wearing a life jacket. I remember that one of those people not wearing a life jacket was a man who didn't know how to swim.

Fetterman makes the case that all boaters could use mandatory education. I agree that increased education and awareness can save lives. But don't wait for the state to make a new law. Learn now.

Where's the PFD?

A couple Sundays ago, Deirdre Fleming had a feature about outrigger canoes. The story include photos.

Staff photo by Doug Jones

As the above photo shows, one paddler went without a lifejacket. Another left his mostly unzipped. Safety-minded readers noticed.

The paddlers didn't feel they needed PFDs. The weather was dead calm. They were close to shore. There other people who could help them out.

Those are good reasons. But everything's a risk. We need to choose those risks carefully. But this part bothers me:

Veteran canoe paddlers Eric and Cindy McNett argue that because of their experience and skills, they know their ability and how to handle an emergency; therefore, they do not need to wear life jackets all the time.

I know a guy who has been paddling for more than 40 years. At one time he was a world-class paddler. No exaggeration. He has earned the confidence to take off his lifejacket. The McNetts aren't that experienced.

It doesn't sound like they consider it a risk. Again, it's a personal decision. But recognize it as a risk.

Yes, I wear my PFD religiously. I am a decent swimmer. But I don't want to take that risk. A lot can go wrong when you fall out of a boat. The damn thing can hit you on the head. And why would you fall out of a boat in the first place? There may be a medical problem that causes you to lose balance. That problem is not going away in the cold water. It's going to hinder your self rescue. The PFD increases my chance of survival and takes a lot of problems out of the mix.

And my PFD is easy to wear. I don't feel hindered by it. And it doesn't cramp my ego. There are too many reasons to wear it.

It's the same as a seat belt. Let's pretend its use isn't mandated by law. How many of you put on your seat belt when you are just driving to the corner store? How many times do you drive without getting into an accident? That seat belt seems pretty unnecessary. Or does it?

While I'm at it, how about this part?

''We know our limitations. We know all about cold weather. Conditions don't take us by surprise. We watch the weather first, so we are not surprised by some kind of front.''

In July 2004, Cindy McNett was stuck on Bangs Island in Casco Bay after fog rolled in, and she was unable to find her way in a canoe from Jewell Island to the mainland. She and other paddlers camped on the island that night before finding their way off in the morning.

McNett said she learned from that experience, and now travels with a GPS.

I'm not going to rant about the unreliability of GPS units. Because I'm sure the McNetts have learned how to use a compass and chart. Plus I'm sure they have learned how to use emergency communication devices - flares or VHF radio. And I'm sure they have some sort of emergency supplies so they don't have to huddle under a lifejacket in the cold night.

Licensing kayakers

Maj. John Fetterman is a deputy chief with the Maine Marine Patrol and president of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. And he thinks that kayakers need to be required to take safety classes.

Search and rescue missions have become a huge drain on resources. So we need to qualify for kayaking licenses.

I agree that safety education is key to saving lives on the water. The only more effective measure is wearing a PFD. There' are a lot of risks on the water but they can be mitigated with knowledge and preparation.

But I'm going to pick apart Fetterman's argument very carefully. If I ever need help on the water, he's probably going to be one of the people there for me. So I have a great deal of respect for him. But I don't think the problem is as big as he makes it.

There aren't many stats to back him up. The U.S. Coast Guard says in 2006 there were 27 kayaking fatalities and 72 canoeing fatalities out of 710 total. Most were motorboat accidents involving speed. I wonder how many were also alcohol related. But no other stats were available.

If you have any numbers, pass them along. I'm willing to bet kayaking rescues and casualties are not frequent. Yes, I remember last year's fatality off Wood Island. And I agree that a little more education and preparation could have saved a life. But I suspect more people drown in inland waters while fishing and snowmobiling than kayaking anywhere. Again, let me know if this is wrong.

The USAToday story seems to focus on salt-water accidents. Which is why a member of Maine's Marine Patrol is involved. But concentrating on licensing sea kayakers is only addressing a small part of the problem. There are way more people putting themselves in danger.

And I have to wonder about enforcement. Marine patrol and Coast Guard resources are stretched thin now. Can they afford to conduct kayak license checks?

What about guided trips? If somebody wants to hire a guide to take a kayaking trip, do they need to get a license for a once in a lifetime trip? Or is there an exception for groups with a registered guide? Guides tend to give their clients safety training. Maybe they feel that's good enough for a day.

I understand people need to paddle smarter. They need to wear lifejackets. They need to understand how deadly the ocean temperatures can be. They need to have a method of calling for help that does not rhyme with cell phone. But making us get licenses is not going to make the rescue business much easier. There are more knuckleheads who need to get with the program.

Sate of Maine Boating Laws & Rules

No matter what kind of boat you use, you need to know the rules of the "road." DIFW has it's boating booklet online.