NYCkayaker Weight and Rescues: Was ferry sinking

[Mo Fridlich]

It is a good idea to keep a rope that will fit around the cockpit and hang down into the water. The end in the water should have a loop for the person to put their foot in and thus give them a boost up. I carry one in the pocket of my life vest that will fit my cockpit, but it is adjustable and would most likely fit any kayak.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Erik Baard 
  To: nyckayaker at rockandwater.net 
  Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 5:49 PM
  Subject: NYCkayaker Weight and Rescues: Was ferry sinking


  Ocean Kayak told me that the Malibu 2 XL was designed with 5 years worth of girth growth factored in because the company was having trouble keeping up with America's obesity problem. Fortunately, some studies say we've leveled off. I'm doing my share -- dropped 25 pounds from my peak of 240 to 215, but hey -- I'm 6'4.5".

  Seriously, I have done some rescues on obese people and they've been fine -- in calm water conditions. But are there techniques for this circumstance?

  My own solutions have been:

  1) A third boat for rafting up, stabilizing the primary rescuer's craft.
  2) Once actually getting out of my own boat and holding both sterns behind the person being rescued, placing one foot in my boat, and using the other leg to boost the person back into their boat.

  This second method requires that I exit my boat. That's fine in ideal conditions (I do solo reentries pretty well), but not in chop or traffic. 

  Any other ideas? I'd hate to exclude people based on weight.

  Best regards,

  Erik


  On Jul 26, 2006, at 5:32 PM, mike pidel wrote:


    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/25/AR2006072501257.html
    Overloading Cited By NTSB in Fatal Tour Boat Sinking
     
    By Michelle García
    Washington Post Staff Writer
    Wednesday, July 26, 2006; Page A04
     
    NEW YORK, July 25 -- A cruise boat on a foliage tour on Lake George last year was overloaded and should have been carrying far fewer passengers when it capsized and 20 elderly people died, according to a report issued by federal investigators Tuesday.
     
    The National Transportation Safety Board found that the tour boat, the Ethan Allen, had 48 people on board when it overturned on a calm day on the lake in the Adirondacks. The vessel was certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry 48 passengers and two crew members, but the guidelines were drafted when the average American weighed 140 pounds, about 35 pounds less than the average now.
     
    What's more, the Ethan Allen, operated by Shoreline Cruises, underwent a modification after its certification that made the boat suitable for only 14 people, investigators found.
     
    best
    mike
     
    http://galvoguy.blogspot.com/
     
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