Good on you Jeweller. Can't get enough solid citizens such as your co workers and yourselves to risk your own health and safety to help stupid people. It's part of the deal you signed up for unfortunately.
Here we go again, same story, every time an idiot get's into trouble guys and gals like Jeweller need to risk their own safety to save an idiot in a canoe in 40 something water. I hope the injuries aren't serious, hypothermia is a serious injury, I wish that individual a successful recovery, but they are idiots. Stupidity is something one has no control over. It's a DNA thing, stupid is past down through the gene pool and a person with limited intelligence has to be empathized because it's not their fault. But an idiot or someone ignorant has a semblance of intelligence and refuses to use it.
Small craft on big water. Ice burg dodging might be a new extreme sport. And who pays for these idiots misadventure? Our legislators need to bring forward tougher laws for the exact circumstances such as this. We talked about this at great length this past year and I have already voiced my opinion ad nausium concerning this subject. I will again reiterate we did some absolute stupid things as kids like making an annual event every New Years day skiing down the Hamilton Escarpment where no groomed hills were. It also was an annual event to visit the emergency room at the General Hospital. What's the saying? Young and stupid! Yep that would have been us, admit it we all were at least once or twice. Like slip streaming behind an 18 wheeler in a British sports car to save gas, yes that was me. I think there aren't many among us that wasn't at one point in life that we didn't do something really idiotic. I hear even the Pope was an idiot when a kid in South America.
Now to get back the point (finally John) I personally feel the boaters exam is inadequate. I don't know of anyone that didn't pass the test, online or in a class setting. I attended a seminar at a local marine dealer, it taught me plenty, and we could ask questions to clarify which was fantastic. I find it difficult to ask my computer a question, she like other females in my life don't answer me. It is far better than the qualification needed before the legislation, which was a boat and a motor. Without beating the same dead horse again I strongly feel that there should be a minimum size vessel and power to be any further than a mile out on a large body of water. Yes many bad things can happen 100 yards from shore but a tinny with an electric trolling motor or anything that can not do say 30MPH and remain stable at that speed has no business out on any big lake. We have all seen them out trolling up to or over 10 miles out, and if one spends enough time on a big lake will have the pleasure of towing someone to the dock because the vessel can't safely get back. Just last year we brought a family of 4 onboard to get them in when 1/2 meter waves quickly became 2 meter swells, I find it unnerving in my 19 foot deep V aluminum, it would be a life threatening situation on anything smaller than a 17 foot aluminum. My uncle taught me that you shouldn't be out in anything that can't go faster than the wind can blow and you will be good. Out here you would need a Pete Fountain offshore racer when she's blowing to out run a storm, but it is a good rule of thumb. You can't drive on any road on an electric scooter and the same should hold true for our waterways. There is no way canoes and 14 foot tinnies should be far from shore, no freaking way. All should to have the right to enjoy a beautiful day on the lake, in a bay or within a reasonable distance from the shoreline. Like I said earlier one can't use a disabled scooter on the road and the same holds true for tinnies on a big lake, what's the difference? E bikes aren't allowed on an 80 KPH road, but out here there are a few idiots that do. One guy that lost his license uses his lawnmower to go to the hotel for his fix. When a car comes behind him he uses the shoulder then moves back onto the paved surface.
I know I've kissed the ground a few times after running in with less than 2 meter waves in my 19 footer. I've talked to more than 1 boater that thought they were going to meet their maker 1/2 way across from Erie PA in a 30 foot cruiser. They left when the water was like glass and a storm kicks up that wasn't expected by the weather services.
One wants to risk the safety of themselves is one thing, putting your family in danger as well as our real life hero's like @jeweler and his co workers is another thing.
How many people need to die before something only logical is done about it?
Just my opinion.
John D
Someone needs to inform them that the Titanic didn't fair well with icebergs in the water so what ever gave them the idea a canoe would?????
