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Originally Posted by Evenstar
You're not getting my point at all. My point was that high speed boats have a very negative impact on other boaters.
In response to your post:
1.) I don't believe that it was ever even stated that all of those 20 fatalities were caused because none of the victims was wearing a PDF.
2.) It was also never stated how many of those 20 deaths occurred on rivers (as in white water), most of which are not even navitatable for a powerboat. So this data is being used to compare very different types of boating on very different types of water.
3.) Wearing a PDV is much like wearing a helmet on a motorcycle (or while downhill skiing). Both will greatly increase your chances of survival, but if your aren't wearing one, you're the only one who suffers. Not wearing one isn't very smart, but it has no real impact on other boaters (or drivers).
4.) Wearing a PDV is just as important in a powerboat as in a human powered boat.
I'm not sure about fatalities, but paddlers have been seriously hurt but being hit by powerboats, even in NH waters.
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Evenstar...
It doesn't matter where the deaths have occurred. The reality of the situation is kayaks and canoes account for the largest percentage of fatalities, almost all of them drownings that were preventable if they were wearing a PFD. The U.S. Coast Guard report, and the NTSB Boater Safety Alert make this point abundantly clear.
Read the 2004 U.S. Coast Guard Report. I think the data you should read is on page 10. To summarize, there were 136 Canoes/Kayaks involved in accidents, resulting in 98 deaths. Of those 98 deaths 95 were from drowning! 5 deaths were classified as other. It doesn't break down the percentage of those drowning deaths that were the result of not wearing a PFD, but I bet its a pretty high pertcentage... say 90% or so were not wearing a PFD!
Your argument that wearing a PFD is like wearing a helmet on a motorcycle, or in skiing makes no sense. Its not the fall that kills you in skiing or motorcycling, its the sudden decelleration/stop caused by a collision with an immovable object. You are not the only one to suffer... your family, your friends, the rescuers who try to save you, the hospitals etc.
Your statement that paddlers have been hit by powerboats is also subject to interpretation. In 2004 there were 136 Canoes/Kayaks involved in accidents nationwide (see page 10 of the USCG report). Of those accidents 7 were from collisions with another boat. Only 7 collisions NATIONWIDE!
Island Lover and APS...
That accident you posted is a good case in point. The primary cause of the accident was listed as "Operator Inexperience", not speed. Accidents do happen. As with the Littlefield/Hartman tragedy, the tragedy over on Lake Wicwas, and this one, I am sure the NHMP did a thorough investigation into the accident. If speed were the primary factor I am sure it would have been noted as such.
No one is saying accidents "Dont Count". But the issue is with your logic path. You don't seem to think the NHMP are doing thier job, yet the accident & fatality rate are down substantially. You claim that they don't track boat speed, yet in every accident you guys have brought up, there was an estimated speed given by the NHMP Accident Reconstruction Team.
Woodsy