I love paddling, and I own several human powered craft--mostly to fish. I see more and more around Annapolis where I boat, and there's definitely been an uptick in accidents/fatalities in Maryland.
There's been an ongoing debate about education/registration for all the (nearly 3 decades..oh my, I need to retire) years I've been in this sphere ...
Here are some of the frustrations I have heard from the broader boating community:
The paddling community doesn't support mandatory education for paddling. An example given to me is that New York and Florida both had legislative proposals as recently as this year that would have required mandatory education for paddlers. The paddling community had it removed from both bills.
The paddling community is generally against registration fees. (see other posts in this thread)
State and federal agencies are allocating more and more resources to search and rescue as well as education, with no additional funding sources. (Where Arizona gets funding)
Without any boat registration it's difficult to trace ownership of boats found adrift, which strains SAR resources.
Some things I think woud help...
The paddling manufacturers don't have an association that I know of. Having would would help facilitate distribution of education information and help the community work with retailers.
Adding paddling products into the tax base for the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund would help increase funding that is available to pay for resources going towards paddling.
I do think some form of registration would help with funding and also with locating owners of vessels found adrift.
Having manufacturers, or some entitiy create an ID plate for a paddle craft would help. I know that the Auxiliary put some out a few years ago, but haven't seen anything more recent.
And we do need to consider education options as well.
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Chris Edmonston
President
BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-06-2021 09:07 AM
From: Sigrid Pilgrim
Subject: Paddlesports life jacket messaging
I agree to all except that registration would somehow help
When someone goes to Walmart and buys a $200 rec boat with no info given on the basics of paddle sport safety s/he is not going to register the boat and likely take it out within a few days of purchase
Plus
With two failed registration systems here in Illinois we would strongly oppose any third effort to do so
Let's work with the big box stores
Let's develop and air and print PSA's on safe boating
Let's promote the ACA online education programs, maybe find a way to incentivize taking it
If raising money to help pay for SAR efforts let's add a tax to paddling equipment at the wholesale level similar to other outdoor sport gear
Sigrid pilgrim
Evanston IL
Original Message:
Sent: 8/6/2021 8:49:00 AM
From: Paul Barnard
Subject: RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging
Brian:
I am a paddler. Knowing what I know about the Sportfish Restoration Act funds, I'd like to somehow contribute. Let me explain why.
When I launch my kayak, I am probably going to do so at an SRA funded launch site. If I experience an on water emergency, I will probably get help from someone using SRA funded equipment or an officer trained, in part, with SRA funds. I often see paddlers engaged in unsafe practices, such as paddling with no PFD on board and operating at night with no lights. Our enforcement teams need to attend these matters.
Paddlers and paddle craft are consuming an ever increasing amount of our SAR resources. Paddlers are consuming an ever increasing amount of our law enforcement effort. Paddlers are consuming an ever increasing footprint at our SRA funded launches. There is a rapidly growing need for paddle sports education like the kind of education the ACA provides. The ACA is a beneficiary of the SRA fund. I have found that when paddlers understand the big picture, they are more than happy to contribute. When they look at it as a program that they pay into and get back out of, rather than a revenue stream, it doesn't seem so onerous.
Paul Barnard
Recreational Boating Safety Program Manager
U.S. Coast Guard Eighth District
500 Poydras St. Rm 1331
New Orleans, LA 70130
504-671-2148
Visit The Coast Guard Boating Safety Website https://www.uscgboating.org/
Original Message:
Sent: 8/6/2021 8:29:00 AM
From: Brian Blankinship
Subject: RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging
Paddlers are not against life jackets, nor are they against training. As an ACA instructor I run plenty of courses as do my friends.
What we are against is registration as a revenue stream.
Brian Blankinship
ACA Instructor
Original Message:
Sent: 8/5/2021 2:00:00 PM
From: Chris Edmonston
Subject: RE: Paddlesports life jacket messaging
Kim,
Your state has an AMAZING paddling program, and certainly one to be emulated. For many years, I think the broad boating community has struggled with funding for paddling education. Perhaps registration for paddlecraft could be a part of that funding solution.
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Chris Edmonston
President
BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water
Original Message:
Sent: 08-04-2021 10:40 AM
From: Kim Jackson
Subject: Paddlesports life jacket messaging
Chris,
As a State with no mandatory education, Arizona actually has more students completing a NASBLA approved paddlesports course than the powerboat courses. We are now offering three classes a month all across the State and cannot begin to keep up with demand. Although putting on a paddlesports course is more labor/staff intensive, we find our instructors are more engaged and having fun in teaching.
If we go down the road to mandatory education for paddlers, we will need to find a stable revenue source for the NASBLA membership. In Arizona, we can only use USCG funds for our paddlesports activities, no funds from our watercraft revenue stream, and this funding source is very limited. The Paddlesports Committee would love to have you or one of your staff members join our merry band of paddlers to continue this discussion along with other paddlesports issues.
Happy Paddling,
Kim
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Kim Jackson
Boating & OHV Safety Education Program Manager
AZ Game & Fish Dept
Original Message:
Sent: 08-03-2021 07:59 AM
From: Chris Edmonston
Subject: Paddlesports life jacket messaging
I wonder when we'll start requiring mandatory education for paddlers?
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Chris Edmonston
President
BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water
Original Message:
Sent: 07-08-2021 11:35 AM
From: Scott Eveland
Subject: Paddlesports life jacket messaging
A local City Park lake gets a lot of paddlesports traffic with very little life jacket compliance. The health department and city parks and rec are thinking of putting up a couple of basic signs promoting lifejacket use specifically for paddle sports. Has anybody done something similar and have any designs and or wording they want to share?
Something along the lines of: "Attention paddlecraft users, as a vessel you are required to carry life jackets and anybody under 13 must wear there's per state law."
Obviously that's a pretty dry message, anybody do something similar that can jazz it up a little bit?
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Scott Eveland
Nebraska Game & Parks Comm
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