Four dead in Lake Superior

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Jammer

Well, I would imagine that the boat was overloaded, and it was a poor choice for the lake.

There is an absence of clarity and nuance in how the MNDNR talks about paddling in the Apostle Islands. There are people who are generally comfortable in a family kayak but don't know its limitations. The MNDNR places great emphasis on boating sober and with a PFD. The family did that. People take kayaks around the islands pretty routinely (and along the shore), which is fine, as long as you have an escape plan if the weather turns

The problem is crossing between islands. The DNR's position is more or less that you should just take a charter because you, the family boater, do not have a suitable craft or skills. And people disregard this because it sounds like a money grab for the charters and because it's obviously not true. Better if they say use a sea kayak, be skilled, no kids; or use a boat at least 24', twin motors or sail.

We've had two rescues near my house this year on the Cannon River. Previous years we've had none at all or the occasional flood related or drinking related accident. It's a little river that can't support more than a canoe or kayak over most of its length. But there's been a huge swell of interest in canoeing and kayaking on it, and so they get people with no skills and no judgement. One rescue was someone in a cheap inflatable that deflated in the middle of nowhere leaving the family stranded. The other was a woman who capsized, got caught on a strainer, broke her leg, and her companions couldn't get her off the strainer. I believe they were using an outfitter and couldn't swim.

Tragic if they received bad information or advice regarding the safety of doing what they attempted. The people who manage the Apostles should certainly be clearer about this. As you know, these waters are not to be treated lightly.

[Rorzech]

I remember floating around at the beach on Lake Superior in July on an air mattress facing down. After a half hour i found myself dancing on the beach in the very hot sand desperately trying to thaw my frozen feet. The pain was excruciating. That woke me up to how cold that lake is. It has been said that you're lucky to last 15 minutes in Lake Superior.
That is horrifying to lose a life. My wife and I 40 years ago watched a young guy on a sail board in a wet suit sail straight out into Lake Superior until he was gone out of sight. We never suspected he could get in trouble.The next day it was in the news. We were kids ourselves and you don't think of bad things happening when you're so young. We live and learn . I feel deeply for that poor mother.

[bbowman294]

I live in Maine..................I see soooooooooo many kayakers along the shore and out on the ocean with no life jackets and some men with their shirts off.


Totally clueless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


THEY have NO idea!!!

[LoudMusic]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

... what an idiotic decision to try and paddle that far, in those waters, with five! people in a "13 ½-foot, open-top tandem kayak”. I’m sorry, but that is just dumb.

When I read what boat they were using I dismissed the entire article to "stupid people boating".

[hpeer]

We have had some regular kayakers in our Cove this summer. Water here has been in mid-60s. One afternoon my two cousins were sitting on a porch and happened to see something of interest. They glassed the scene and then got a boat and went out. A party of 4, each on a decent kayak, one guy went in and could not get back out, wet suit. By the time my cousins got there he was pretty cold. They got him out. That fellow was damn lucky. Most benign conditions that day.

[Sailorbob8599]

. . . but as kids, we just knew it would NEVER happen to us! . . . Sad, very sad.

[bumpman]

I lived in Maine and now PNW Pt. Townsend. I only use sit-on-top kayaks. I once took a kayak self-rescue course - it took 20 minutes to self-rescue in a sit-in kayak while in my sit-on-top it took 11 seconds to right the overturned boat and be back onboard. Duh, for cold water. Sadly, the deaths from hypothermia in kayak mishaps will continue needlessly, especially with novices renting. When I row or sail an open small boat I always tow a small sit-on-top - my "dinghy" for a small boat. Don't care if some folks laugh; I'm alive. Smart folks will get the idea.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by bumpman

I lived in Maine and now PNW Pt. Townsend. I only use sit-on-top kayaks. I once took a kayak self-rescue course - it took 20 minutes to self-rescue in a sit-in kayak while in my sit-on-top it took 11 seconds to right the overturned boat and be back onboard. Duh, for cold water. Sadly, the deaths from hypothermia in kayak mishaps will continue needlessly, especially with novices renting. When I row or sail an open small boat I always tow a small sit-on-top - my "dinghy" for a small boat. Don't care if some folks laugh; I'm alive. Smart folks will get the idea.

look for a blue and white spencer 42 anchored by the ferry terminal. thats one of mine

[bumpman]

OT. See you at the boat show? I'm showing my Carpenter at Port Hudson.

[davefromoregon]

I happened to be in Bayfield when that happened and went on a commercial cruise around the Apostles. The weather was surprisingly calm. Obviously the water temp would lead quickly to hypothermia, but it was not rough out there.