[Awclist] Fwd: RE: "BOAT ACT REGULATIONS"

[Scofield, Tim]

  Based on this response I received from the NM Energy, Minerals and 
Natural Resources (State Parks) I don't think getting rid of the type IV 
throwable device requirement will be that hard.

Getting the statue changed is possible, we just need to emphasize the 
safety issue. Mike Neis wrote a poem for an old Flipline article that 
would help. It describes his attempted rescue of a teenage boy caught in 
a raft bowline in the Room of Doom on Westwater Canyon. I ran it the day 
after and got to see the Parks Service boat & divers looking for the 
body. I'll dig up the article and send it to Paul this weekend. I too 
have seen someone caught up in a rope because they didn't believe me 
about keeping the rope properly stored. Thankfully that was a heads-up 
situation.

Tim.

P/S I sent the email to them in May, and received a response in July.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	RE: "BOAT ACT REGULATIONS"
Date: 	Fri, 9 Jul 2010 16:30:43 -0600
From: 	Velasquez, Toby G., EMNRD <toby.velasquez at state.nm.us>
To: 	<timscofi at comcast.net>



Mr. Scofield,

Good afternoon, I hope this message finds you doing well. Thank you for 
taking the time to review the New Mexico Boat Act regulations. I welcome 
and value inquiries, input and feedback from the public; especially 
those with specialized skills and knowledge such as yours. I agree with 
your concern regarding the current requirement of a Class IV Throwable 
Device for some vessels. The State Parks Division (SPD) has been aware 
of this issue and is committed to revising this portion of regulation 
during our next phase of regulation changes.

Again, thank you for your concern about this issue, which I share.  SPD 
has made some great strides in the improvement of its boating safety & 
law enforcement program over the past few years, but some revisions and 
clean up are still necessary to rules and regulations that have been 
around for years. SPD will continue to strive to improve our regulations 
and I would like to be able to contact you in the future so that you 
could provide me your thoughts on potential regulation changes.

Have a great weekend and please feel free to contact me in the future 
with any inquiries or concerns you may have.

Toby G. Velasquez

Chief Law Enforcement & Boating Safety

New Mexico State Parks Division

Phone: (505) 476-3369

Fax:   (505) 476-3361

E-mail: toby.velasquez at state.nm.us <mailto:toby.velasquez at state.nm.us>

*PFD_banner*

------------------------------------------------------------------------

*From:* Scofield, Tim [mailto:timscofi at comcast.net]
*To:* Parks, NM, EMNRD
*Subject:* "BOAT ACT REGULATIONS"

It's good to see the effort you're putting into you're website on 
boating, rivers, and river safety.

I took a quick look at the "BOAT ACT REGULATIONS" 
<http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/BOATINGWeb/documents/ParkRegulationsandBoatingGuide6.52004.pdf>  
and saw some good things and some unworkable requirements, Next time you 
change the boating regulations you should incorporate input from the 
whitewater community so that you'll have something more workable and 
useful. The requirement to wear a life jacket is good, but the 
requirement for a class 4 throwable device is unworkable for many 
vessels (e.g. inner tube, small playboat style kayak, decked canoe, 
etc). In addition, in serious whitewater a class IV throwable device is 
useless. It won't keep you above water, and you can't swim with it 
effectively.  A throw rope is very useful if you're trained in how to 
handle ropes in swift water.  And, you've trained the people  you're 
trying to rescue in how to use it, otherwise they just hold it in their 
hands, get a face full of water, and let go. You have to hold it over 
your shoulder and face away from your rescuer in order to be able to 
breathe in swift water and hold the rope.  For untrained people,  ropes 
and bow lines in swift water just contribute to the danger due to 
entanglement hazards.

Tim Scofield
American Canoe Association Whitewater Kayak Instructor (Level 4 -  #46650)
505-845-8063(W)
505-265-4853(H)



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