Mike Hammond
A few years ago, a kayak was found washed up on an empty beach in Lee County with the paddler nowhere to be found. A multi-agency search for the paddler began that lasted several hours. The search finally ended when the paddler was found safe in his hotel room watching TV. He had rented a kayak from a local outfitter and paddled until he got tired, ditched the kayak and walked back to his hotel without notifying anyone. Although a lot of valuable marine patrol hours and money were wasted, this was a happy ending. The opposite has also occurred. A paddlecraft is found which appears to have blown off someone’s dock and does not cause alarm. Later, a missing person call goes out and they report the person was paddling the same kayak discovered earlier. Precious time was wasted because there was no contact information in the paddlecraft and assumptions made why the paddlecraft was unoccupied.
Whether saving lives or man-hours and money, it is important to have contact information on your paddlecraft in case you or someone else becomes separated from the vessel. I feel fortunate that we do not have to have our paddlecraft registered in Florida as they do in some other states. However, I do understand the argument for doing so. In states where paddlecraft are registered and it is required to display a sticker, it is easy for marine patrols to check owner information.
Why not make it easy for marine units or even helpful neighbors to identify to whom a found paddlecraft belongs? It can help get your paddlecraft returned, deter an unnecessary search, save your life and possibly avoid paddlecraft registration in Florida from becoming a requirement. Our local Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) office has supplied us with waterproof orange stickers on which paddlers can write contact information and affix to their paddlecraft. These stickers will be available (while supplies last) at the Wa-Ke Hatchee, North Fort Myers, Estero and Veterans Park recreation centers. Just ask for a sticker at the front desk. If these locations are not convenient, a three pack of similar stickers are available on Amazon for $6. It’s very simple. Write your name, phone number and your emergency contact’s number on the sticker. Place it somewhere on the paddlecraft where it can be easily found, and then hope you never need it.
In any one of these scenarios when my paddlecraft is found and I’m not in or on it, it was stolen or I need help, then I know that the person calling the number on that sticker will be greatly appreciated. It could save me the cost of a new paddlecraft or a whole lot more.