G'day - John Winters makes a point about putting on sponsons in conditions that are less than ideal (forgive me John if I don't quote you exactly, but I really do not have not much time to fully read and absorb the articles other than speed reading - and deleting!) As I have stated before, as a professional kayak guide, I get out onto the water a lot with our business and with private trips (at least 25 days each month on average). I have observed that it can be absolute hell to hold onto those deck lines on your boat in rougher conditions (I'm talking over two meter swell with breaking tops). I'd also like to say that, in my mind, for truly "experienced" paddlers this is often not all that serious, depending on a variety of factors. Having decklines can give quite a sense of false security. The problem is, once you are out of the boat and in the water that boat is a very potentially lethal weapon. The mass of the boat means that it catches a lot of water. Also, the lengths of most kayaks mean that once you are out of the kayak, large sections of the boat (especially at the stern and the bow) are not in the water or on the waves at the same time. It can nearly rip your fingers off as the wave catches it or the bow or stern rocket up or down. Often I can relate it to what I think it must be like getting back onto a very uncooperative bucking bronco. I do not come out of my boat very often and if it does occur, it usually happens in over two meter surf after a day of playing around when I should have already gone home. I have had some pretty serious bruising of my fingers come out of gripping those deck lines and that is holding onto the kayak amidships where there is less dramatic movement than at the stern or the bow!! I just can't fathom how anyone would be able to safely put sponsons on in those conditions. OK, maybe it should be argued that one should not be there, but I am talking about having just spent the last four hours playing in that surf, run after run, and then every now and then on rare occaisions coming unstuck. I have to say that avoidance of the situation and solid paddling skills training is far better than being beside that darn boat as it bucks and heaves and attempts to do a good job of ripping your arms and fingers from their normal positions and stoving in your head shoulders or any other part of your anatomy. Just the view of a guy who spends a lot of time on the water (and sometimes, much to my chagrin - in it). Regards Wayne Langmaid Central Coast Kayak Tours - Australia *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************Received on Sat Jan 31 1998 - 00:42:01 PST
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