Re: [Paddlewise] What do you paddle?

> R. Walker wrote:
> 
> > I feel underpriveledged!!!  I only have one boat.
> > 
> > Its a Dagger Edisto, its a little less than 15' I think.
> > Perhaps a little small for folks around here, but I was
> > afraid of putting anything longer on top of my little
> > Tercel.  I added a deck compass and it came with a nice
> > rudder.  It has no forward bulkhead, which at first made
> > me a little nervous, but I've come to really like being
> > able to get all my fishing equipment with me under the
> > deck, including my long 2 piece flyrod.  
> SNIP
> 
> Do you store the forward gear in an inflated dry bag which is tied into the boat? 
> If not, then you may not have adequate bow flotation should you ever get swamped. 
> There are some really good boats with no forward bulkheads and it's not really a
> problem as long as some type of secure flotation is provided.  As you probably know,
> having flotation in only the stern can lead to having the swamped boat sitting
> vertical in the water, with the bow pointed towards the bottom!  This can make it
> *very* tough get the water out & re-enter.  Food for thought.

I have inflated bags in both bow and stern; and it is boyount
enough to where it doesn't do what you are talking about.  I
have swamped it in the pool, and its fine.   The no forward 
bulkhead also allows for a neat trick, lifting the bow up 
out of the water, you can get the boat almost dry, then flip,
almost as easy as doing it with a canoe... [almost :->]

To be honest though, it wouldn't really matter unless there
was some really bad luck, 99% of the time I am in water that
is three foot deep or less.  So while I have practiced 
recovering the boat over the deep end of the pool, its not
a skill that I likely will ever have much use for.  It is
nice to know that I can do it, if I do venture offshore to 
the rigs and capsize while trying to boat a big Red Snapper.


***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
***************************************************************************