Re: [Paddlewise] in search of the perfect paddlefloat

> 
> Well, I do hope you don´t snore too much with your mouth open. 
>  I do :-)

My main concern was that the seagulls and other birds could land
a dropping in my mouth, so I kept my teeth very tight. :-))

> 
> Please, let us know how did it all work!
> 
> Ari Saarto
> "In the not-so-cold-as-you-might-believe Fin-land" << but very wet! :-)

The new paddlefloat passed all tests. 

I could throw the padde away,
turn over, retrieve the float from the back bungies, and roll without
back up without any difficulty. 

Then I put it behind my neck and watch the sky for a while, laying on the water
until I realized that I was being dragged by the current into an area
where many birds nest, then I grabbed the float with my hand and rolled up.

Next I grabbed my binoculars, placed the paddle with the float at the
end perpendicular to the boat, and under the bungies, got out of the
cockpit, put one foot on the paddle shaft, the other on the kayak seat,
and stood up very stable while watching the horizon with the binoculars.
In "Amphibious Man" John Petersen uses that technique to relieve his bladder.

Now the only thing left to test it to see how a real beginner does with
the new paddlefloat. I have a very reliable roll which means that I
am probably not the best person to put a seal of aproval on it.

The ideas behind this paddlefloat are

*The newly advertised "backup" self inflatable device depends on its
 inflation mechanism, and it is single use only. A solid float permanently
 available, as the Greenlanders use (except for the inflatble part), is better.

*The solid paddlefloats available on the market do not have enough volume
 to be used safely by beginners. The fact that most of them attach to
 the paddle by a side packet makes them unstable and flip easily.

*Inflatable paddlefloats have several problems, some of which are
 leaking, susceptibility to puncture, and the use of precious air, time,
 and energy which are much needed when performing a rescue.

*No paddlefloat in the market has a loop to grab in order to perform 
 a comfortable paddlefloat roll (identical in technique to the hands roll
 but with almost guaranteed success).

New enhancements are going to include holes on the floats to carry
flares and a small survival kit.

In general I do not believe on inflatable anything when it comes to
safety, as I am still looking for a set of floatbags that do not leak 
(so far, perception and voyageour floatbags have failed).


The best thing I am getting out of this perfect paddlefloat search
is that I get to practice my self rescue skills every week during
the tests. That is probably what will keep me safer. :-)

- Julio
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