Hi Colin, > From: Colin Calder <c.j.calder_at_abdn.ac.uk> > > Whoaaaaa ! mailbox overflow! > > I'm sure we've seen this discussion before ... haven't we ? Not on PaddleWise. We've got a lot of new folks who've probably not seen this before, either. And, each time these topics come up, I seem to learn something new :-) Like the spring loaded retractable cable Bob mentions. That sounds like an item of many uses (depending on the size). > My opinion is that I can see no reason why I would ever want to be tethered > to my boat, or to my paddle. I have seen pictures on the web of telephone Preference. Some paddlers see no reason to wear a pfd in the same conditions in which they would snorkle and certainly wouldn't wear a pfd while kayak surfing in large surf as the buoyancy would prevent them from being able to dive under a large wave and avoid a major thrashing bobbing in the surf. Was a time when everyone said "wear pfd's 100% of the time." That subject also comes up periodically in different places. Then we had some feedback from a new member. Caveman had a lot to say about it and a lot of it made sense as well as some good comments from John Winters. New blood, new input, new opinions. Good stuff :-) When paddling alone, a tether from the paddle to the boat could mean the difference in recovering the boat in an unexpected upset. Someone mentioned something about a paddler using a quick-release seat belt in his kayak. He felt he had a much better chance of recovery if he could make certain he didn't get twisted out of his kayak and he claims to have an extremely reliable roll. So reliable, he felt confident in buckling himself in his kayak. Before anyone gets too upset at the idea, remember this is not so radical as this is what the Tsunami rangers have been doing for some time... buckling up. Of course, they are using open decked boats (another radical idea?), but it's still a seat belt. Different preferences for different paddlers in preparation for understood situations. > elastic leashes, which frankly to me look almost as ridiculous as pepsi max > rambo sea kayakers paddling around with sheath knives on their jackets. > (river paddlers have a somewhat more valid need to carry a knife, but for > river rescue not as a hero badge) Some towing takes place in sea kayaking. Sometimes in rough conditions. Lot of kite kayaking, too. Also, there are lines for drogues, fishing, trolling, etc. That knife just might be as handy for spreading peanut butter for the sea kayaker as a river kayaker, too ;-) > A paddle park is useful, and a short (four inch) elastic fixed at one end to > a deck fitting next the cockpit and with a hook or ball on the other, can > quickly be looped around the paddle shaft to secure it if both hands are > otherwise required for eating/fishing etc. and a spare set of split > paddles/storm paddle would seem rather more versatile than bits of elastic. More good ideas for solutions to resting your paddle :-). Many paddlers carry extra paddles which is good preparation in case of a paddle breaking or being lost. However, spares don't solve the problem of a boat being blown away while you are in the water. > We have had long discussions about the benefits of relying on equipment, > rather than on skills. Manufacturers make paddle tethers .... because people > will spend their money buying them. If a wet exit is necessary it is > possible to do it in control - it takes one hand to release a spray skirt, It's not the controlled wet exit that those using tethers are concerned about, I don't think. It's the unexpected swim and possible separation from the boat that they are trying to avoid. > hold the cockpit rim, and wet exit .... leaving the other hand (you all have > TWO hands don't you ?) to hold on to the paddle. If you are worried about Most of the time both hands are on the paddle in an attempt to roll and recover. Sometimes, the sea has other ideas about you being able to remain in the cockpit. Tether from the paddle to the boat is just another precautionary measure used by some paddlers. Like many paddlers wearing pfd's in benign conditions. "Ya never know," they feel, and this is their precaution. > falling out of your boat and losing your paddle/boat then I would consider > paddling with able partners (with at least one spare paddle with them) who > can retrieve your lost paddle while you practice and gain confidence in > appropriate skills - rather than wasting time relying on potentially > dangerous and unnecessary bits kit. > > Sorry about the rant, but we have been here before on r.b.p and wave~length. > Maybe Jackie would consider including a brief history of the formation of > the paddlewise list and a pointer to the wave~length archives in the welcome > message ? History of the formation of PaddleWise? Naaahhh... too boring :-) And I don't mind subjects coming up again. New equipment appears on the scene regularly as do new tests and new paddlers with new paddling situations. I like for everyone to have an opportunity to add their .02 btw, I am gradually building an archive web site for PaddleWise at http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ One of my concerns about doing this was that I didn't want readers to think that any subject was closed or finalized and all problems solved, all questions answered. That's why I say it's a work in progress. There's always room for new ideas. I like being surprised by a new way of looking at things :-) Cheers, Jackie \ / | \ / \ | / __ ___ / __( ( )_ _( )___ \ | / _( ( ) __ _( )__ _( _( ) ______ ( ) ( ( )_ ( ( )__ __( ( ) _________ _( ______( ) _( ( ) (___ _ ___) ( ) / | (_______ ( _ _ ) | \ (_____ __ _(_ _ _ ) _ _ / \ / \O/ \ \ " / | _ _ \ / \O/ \ | " __/ ( /",o ((_at_ y _\`(_ sSSs, [ [ \"] (.`SSSSs |__\ \L___ ___(,_SSSsss_ \-------------------+--`----_at_)----(____ `' __)---/ ~~jf~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(` ; /SS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~ `\ ^ (SSs ~~ ~~~~~ ~ ~~~~~ ~~~~ ~ /` `' \Ss` ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~uuuuuuuSs ~~ ~ ~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~'UUUUUUUU ~~~~~ ~~~ \UUUUUU/ ~~~ ~ \UUUU/ ~ ~~~~ ~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~~ \UUU /\ \UU\ / `} ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~ (\ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~ \UU\/ ``} >jf:-) jf" ,_.} ~~ ~~~~ ~(/~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~~~/ `` \ ~~ / `,~'" ~~ ~~~ '~~' *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Mar 25 1998 - 18:18:15 PST
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