Dear List, Let me begin by expressing my appreciation to all those who posted to address my previous questions. I asked about the emergency gear that people carried and also about knives. I, and I'm sure many on the list, have really gotten a wealth of information from your responses. THANKS!!! The next topic I would like to generate discussion on is "spare paddles". It certainly makes a lot of sense to me to have several spares traveling with a group and, of course, to have a spare when you're traveling alone. My questions have more to do with the logistics of using the spare. I have seen many people carry a two-piece spare on the rear deck. I wonder how hard it is to access this paddle when the need arises. Do you swing around and grab it yourself (maybe in conditions that were rough enough for you to loose or break your primary paddle) or do you expect a paddling partner to get it out? If the rear mounted spare is attached for easy grabbing from the cockpit, will it be washed away by rough water? So we go to the front deck. With all the gear I like to carry just ahead of the cockpit, I wonder if there is room on the front deck for a conventional two-piece paddle? I sometimes carry a two foot long single blade paddle but I'd like to identify something better. In a past post, Chuck Holst wrote: >I carry my spare paddle on the foredeck. Because Greenland paddles are one- >piece with narrow blades, it is very easy to slip them under the bungies >while under way. This makes it very easy to switch back and forth, and to >grab the spare and roll up with it, should that be necessary. > I have also read (perhaps from Chuck, I forget) of the use of a "storm" paddle. I actually haven't seen this described, however I would guess that this is just a short version of the Greenland paddle. Is this true? Perhaps this is another foredeck alternative. Well, I would like to invite the list to discuss this. Tell us what you carry, where and how you "whip it out". Enquiring minds want to know. Thanks in advance, Bill Leonhardt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
On Tue, 07 Apr 1998 14:15:22 -0400, you wrote: >Dear List, snip> >>I carry my spare paddle on the foredeck. Because Greenland paddles are one- >>piece with narrow blades, it is very easy to slip them under the bungies >>while under way. This makes it very easy to switch back and forth, and to >>grab the spare and roll up with it, should that be necessary. >> > >I have also read (perhaps from Chuck, I forget) of the use of a "storm" >paddle. I actually haven't seen this described, however I would guess that >this is just a short version of the Greenland paddle. Is this true? >Perhaps this is another foredeck alternative. Yes a storm paddle is just a short version for less windage. I often carry both european and an aleut paddle. The aleut paddle stows easily on the front deck due to its narrow width. I carry the european spare on the back deck. Note this is not the safest place in rough conditions. I have lost 1/2 of a two part aluminum/plastic type spare from my back deck during rescue practice. It didn't float, although it was theoretically supposed to! Reaching behind to grab spare half of paddle is no problem - assembly of two halves is well; awkward. I feel a T grip end (available as a separate piece) on the appropriate half of your two piece paddle gives one an instantly useable blade for propulsion, bracing and King Island roll in really rough conditions. If conditions are calmer or you can raft up with your buddy, removal of the T grip and assembly of both parts of your two piece then presents no problem. It is possible to break paddles during common rescues such as paddle float re-entry. This has happened to me in practice (I suspect a defective paddle) and to a friend in rough conditions where the spare had to be used after his primary paddle failed. Catastrophic failure of paddles does happen - so be prepared. Practice beforehand prevents panic. Mark S. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
On Tue, Apr 07, 1998 at 02:15:22PM -0400, Bill Leonhardt wrote: > The next topic I would like to generate discussion on is "spare paddles". I don't carry one. Too much weight, and no really good place to put anything other than a breakdown. I figure if I break mine, I'll either (a) paddle C-1 style or (b) hand-paddle to the take-out, possibly portaging any serious drops between where I am and where I need to be. I also practice a hand roll regularly for just such occasions. ;-) ---Rsk Rich Kulawiec rsk_at_gsp.org *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
My spare paddle is similar to a Greenland storm paddle. It is 50 inches long and the blades have a width of 5 inches, tapering down to 4.5 inches over a length of 18 inches. It has a greenland style loom. I carved it out of a half by 6 board of redwood. I laminated on oak pieces in the loom area for strength. I feel the wider blade gives me good purchase on the water. I paddle it on each side like a canoe paddle, then switch to the other side ala the Greenland sliding manuever. It works great. The shorter length allows it to fit very compactly on my rear deck. It slips snuggly under a strap across the tail section and is secured nearest me with a fastex buckle on a strap that loops one of my hatch straps. It feels very secure like that. To free it I just loosen the fastex buckle and slip the paddle free of the rear strap. I like the idea of the paddle being on the front deck. I think I'll try that out. Keith Kaste Bill Leonhardt wrote: > The next topic I would like to generate discussion on is "spare paddles". *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Bill; I carry my spare (European) two piece paddle on my rear deck mostly because it bothers me esthetically to have it on my front deck. This is, granted, not the best of reasons but that's just me. Removing a paddle off of the back deck is not easy even under the best of circumstances and it can be particularly difficult if it is rough and the boat is pitching and rolling. Twisting and reaching for the paddle can easily cause you to dump. It is important to practice this manuouver in difficult but controlled conditions if it is going to be part of your emergency proceedure. As in most such instances, it will happen to you when you can least afford it to. Surprisingly removing the first paddle half while under water can be a handy trick. You don't have to worry about trying to balance yourself. If you have a confident half-paddle roll then purposely falling over, grabbing a paddle half and rolling back up might well be one the easiest ways of getting it off your back deck. At the fery least it could save you from having to bail out of your boat sometime. (BTW, it is this same "not having to balance yourself in rough seas" that can help with replacing a sprayskirt while upside down too. If you, like me, paddle a somewhat tippy boat you know how tricky it can be replacing a sprayskirt after a re-enter and roll with the boat full of water.) John Winskill *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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