Bill Leonhardt wrote: <snip> 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? <snip> I carry a spare paddle at all times, whether paddling in a group or not. I keep my two-piece on the aft deck securely bungied so that it won't come out in the waves or the event that I somehow decide that I'm tired of viewing the world from an upright position. With both of my kayaks it's possible to "loop" the bungie around the shaft for a much tighter hold than merely slipping the paddles under the bungies. The spare is there in the event that I break the main paddle - pretty unlikely while actually on the water actively paddling - more likely while on shore. If I'm in water/wind so bad that it rips the paddle from my hands I'll probably be taking a swim quite shortly (nothing to brace with) so I don't worry too much about getting at the paddle from the cockpit. Even though I don't really anticipate breaking a paddle while "underway", I _can_ get at both pieces and assemble them in just about any conditions that i can stay upright in the boat in. Remember too - a "broken" kayak paddle is still a "paddle" that can be used quite effectively - I use something very similar in my canoe<g>. The issue of front deck/rear deck still has the same problem - how do you "secure" the paddles in such a manner that they won't wash off, but still be easily accessible? Whether front or rear mounted the key is practicing enough so that you know that you can get at the paddles. Dave David Seng / david_at_wainet.com Wostmann & Associates / phone - 907.586.6167 223 Seward St. / fax - 907.586.2996 Juneau, Alaska 99801 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> 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 > IMHO, you are most likely to break your paddle while entering/exiting your kayak and using your paddle to brace for stability. In that case you probably fell in the water so getting the spare is not a problem, you just look kinda silly. :-) Unless you were making a high braced eddy turn and wedged the blade between two rocks or something like that, I don't see how else you could break a paddle that was in good shape to start with. Again, IMHO, it is most likely you would lose your paddle after a dump, in which case you'd be iin the water and accessing the spare wouldn't be a problem either. Of course you could just drop your paddle and watch it float away, but then, that's what the paddle leash is for, right? :-). But what do I know? This is just my second year. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Last Friday I lost my beautiful Greenland paddle; I used the storm one to get back to shore. I was practicing rolls where I thought it was deep enough. The wind carried me away and all of the sudden, on roll, I sticked the paddle on the mud. Trying to come up on the roll I pushed on it down which pinned it even further into the mud. That paddle is now part of the ad hoc ship wreck and boat gear museum that we have in the SF south bay area. Now, since I do not have the space/time to make another paddle, I am forced to order one from Feathercraft with which I will have to bear until I get some time and space to make a couple more paddles. So yes, you can loose your paddle. In the past I have also broken an paddle, but kept one side to go back to shore. Now, with my Greenland storm paddle I am much safer. - Julio > > > 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 > > > IMHO, you are most likely to break your paddle while > entering/exiting your kayak and using your paddle to brace for > stability. In that case you probably fell in the water so getting the > spare is not a problem, you just look kinda silly. :-) Unless you were > making a high braced eddy turn and wedged the blade between two rocks or > something like that, I don't see how else you could break a paddle that > was in good shape to start with. > > Again, IMHO, it is most likely you would lose your paddle after > a dump, in which case you'd be iin the water and accessing the spare > wouldn't be a problem either. Of course you could just drop your paddle > and watch it float away, but then, that's what the paddle leash is for, > right? :-). > > But what do I know? This is just my second year. > > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** > > *************************************************************************** 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 7 Apr 98, Julio MacWilliams wrote: > Last Friday I lost my beautiful Greenland paddle; I used the storm > one to get back to shore. > > Now, since I do not have the space/time to make another paddle, I am > forced to order one from Feathercraft with which I will have to bear > until I get some time and space to make a couple more paddles. First I will say I know nothing about what makes a good Greenland paddle or not, but I saw some really Beautiful paddles at a place called Malone of Maine - they MAKE some of the prettiest wooden paddles I have seen, and they are Quite inexpensive. If you know that you want a feathercraft go for it, but you might want to check out these that Malone makes. I don't have the contact info immediately at my finger tips, but can get if you (or anyone else) is interested. Gregg Bolton gsb_at_ime.net http://w3.ime.net/~gsb *************************************************************************** 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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