[Paddlewise] FW: paddle floats

>>
Wilky;

There are a couple of main reasons that the paddlefloat/paddle is
attached to the back deck and not the front.  [BTW you can do a
paddlefloat rescue off the front deck but it is a bit trickier.]
The first reason is that the front deck tends to be more pinicalled
(sp?) than the rear deck and hence will act as a fulcrum to the paddle.
This causes a loss of support.
The second reason is that it is often necessary to, using your hands,
feet etc, to keep the paddle at a right angle to the boat during the
rescue to maintain the "outrigger" effect.  Re-entering requires that
you get onto your back deck and enter the cockpit feet first, hence, if
the paddle is on your back deck it is easily maintained in that
position.  If it is on the front deck it is much harder to keep in
place.
The huge disadvantage of having the paddle on the back deck is that,
once the boat has been emptied and you are ready to get underway, it is
necessary to remove the paddle from under the rear bungies etc.  It is
not uncommon for a tired, cold paddler to fall back over at this point.
Having a quick-release system of some sort helps.

John Winskill
>>

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Good points. Also, when I am using a paddle float to help me climb up on
the afterdeck -- which in most kayaks is lower and therefore more stable
than crawling up on the foredeck -- I find it handy (footy?) to lever
myself up by hooking one foot over the paddle shaft. However, a reentry   and
roll is at least twice as fast as the fastest paddle float reentry, and   if
your roll is a bit shaky, your paddlefloat can help you roll and then
provide extra stability while you pump out and refasten your spray skirt.

Chuck Holst  
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