Hello one and all, I have been lurking for a month or so now and have been enjoying the diversity of topics. some excellent stuff. My question is : why are paddles with float attached always placed behind the cockpit. why not in front of the cockpit ? I have not tried a re entry with a paddle float so I can't comment. Over to the experts. cheers from a getting colder Tasmania were the fires are now being lit. Wilky Craig Wikin carrot_at_vision.net.au Doing what you want is freedom, Liking what you do is happiness. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
The fellow I paddle with has two cleats ahead of the cockpit and ties his paddle to them then shimmies up the stern, straddling the boat, and into the cockpit butt first. He is able to drop his feet in because of the large cockpit inthe Falcon. cya Bob Denton President Gulf Stream International Sink the Stink - The Water Sports Deodorizer That Works! Boynton Beach, FL http://www.flinet.com/gulfstream/scuba.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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 Wilky wrote: >>> My question is : why are paddles with float attached always placed behind the cockpit, why not in front of the cockpit ?>>> *************************************************************************** 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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