Re: [Paddlewise] Safety Issue: Be Careful with Carabiners

On Mon, Jun 15, 1998 at 07:32:23PM -0600, Robert C. Cline wrote:
> Not a good idea to wear your carabiner outside of the pocket exposed.  It
> is designed for quick attachment... and it works quite efficiently.

After years of wearing a couple of carbiners on the shoulder of my PFD,
I read a similar report from Charlie Walbridge; I now carry them
in a "hardware pouch" that's tucked inside the top of my throwbag.
One couple unclip drops that pouch at my feet -- which is right
where I want it -- and leaves the throwbag ready to go.

I'd also suggest having locking carabiners around -- since they can't
accidentally clip themselves into anything, they're useful when you`re
setting up Z-drags and other things that you really really really don't
want to find yourself attached to.

The only exposed 'biner I have left, and I'm beginning to think very
seriously about moving this one, is the oversize "paddle" 'biner that I keep
clipped into the front deck loop on my Crossfire or Cascade so that I
have a place to stash a floating paddle while doing a rescue.  However,
that 'biner on that loop is close enough to snag the grab loop of my
sprayskirt, and *that* makes me decidely nervous.  I'm starting to
think about carrying that 'biner somewhere else quickly accessible
in whitewater situations because I never want to find myself clipped
to the boat.

---Rsk
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