Re: [Paddlewise] pogies vs. gloves

I used to think that worrying about a spray skirt freezing onto the cockpit rim was
just being paranoid.  However while paddling one October on Lake Michigan in 3 to 5
foot seas and 20 F temperatures I had actually witnessed a close call with a frozen
skirt.  My friend and I were coming in over a sand bar to land after a short day
paddle.  I crossed the bar first and he followed but flipped in the surf.  He tried
to roll twice then, since we were near shore I figured I would just see my friend
punch out and swim in to shore.  I waited and was concerned about his taking so
long, but I did not want to try a bow rescue in the surf on the bar since I would
likely have bashed him on the head trying to make contact.  When I was ready to
bail out and swim to him he finally came to the surface sputtering and very pissed
off!

Not only had his spray skirt frozen to the deck, but when he pulled the grab look,
it tore off of the skirt.  He said he had to pound on the skirt and tear loose one
or two inches at a time off of the rim.  Its not likely that this sort of thing
will happen, but I definitely keep and eye on my skirt for icing and crack off any
ice before it gets too thick - seeing is believing when it comes to this unexpected
danger.

Michael Daly wrote:

> Edward Sullivan wrote:
>
> > I tied a bright yellow float on mine when I
> > first got it. I can find it pretty easily by feel and it gives good
> > purchase for yanking on the loop without having to get your thumb into
> > it. I use a keychain float which is also a waterproof container in which
> > you can stow little things. I have a firestarted kit (a candle and a
> > bic) in case I have to swim for shore. Or my boat drifts off when I make
> > a pit stop thinking it was ebb tide.
>
> I discovered something interesting in last week's paddle.  My sprayskirt
> loop had covered with ice.  It was so slick that I had trouble gripping it.
> I had to bend it around my fingers to get a grip.  I'm glad it hadn't frozen
> to the deck. I think the float on the end of the loop makes sense for
> paddling at this time of the year.  I like the idea of the waterproof container
> float.  I think I'll look for one or something similar.
>
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