RE: [Paddlewise] Foot pumps vs skills

I also imagined trying to
>brace in such conditions while both hands were on the pump. A foot pump
>(or an electric pump) made the most sense to me in such conditions.
>With a foot pump, I can paddle and brace while pumping, while the sealed
>cockpit that an internal pump makes possible keeps more water from
>entering.


 First thing I am not against foot pumps like I am not against rudders
as long as the person can do with out in bad conditions. A pump of some 
kind is a necessary piece of equipment. The ultimate would be to practice
all skills till you can do them reliably under all paddle conditions that
you yourself are not incapacitated from being able to do them.
You should be able to reenter and roll under most conditions and I know
some of yall will nit pick that last sentence to death. To use a hand pump
right you place your skirt over you cockpit rim and the paddle in a one
hand brace stroke, like over the back of your neck, slip the pump between
your belly and spray skirt down between your thighs and pump with your free
hand. To add more equipment to the list you deploy your drogue to position
yourself if you are not capable of keeping your self in the right position.
Any how you pump and scull and if you have to paddle the pump goes nowhere
till you remove it. It is said by some that paddling down here in Florida,
where it is warm , our water is always liquid and we don't paddle in
conditions like the paddle gods do , makes no difference . There are bad
conditions every where and most of the times you  can avoid them by
planning ahead , paying attention to weather conditions or just staying
home.I do not know of any Greenlanders that in ancient times had pumps ,
they did have paddle float like floats to keep they catch from sinking .
They stayed in there boats or died, we live and tell each other how we
survived those terrible conditionsor end up in a book. If you learn to stay
in your boat under all conditions then nothing else would be needed.
Buuuttt we are not that good so we depend on mechanical things to make the
difference. Hand pump, if it fails foot pump if it fails the electric pump
and if it fails then what? How many backups are there going to be. Skills
are the only real answer if you are serious about it. If not then depend on
thing that will break and will under the worst conditions. I wish to say
more but my finger is tired of typing and I have dug my hole deep enough.

Dana
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