Re: [Paddlewise] Folding Kayak Roll

Product Information Department wrote:

> roll them over the years. My impression was that there's much the same sort
> of difference between rolling a folding boat vs a hard shell sea kayak as
> there is between rolling a hard shell sea kayak vs a white water kayak. It
> requires increased care in the set-up, a "non-diving" sweep, and an
> accurately timed hip flick with more "body English" than either a hard
> shell or white water boat. That said, once you get a folding boat (or any
> beamier kayak) up to the critical point, it pulls itself up and over sooner
> and with greater force than narrower boats do.
> The other point of difference I've noticed is that making yourself one with
> the boat, so that powerful sweep and hip flick does more than simply crank
> you out of your upside down craft, requires more care in a folder. Thigh
> straps, as used by white water canoeists, help greatly.

Philip's words are right on about rolling a folding kayak.  It requires
somewhat more in general such as a Pawlata extended paddle roll and a
fairly good fit in the boat with hip and knee contact.  Some of the
boats are easier than others, namely the Feathercraft singles where you
are in a better braced position with your knees under the deck.  Also
those boats are narrow than other single foldables by a few inches.

Any boat can be rolled if you can extend your paddle far out enough as a
lever.  The real issue is not whether you can roll a folding kayak...you
can certainly do so as what I term a circus act...but rather whether it
is a viable and reliable self-rescue routine in real life situations and
not just in a pool or on demo beach.  I don't think it is except maybe
for the Khatsalano.

Speaking of rolling, as I read the Who We Are series of bios from the
group, I am struck by the number of people in hardshells who don't
roll.  I would be happy to stand corrected on this, but eyeballing the
responses it would look like maybe half of the hardshellers on the list
do not roll.

I'm reminded of the time I was sitting down in the Delmarva Paddlers
Retreat a few years ago and at dinner a show of hands was made regarding
who rolled, who had bombproof rolls, who had just learned to roll, etc. 
The figures were high because this was a dedicated group...I think 25
per cent or so claimed a bombproof roll and I believe it; and some 70
per cent or more could roll.  My guess is that if this is what a highly
dedicated group can do that then the more general population of paddlers
is well below these kinds of abilities.  Just a seat-of-the-pants
observation from being around a lot of different people from different
parts of the country: most hardshell sea kayakers do not know how to
roll and that those with bombproof rolls are in the low single digits in
percentage terms.

There is no question that a bombproof roll is the best thing to have or
even a pretty reliable one to try if in a predicament.  It is always
best to stay in your boat...no water to empty out, less exposure to
hypothermia, no loss of gear, conserves energy, etc.  But the facts of
life are that so many sea paddlers cannot roll or not with any
reliability that it is important to stress other measures.  This starts
with good judgment about conditions, plotting out the most protective
course, knowing when to back off or wait.  And if things do go wrong,
getting back into your boat quickly with the least hassle.  Or you can
start by being in a boat that is less like to be toppled over and if it
is capsized offers a reliable re-entry platform with the least amount of
setup for getting back in.  That description covers three breeds of
boats: sit-on-tops, inflatables and folding kayaks.  (There are some
tippy SOTs and folding kayaks; I don't think there are any tippy
inflatables.) 

ralph diaz  
-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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