[Paddlewise] Thoughts on rescues, SOT's, and such

   All this talk about various rescues really doesn't apply to me. You see, I
can roll. If I capsize I will roll back up -- period. I have perfected and
polished my rolling through years of kayak surfing. Nevertheless, I practice
other rescues on a regular basis. I can easily execute a paddlefloat rescue in
the roughest of conditions without having to fasten the paddle under the deck
bunjies. I can simply climb back into the boat even more quickly without the
aid of a paddlefloat. I can do a reenter and roll with or without first
refastening my sprayskirt -- it really makes no difference to me. But I am
probably the exception. When we discuss rescues I think we are addressing the
greater community of kayakers who do not have my skills. I think we all
understand that.
   Now when we discuss SOT's I have to believe that most of us understand that
we are not referring to Valhalla surf skis or Tsunami X-1 Rocket boats.
Neither are we talking about hypothetical crafts which may or may not ever be
invented or manufactured. What we ARE talking about are the "poorer examples"
which DO dominate the market. These SOT's are VERY POOR choices for any kind
of open water touring. They work well for fishing and diving platforms, and
they can save a lot of time in the surf for people who don't roll. But you get
offshore in the wind and currents and try to cover any distance in one and
your asking for trouble! To try and say anything less about them is inviting
people to become another statistic!
   Likewise, when I reefer to an enclosed kayak I am talking about a
touring/sea kayak, not one of those silly "sport" kayaks. This is the type of
boat that I think of when we discuss kayaks on this list. I do not judge
touring/sea kayaks by sport boats, nor do I judge SOT's in general by surf
skis. Let's not pull a "Clinton" and try to muck up the waters with
nonsensical jargon.

Scott
So.Cal.

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