[Paddlewise] Safety - Loop vs Toggl

Some people tape their toggle loops together to keep their fingers
from accidentally slipping into the loop. I haven't tried this with
my kayak, since the loops are barely long enough to pass over the
ends of the boat.

Chuck Holst

 -----Original Message-----
From: John Winters [mailto:735769_at_ican.net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 1999 6:58 AM
To: paddlewise
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Safety - Loop vs Toggl


Peter wrote;



>I've read that toggle handles at the bow and stern of a kayak are safer
than
>loops. That if you are holding the loop and a kayak rolls in the surf
there
>can be problems with trapping fingers or hands. Are there any opinions   on
>this and in particular would the Klepper expedition kayak, be   susceptible?
>Or are its loops sufficiently wide to preclude the problem.


I had a near scare with handles a few years ago when the boat I bailed   out
of in surf started to spin and trapped my fingers between the handle and
the boat. Now I use handles that spin freely so the boat can do anything   it
wants without endangering my hands.

I follow these rules regarding handles now.
1. Place them as close to the end of the boat as possible.
2. No rudders.
3. Use only free spinning handles.
4. Use wire connections to the boat not rope.


Maybe a bit of overkill but the thought of my soft little hands being
smooshed between boat and handle plus the thought of not being able to   let
go sends shivers down my spine.

Cheers,
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
http://home.ican.net/~735769/



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