Re: [Paddlewise] Group Paddling - A warning

Jack Martin wrote:
> 

> > At the risk of disappointing people who mistakenly think I know
> > everything:  Ok, Jack, what's a Wichart?  While you are it, what's a
> > cubit?  :-)
> 
> Okay, sorry about the Wichart business --- and now I really hope I
> spelled it right.  Anyway, see my response to Dave.  (If there are
> any other Wichart questioners further down in my pile of e-mail
> tonight, you're on your own.)

Oh, you meant Wichard safety tethers!  Why didn't you say so in the
first place?  That mispelling threw me off (now if you believe that, I
have a bridge I can sell you...).  I am surprised you stated the stuff
as being inexpensive since Wichard items are on the costly side as
behooves sailing safety lines that lives are very much dependent on.  It
runs in the $60 range.

> 
> The other question from my Gotham buddy --- re the cubit --- I will
> accept as a rhetorical straight line from a very old Bill Cosby
> routine.

Yes, that dates you and me in remembering Cosby's Noah and the Lord
routine.

I am also glad you corrected the point about hooking on to a bow
fitting.  I couldn't figure out how to quickly release such a
connection.  Hooked to a deck line makes more sense.

I have never tried such a contact tow.  Probably from being around
folding kayaks too long.  This is not meant as a commercial or editorial
but they shine when it comes to a paddler suddenly rendered ill or
injured.  Since the boats stability is inherent to their design and not
a function of the skills and alertness of the paddler, an ill/hurt
paddler is in a lot less danger of capsizing while being towed on a line
from behind the towing kayak and need not have a boat alongside to
steady him or her.  Just encourage the person to slouch a bit in the
boat and everything is just dandy; and even if they don't slouch, things
should be alright too.  Another point with the folding kayaks, since
they have their bouyancy along the sides of the kayak rather than at the
ends (such as watertight compartments, although they should also have
airbags fore and aft too), a folding kayak with lots of water sloshing
around in the cockpit remains quite stable and is not at all tippy as is
a semi swamped hardshell which tends to act like a rotisserie.

best,

ralph
-- 
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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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