> We beat this topic to death a few months ago, so it's all probably on the archives somewhere. Some threads can be found at: http://csisler.com/Kayaks/PaddleWise/KayakEquipment.htm I usually send a note to the author if there is an archived thread. I don't usually post to the group so as not to discourage additional discussion. This particular thread is a case in point. Some good stuff has come to light. What I'm getting from the thread is I can pretty much forget about a paddle float rescue in the same conditions that knocked me over. If I can't stay in the boat to start with, how am I going to get back into it? And if I can get back in the boat, there won't be enough hands to operate a manual pump and stay upright, assuming I can get the spray skirt on anyway. (I paddle solo most of the time). If all this is true then the paddle float/hand pump are really a safety hazard rather than a safety feature in that they give you a sense of false security which may lead you into conditions from which you really can't recover. This then leads me to the question: Why does the entire industry seem to perpetuate this myth? All of the instruction books include paddle float rescues. Do they also state it's useless? I doubt it. Why does Sea Kayaker magazine (I don't subscribe nor do I read it regularly) perform tests and write articles about it? Why is the paddle float rescue taught in kayaking clasess (at least in mine) if they have little or no practical value. Oops, how did I get up on that damn soap box when I just wanted to mention the archived articles? Sorry! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue May 11 1999 - 07:56:09 PDT
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