Re: [Paddlewise] electric pump and solid paddlefloat

-----Original Message-----
From: Julio MacWilliams <juliom_at_cisco.com>
To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Date: Tuesday, May 11, 1999 11:43 AM
Subject: [Paddlewise] electric pump and solid paddlefloat


>In response to  Colin Calder's post.
>
>I also carry a solid paddlefloat in my aft deck. If loose my paddle,
>I can retrieve the float underwater and roll back up with it
>*with one hand*; it is dislocation proof.  An inflated paddlefloat
>with something to hold on to it should work as well.

I've been advocating this technique for those who have yet to learn to
Eskimo roll or want a stay in your kayak back-up for about 17 years now.
>
>Regarding the 'standard' outrigger paddlefloat rescue, it does not
>work if you do not practice it.
>I do not use it, but during the ICE I had to demonstrate the proper
>technique in rough water, and it took some dedicated practice to
>get it right.  In summary, *you hold the paddle with one hand against
>the aft cockpit rim*. Then jump on the aft deck and put your legs
>on the paddle.

This rescue you describe as somebodies "proper technique" should not be
refered to as the "outrigger paddle float rescue" to do so is to rename the
much inferior "paddle float rescue" and then critisize it using the name of
a different far superior rescue. I originally changed the Mariner
Self-Rescue's name to "outrigger paddle float rescue" to distinguish it from
its later bastardization the "paddle float rescue" (and to make the rescues
name more palatable to my competitors so they would be more likely to set up
their kayaks to fix the paddle to the deck) that didn't fix the paddle to
the kayak but was done as you describe above. The rescue you describe is
seroiusly flawed because it is much more difficult to hold the paddle in
place and once you are back in the cockpit you loose most of the stability
you had when you were laying across the paddle and holding it in place. In
short you are just as bad off as if you had just done a reenter and roll.
Boat full of free water and no way to stabilize it while you pump (by
whatever method).
>
>Most people do not know how to do an outrigger paddlefloat rescue,
>and almost nobody practices it in a regular basis.  Of course,
>if a paddler puts time to practice rescues, he or she would probably
>learn all other techniques that make the outrigger paddlefloat
>rescue obsolete.

Where are you from? Most practice some form of "paddle float rescue" in the
U.S. and Canada. An Eskimo roll, a good brace, a float roll all make the
paddle float rescue "obsolete" but if you fail at them and come out of your
kayak the true (not the one you describe) "outrigger paddle float rescue"
gives you the best chance to regain your kayak and pump out because the
fixed (to the kayak)outrigger stabilizes you during the pumping process when
the free water effect makes you so unstable. A detailed discussion of it can
be found at www.marinerkayaks.com in the manuals section.

>
>It is a catch 22--to make the paddlefloat rescue work, you need
>to practice; but if you practice you do not need it.

Sounds like a good practice plan to me and you're even left with a back-up
if everything else fails (that is if you have still kept a way to float your
paddle handy).


>

>***************************************************************************
>PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
>Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
>Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
>Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
>***************************************************************************

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************