Re: [Paddlewise] Drogue plus paddlefloat?

From: <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 06:26:51 -0700
Matt Broze wrote:
SNIPPED
> That is another way to retrieve them but requires an extra line which can
> get tangled with you, the kayak, the drogue, or the other line (which is
> another good reason to try and keep it from spinning). Boulter of Earth
> makes or made a large commercial one that (I believe--I haven't used one)
> inverts the drogue from the center and pulls it back into a long sleeve on
> the deck.
SNIPPED
> I made mine for emergency use, like finding myself in darkness off the coast
> with a big swell and surf running. My plan was to paddle out to sea set up
> the sea anchor and hunker down into my kayak to get some rest.
> The quicker deployment of the Boulter of Earth product makes it ideal for
> those beating into a headwind that need to stop for a short rest, water or
> food break to prevent loosing that hard earned ground (er, water?).

I have used the DriftStopper from Boulter of Earth and can attest to its
splendid design and stopping power.  Of course, my first few uses after
I had gone through the first runthrough were comical.  Things like
taking the float and throwing it out into the water and just see it
floating around and looking like a jerk (you have to pull the thing out
its on deck storage sleeve first) or stupidly coming on to it too fast
in retrieval and having the Driftstopper wrap around my bow like an
octupus!!  It works but like with every thing, you need to practice. 
Pity the person who buys one, reads the instructions, puts it on his
deck and then goes out expecting it all to work in a pinch.

ralph
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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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Received on Wed May 19 1999 - 03:38:58 PDT

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