RE: [Paddlewise] Drogues and Separation from Kayak

PeterO

Have you ever tried to roll a double Klepper?  I've never seen a Klepper
double, so maybe this is a stupid question, but why is it un-rollable?  

Earlier this summer, I was paddling a double kayak  (a two ton, plastic
Necky  --- not a foldable) and was surprised at how easy it was to roll.
The boat was wide, so stable you could stand in it, and while not an open
cockpit, it was a VERY loose fit.   By using a slow sweep with an exagerated
follow through onto the back deck, it rolled easilly. 

As for separation from the boat, I just clip my towing harness into the deck
lines.  Since the harness has a quick release mechanism, if I should get
tangled up and need to separate from the boat, its one quick tug and I'm
free.  If that fails, I always carry a knife on my PFD in an easy to grab
location.

I hate depending on lots of equipment or anything that has lots of lines to
tangle -- hence, depending on a drogue would make me nervous.

--Tim



> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Peter Osman [SMTP:PeterO_at_ambri.com.au]
> Sent:	Wednesday, August 04, 1999 5:41 AM
> To:	'paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net'
> Subject:	[Paddlewise] Drogues and Separation from Kayak 
> 
> Thanks Julio and Dave for your comments and I'ld be grateful for any other
> suggestions or advice from people who may have used drogues to prevent
> separation from a kayak or who are knowledgeable about avoiding separation
> following involuntary exit from an unrollable kayak in rough sea.
> 
> Your advice supports what I have often been taught, that rolling should be
> the 1st line of defence in a rollable kayak. However, I've read in John
> Dowds book and heard from my sea kayaking instructor and others that
> rolling
> won't always be practical in rough water, that holding on to your paddle
> is
> an important 2nd line of defence. Nevertheless the kayaking deaths I have
> read about have often involved involuntary separation from the kayak. (ref
> "Deep Trouble", recent editions of "Sea Kayaker", etc). 
> 
> I should also have mentioned that the boat concerned is a Klepper Aerius 1
> Expedition, which can't really be rolled back up if it tips over. As its a
> Klepper I'm talking (hopefully) about a rare occurrence, which
> nevertheless
> I want to be prepared for. A friend and I are planning to carry out self
> rescue practice, specifically relevant to Klepper use, in rough water with
> a
> manned motor boat near by. I'm ready to practice reentry strategies in
> rough
> water as they are well documented and I have practised them in calm water.
> However, there doesn't seem to be much evidence supporting strategies for
> preventing separation from your kayak in rough conditions. So we are
> looking
> at options that can be tested with a minimum of hazard. Hence the question
> regarding an automatically deployable drogue attached to a PFD. 
> 
> The velcro attachment to the PFD would allow the deployable drogue to be
> optional i.e it could be removed and stowed on the kayak when conditions
> are
> not hazardous or appropriate. After all it should only be necessary to use
> such measures in an unexpectedly rough sea. If I could have predicted that
> the sea would be rough enough to risk irreversible separation then I would
> be a fool to be there! Also Julio raises the issue of being on different
> sides of a tide rip - and Dave refers to a similar situation. Julio
> mentioned breaking waves and I'm now wondering whether a drogue would be
> helpful in breaking waves? Like Dave I would be grateful to know of
> difficulties with deployment of drogues and would very much value advice
> on
> whether they can be effectively used to avoid separation from a kayak.
> 
> Thanks again, PeterO
> 
> 
> Dave wrote
> > What if it does work and the kayak stays put, but you drift away :-)
> 
> Julio wrote
> > Breaking waves can certainly separate you from your boat.  A current
> > would only separate you from your boat if you and your boat are on
> > different sides of a tide rip.
> 
> > You should avoid getting out of your boat, and learn the techniques
> > to avoid it.  But if you absolutely must, make sure that you do not
> > get out completely, but keep one leg inside the cockpit.
> 
> Peter O wrote
> > Is it principally wind that causes such separation or can wave action
> and
> > currents do this also?
> > A paddling mate has suggested tethering a drogue to the kayak and then
> > attaching the drogue to your PFD using velcro. The idea is that if you
> fall
> > out of the kayak the drogue automatically deploys and stops the kayak
> > drifting away. 
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