Some Yachtie mates of mine were passing a couple of us in kayaks recently and later mentioned how hard I was to see. I've heard this sort of comment frequently re any kind of kayak, even the brightly colored ones, but ours on that day were both olive drap Kleppers. The yachties did say that my friends boat wasn't too bad because it had a vertical aerial, about 4 feet I think, which was visible. Out to day and occasionally the swell was about 2 meters and the chop about 1 meter and my kayak partners commented again on the problem of visibility. i.e on this occasion it was sometimes hard for one kayak to see the other so heaven knows what it would have been like for neighbouring boats. (Of course we try to stay out of their way). In my navigation class yet more yachties asserted how difficult it was in general to see kayaks and the instructor suggested that running a metallised wine cask liner up a mast would make a good radar reflector. For kayaks this sounds a bit bulky with problems of wind resistance, so I'm wondering is it worth using a radio mast to enhance radar and optical visibility by attaching a colored pennant made of wine cask liner. Does anyone know how big such a pennant would need to be to give a decent radar signal and would the pennant interfere with radio transmission from a VHF radio using the antennae? If it worked this idea might be appropriate for Kleppers, which are unlikely to be rolled. Are there good reasons not to do this? All the best, PeterO. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In order to get the most bang for your buck in a radar reflector all you really need are right angles. Look at any sailing reflector and you'll see it's basically designed to have as many right angles as possible in a small space. The right angles reflect radar waves at the receiver's antenna regardless of its orientation relative to the reflector. Two ways to do this work well. One is to take a soda can (or any can) and cut a slit in the middle, then cut a piece off another can, flatten it, and stick it through the slot. This makes a pretty good, light weight reflector with decent right angles. Another easier way is to wad up a ball of aluminum(American spelling :) foil in a ball. It works surprisingly well and is cheap too. I live on the Naragensett, and I find that you are correct, bigger boaters can't or don't see kayakers, so I always "drive defensively" and assume the responsibility for ensuring I don't get hit lies with me. OBTW, anybody know if a kayaker and a power boat or sail boat collide, who is usally at fault? (I know, lots of factors go into it, but generally...) Regards, Sluf *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I was wondering if anyone else happens to do what I often do when rolling on my off-side. By off-side, I mean with a right-hand control paddle, setting up on the starboard side. I tend to flip the paddle just before I'm completely up into a low brace (elbow high, forearm vertical, C to C roll). With a 90 degree feather, the paddle tends to dive a little right at the end of my sweep (during a roll). BTW, I haven't swam as the result of missing a roll in many, many years. If I miss on one side, I automatically go to the other side unless I'm in surf (where I always roll to the ocean side of course). I don't always do this, but it seems to really work well when the hip snap ain't quite cutting it... just wondering if any of you do it too. Cheers, Dave Dave Williams paddler_at_loxinfo.co.th http://paddleasia.com Phuket, Thailand *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Dave, Congratulations on not having to swim for so long. Your on-side roll is obviously very good. Since you already have a good on-side roll, I assume you already know about reaching out wide during the sweep, keeping your inboard hand low and your head down, and using good hip snap, all of which prevent a diving paddle. On your off-side roll (left roll), the paddle may be diving due to forgetting to rotate the inboard wrist (right wrist) backwards while sweeping. When doing a left side roll with a right hand controlled, feathered paddle, the right wrist is already cocked back in the set-up position. To maintain the proper planing angle of the blade during the sweep, it is necessary to rotate the right wrist backwards even more during the sweep. Because the right wrist is already cocked backwards in the set-up position, you have to focus even more on rotating in backwards more and maybe even raise the elbow a bit to get the proper angle. When you end the roll, your right fist should be almost punching you in the face. Without the proper blade rotation, the paddle can stall and dive. If you feel resistance and a lack of lift while sweeping the blade through the water, then this may very well be the problem. Keep rotating the blade back until the resistance is gone and you feel lift. By the way, this already cocked back wrist problem doesn't occur with an unfeathered paddle. Good luck on your off side! Duane *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Since you already have a good on-side roll, I assume >you already know about reaching out wide during the sweep, keeping your >inboard hand low and your head down, and using good hip snap, all of which >prevent a diving paddle. > I don't understand the "keeping the inboard hand low" part of these tips. I was instructed to, and found useful, moving the inboard hand up to the chin as the sweep is completed. This keeps the blade flat near the end of the sweep. Could you elaborate. Jerry *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 06:19 PM 08/15/1999 +1000, Peter Osman wrote: >In my navigation class yet more yachties asserted how difficult it was in >general to see kayaks and the instructor suggested that running a metallised >wine cask liner up a mast would make a good radar reflector. For kayaks this >sounds a bit bulky with problems of wind resistance, so I'm wondering is it >worth using a radio mast to enhance radar and optical visibility by >attaching a colored pennant made of wine cask liner. Does anyone know how >big such a pennant would need to be to give a decent radar signal and would >the pennant interfere with radio transmission from a VHF radio using the >antennae? If it worked this idea might be appropriate for Kleppers, which >are unlikely to be rolled. > >Are there good reasons not to do this? Hi Peter et al. First, any conductive material placed in the near-field an antenna will de-tune it. When placed near (or in contact with) the tip, it will lower the resonant frequency of the antenna by an amount dependant on how much and how close. There is not really all that much metal in a metalized mylar film, so the effect will probably be fairly insignificant. For the same reason, I'd expect the mylar film to be a not particularly effective reflector of microwave (radar) radiation. The best suggestion I can offer is to try a with / without experiment, coordinating the efforts with your yachting friends on VHF. That might give some indication of how much effect the pennant is having on your antenna as well. I will offer another idea that might be worth a try. Find a childs pinwheel toy made of a metallized plastic, or better yet, make your own from some thin (.002 in) stainless steel shim stock. Mount it to an old fishing rod with the handle removed, and rig a way to step it into your deck. The spinning pinwheel will offer relatively minimal wind resistance, and should provide some pretty interesting radar (and solar) reflections. If nothing else, it will provide endless amusement for your fellow paddlers. Let me know if it works! ByeBye! S. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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