Regarding methods for preventing separation from your boat during a capsize in heavy seas/wind - 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. Has anyone tried a system like this or know of other methods for preventing separation from a kayak? Or know of a suitable drogue? 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/ ***************************************************************************
PeterO wrote: > Regarding methods for preventing separation from your boat during a capsize > in heavy seas/wind - Capsizing does not cause separation from your boat; getting out of the boat does. Getting out of your boat should be your very last option, not your first (as we unfortunately teach to beginners). > Is it principally wind that causes such separation or can wave action and > currents do this also? [snip] > All the best, PeterO 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. Tethers can be very dangerous in the conditions that would make you capsize. But that is the topic of another thread. - Julio *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In extremely harsh conditions I put a sea anchor securely contained in a stuff sack on my deck. I connect my paddle with a bungee to my kayak ahead of the cockpit. I use a carabiner to clip my bowline and the main line for the sea anchor to the release loop on my spray deck. This has the huge benefit of keeping everything together and an acceptably small risk of line wrap. In several intentional trials in rough conditions (wind 30 - 40 Knots, variable with seas 3 - 4 feet breaking lightly 50%) I experienced no line entanglements. The biggest hassle was the paddle bungee which sometimes ends up over rather than under the kayak. Not a major problem, just roll the kayak the other way. Deploying the sea anchor stabilizes the kayak into the wind (and thus usually the waves) and makes re-entry much easier. I've made my sea anchor out of an old military flare parachute. It's about three feet in diameter. The commercial units I sampled were not large enough to be useful, nor were they easily packed away. This one packs into a small stuff sack complete with all lines and a canopy float. Jim ......................................................... "Any activity which is not grounded in "to learn", or "to love" is a waste of time" ...Anne Rice *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Wed, 4 Aug 1999, Jim or Lindsay wrote: > I've made my sea anchor out of an old military flare parachute. It's about > three feet in diameter. The commercial units I sampled were not large > enough to be useful, nor were they easily packed away. This one packs into > a small stuff sack complete with all lines and a canopy float. What do you have to do to the parachute to make it function as a sea anchor? And are the chutes hard to find; where did you get yours? Thanks...e Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>What do you have to do to the parachute to make it function as a sea >anchor? And are the chutes hard to find; where did you get yours? >Thanks...e > >Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu Purhased the canopy from a military surplus store. Rigged the canopy with 1/8 inch nylon cord risers which are collected to a 1/4 inch dia. load line. The risers are about two times the canopy diameter in length... more or less six feet long. The load line is about 100 feet long. I have a fishing float (found item) as a canopy float. The canopy float is attached to the canopy apex on a 10 foot length of 1/8 inch cord, this cord comes out the bottom of the stuff sack so it both retains the sack in use and allows the sack to help deploy the sea anchor. All lines are tied and then either fixed with shoe-goo or stainless steel hog rings to prevent accidental untying of knots. It all fits into a stuff sack of about 4 inches diameter by 6 inches long. I pack it in like a parachute... and cinch the sack off very tightly with the end loop of the load line protruding slightly. The loop can then be clipped to whatever you want to use the sea anchor on. To deploy the sea anchor just release the stuff sack tie strings and play the whole thing out on the end of the load line. It deploys as the chute is dragged out of the sack. Jim ......................................................... Jim Vermillion Alaskan Kayaks Kayak & Custom Adventures Worldwide www.alaskan.com/kayak Kenai Fjords National Park, Prince William Sound, The Aleutian Islands Thailand, Hawaii Coastal Kayaking Instruction and Guided Tours by Sea Kayak *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>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. If you mean an Amaruk, then it appears that you are not the only one to be able to roll it. We have a member of our group who gets his wife to lean forward and down while he rolls it back up. Says it is quite simple. Alex Alex (Sandy) Ferguson Chemistry Department University of Canterbury New Zealand *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I just got back from a 10-day vacation in Kauai with my family and just have to share with you a terrific kayak experience I had there. I had heard of the Na Pali Coast and had a hunch it might be some beautiful kayaking. I signed up for a full day trip with Kayak Kauai out of Hanalei for the 17-mile journey from Haena State Beach to Polihale. There are other outfitters doing the trip but these guys seemed to be the experts on the island from the little research I did. Anyways, it was awesome. The sea caves along the coast were breathtaking. One particular cave had a waterfall coming through a hole in it's ceiling with the sunshine beaming through. You can hike for 11 miles of the coastline, but the only way to see the whole thing up close and personal is by kayak (the helicopters were a bit of a nuisance as were the occasional sightseeing boats). Kayak Kauai puts everyone in double enclosed-deck kayaks, supplies the food, the laughs, and the local knowledge. $130 for the day. If you ever get to Kauai, check into paddling the Na Pali Coast. I think you'll be amazed. David Powdrell *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Did you paddle into any of those sea caves? How deep were they (how far back did they go)? e Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Answers to the questions that I have had regarding the Na Pali Coast trip I took last week. 1. We paddled into all the various sea caves along the Na Pali Coast. The deepest cave was perhaps 100 yards deep. Dark but easily manageable without lights. Some were horseshoe in shape allowing you to come out at a different point in the cliffs. I've been in much deeper sea caves on Santa Cruz Island near Santa Barbara, but these were great with the waterfalls coming through them. 2. I agree that the $130 price seemed a little steep. You can rent your own kayaks for the day at Kayak Kauai (I think they rented for $50 per day). I was hesitant to rent a kayak and tackle the Na Pali Coast without seeing it first hand with the experts. In hindsight, because the wind and swells are at your back the entire paddle, I would grade the paddle a 7 on a 1-10 scale for difficulty. The 8 people that hadn't done much kayaking previously but were obviously quite fit were exhausted at the end of the trip, due to technique difficulties primarily. I do not know, however, if you are allowed to take your rented kayak and paddle the Na Pali Coast with it. The hiking trails require permits (over 1 year waiting list with priority going to local Hawaiians first). A quick call to Kayak Kauai 1-800-437-3507 or contact them on the internet at info_at_kayakkauai.com to get details on this. 3. The "season" for kayaking the Na Pali Coast is summer months only, from what I'm told by the staff at Kayak Kauai. After that, all the employees go on unemployment until next June. The ocean gets gnarly in the winter on the north shore. The trade winds we paddled in were gusting from 15-30 knots last week, and that was "relatively mild" by their standards. I hope you all get the chance to paddle this jewel of a coastline someday. It was one of the best kayak experiences I've had in my 8 years of paddling. David Powdrell -----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Elaine Harmon Sent: Saturday, August 07, 1999 3:53 PM To: David Powdrell Cc: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Trip Report-Na Pali Coast, Kauai Did you paddle into any of those sea caves? How deep were they (how far back did they go)? e Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Tim and all, Tim asked, "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?" The one time I had the pleasure of paddling a Klepper double was very brief. It was a very old model (something like 30 to 40 years old). That model has a big open cockpit. I tried to roll it, but couldn't because I couldn't get the paddle anywhere near the surface of the water. The cockpit rim is very high from the water. Setting up before capsizing should have told me that it was a futile effort to begin with. Can anyone on this list roll a double Klepper? I certainly be interested in hearing how. Cheers, Dave *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Rolling fanatics are those who roll more than 30 times a day not because they are good, but because they can not keep their boat upright. But I became a rolling fanatic to hide the fact that I have an ugly nose--people only see the hull of my kayak. :-)) - Julio > By the way, I am a rolling fanatic and do it for fun whenever I paddle in > clean water. But I make no claims of special proficency in rolling. I'm > convinced that any competant roller could roll the Amaruk --- it was that > easy. I'm looking forward to getting in other double and seeing if this is > more broadly the case. > > --Tim *************************************************************************** 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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