RE: [Paddlewise] Tangled Up In Blue & Solo Paddling

Ralph D wrote:

> I have read with great interest how some paddlers have the paddle tether
> handy but don't employ it.  I tend to use my paddle leash (connected to
> a deck D-ring) all of the time, mainly because I do paddle solo a lot
> and fear losing my paddle.  It resides on my paddle and weighs next to
> nothing and does not get in the way in any way.

Interesting stuff Ralph. I would have thought getting in/out from a dock
would be much more likely to tangle into a leash than getting in/out from
shore. But somehow, I've managed to trip over or get tangled in my leash too
many times to admit to.

Of course, the prudent thing for me would be to just remove it as I come
close to shore. I also paddle with a Greenland stick and like Chuck, find
the paddle leash does interfere with paddling, especially extended paddle
strokes. On the other hand, when I really like to be able to just lay the
paddle in the water while doing something else and not have to worry about
it floating away.

I also think you're more likely to paddle in rougher conditions than I do.
I'm more likely to tether my paddle when paddling, say, the Chesapeake Bay
than the upper Potomac river (which is 80% of my paddling). That's not to
say I wouldn't be more likely than you to loose a paddle (I have once or
twice), but that the conditions would be a bit more favorable for me to
recover it by paddling with my hands or just grabbing half the spare on my
rear deck to go get it.

After tripping over the blasted thing for about the third time getting out
of the boat, I pretty much quite using it unless heading out in rougher
conditions.

How about those tethers what attach to your PFD? I've seen several people
use those and it seems to eliminate the tangling when getting in/out, and I
think it would be easier just to unclip it from your PFD once you get out.
Any hazard that I'm not thinking about?

One final thought: My greatest fear is losing the kayak rather than the
paddle. The boat has a spare paddle on the back deck, but I don't have a
spare kayak if I get separated from it. That is why my interest in tethering
oneself to the kayak. Up until this thread started I just *assumed* it was a
very bad thing to do. I've practiced trying to get the kayak back after
intentionally losing it (this wasn't one of my solo trips 8^). In light
winds or mild current it is very hard to catch up to the kayak. I've even
experimented with "paddling" with my paddle to try and catch up to the boat
(a little faster than swimming, but *very* strenuous and I could only do it
for a short length of time). But again, it didn't take much wind for the
kayak to out run me. In practice I found the best thing was to immediately
go after the kayak. Drop the paddle if you're holding on to it, you can
probably swim for it much easier than the boat, so only go for it after you
get the kayak back. The paddle will slow you down if you try to hold on to
it while chasing the boat. Of course, you  have to worry only about the boat
if your paddle is tethered to it.

Anyhow, that is from my limited experimentation. I'd like to read your
thoughts on getting separated from the kayak.

Woody


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