Thanks for the responses Elaine & Ralph, Re stowing the paddle - I should think it would be OK stowed at the rear. The two obstructions that we found awkward were i) the paddle float bag which is quite a large foam block and ii) a fishing net. I also had a tow bag stashed there which didn't get in the way, so if its fairly smooth and fairly low profile it doesnt seem to matter . May be best to try first in calm water with a friend and see how it go's. Re tether issues. Actually I should have said that I always tether my paddle to the kayak with the intention of holding on when capsized. Its so instinctive that I forgot to mention it. I don't normally tether myself to the boat, the personal tether is something I've been thinking about since starting to kayak - I know its controversial but I intend to use it when faced with unexpected and extreme conditions away from surf. i.e the sort of situation Lone Madsen found herself in. I note several very well known long distance paddlers use them. Re towing. The dive belt was worn by the tower and attached to the bow of the towee. I think the bungee shock absorber between two figure 8 knot loops in the tether was a very good technique, we felt no untoward jolts it felt just like paddling a more heavily loaded kayak. Elaine, re the rudder. I should ask Peter Rattenbury what he thinks but it wasn't a huge nuisance and didn't prevent us towing - just a bit of a nuisance - I don't think I'ld worry too much about it. Ralph, would the flagpole support get in the way of the cowboy self rescue? I note you said it was on a flexible base. Also thanks for all the information about spray decks. Re length of the tow line - I'll check on this at home and with Peter Rattenbury but am going on another training session this arvo so won't get back until Monday. 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/ ***************************************************************************
Peter Osman wrote: ...I don't normally tether myself to the boat, the personal tether is something I've been thinking about since starting to kayak - I know its controversial but I intend to use it when faced with unexpected and extreme conditions away from surf. i.e the sort of situation Lone Madsen found herself in. I note several very well known long distance paddlers use them. I have tethered myself to the boat while playing in heavy surf on a sit-on-top. Since my favorite place to surf has a very rocky sea wall, the last thing I want is to have to swim close to the wall to retrieve my boat. A knife or a fool-proof means of detaching yourself from the tether is, of course, crucial. Cheers, Dave *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 10:54 AM 9/10/99 +0700, Dave Williams wrote: >Peter Osman wrote: >...I don't normally tether myself to the boat, the personal tether is >something I've been thinking about since starting to kayak - I know its >controversial but I intend to use it when faced with unexpected and extreme >conditions away from surf. i.e the sort of situation Lone Madsen found >herself in. I note several very well known long distance paddlers use them. Audrey Sutherland (author of Paddling my own Canoe) demonstrated her personal tether at the LL Bean symposium this year. She ties a piece of rope to a clip that she attaches to her deck rigging just in frong of the cockpit. The rope has a large non-slipping loop in in that she puts over one shoulder and under the other arm. She also uses a paddle leash from the middle of her paddle to a deck line on the other side of the cockpit. She answered the inevitable question about worrying about getting tangled up during a capsize/re-entry like this. She practiced using the teathers doing capsizes and re-entries over and over and over in warm water but rough conditions (in Hawaii) so she could pretty much tell what the ropes would do when a capsize occurred. She did carry a knife on her vest in the event that she tangled herself but she practiced enough that she felt that chances of getting tangled were extremely low. When asked if she capsized during one of her 650 mile solo paddles down the Alaskan coast she said that she did, once, and was back in here boat (a 12' inflatable) in 23 seconds. She said that she never paddles without a personal tether because losing your boat in cold water is the worst thing that could happen. In strong winds the kayak could easily be blown across the water at 10mph and no human can swim that fast. All the PFD is going to do is keep you afloat as you die of hypothermia. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Fri, 10 Sep 1999, John Fereira wrote: > Audrey Sutherland (author of Paddling my own Canoe) demonstrated her > personal tether at the LL Bean symposium this year. She ties a piece of > rope to a clip that she attaches to her deck rigging just in frong of the > cockpit. The rope has a large non-slipping loop in in that she puts over > one shoulder and under the other arm. How long would you estimate her tether was? 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/ ***************************************************************************
rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > > Matt Broze wrote: > > > > I use about a 30" tether > > of 3/16" shock cord that can stretch to twice its length or more (and a > > nylon hook). It stores wrapped around the middle of my paddle shaft where it > > is always quickly available. It is very lightweight, and opposed to the > > coiled kind, doesn't go clack, clack, clack on the deck with every stroke > > when in use. > > My coil one doesn't do that. The official heavier coil type sold for > kayaking probably does from how you describe your experience. > > > Also it never tangles with itself or drags in the water. > > My coil doesn't either. You should get one from West Marine and see for > yourself. > > > Since > > it is tied to the paddle shaft it has a very secure attachment that I trust > > more than Velcro. > > Yes, the official Perception bungee tether uses velcro which I wouldn' > have full trust in either. I was given one of the Perception units, and used it for a while until the Velcro sleeve detached from its bungie. Examination showed the joining of the two was doomed by design to fall apart. In any good thrashing, I think the Perception unit would fail. OTOH, I have used the "official" telephone cord units for years and really like them, with Matt's caveats in mind (especially that damn clack clack noise!). FWIW, I detach these and stow them in a pocket when in/near surf zones, because of the entrapment hazard. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
-----Original Message----- From: Elaine Harmon <eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu> >On Fri, 10 Sep 1999, John Fereira wrote: > >> Audrey Sutherland (author of Paddling my own Canoe) demonstrated her >> personal tether at the LL Bean symposium this year. She ties a piece of >> rope to a clip that she attaches to her deck rigging just in frong of the >> cockpit. The rope has a large non-slipping loop in in that she puts over >> one shoulder and under the other arm. > >How long would you estimate her tether was? I don't know but I think they have to keep her on a pretty short leash. ;-) Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** 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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