Re: [Paddlewise] Winter paddling and ice

In a message dated 1/31/00 9:34:32 PM, aburton1_at_maine.rr.com writes:

<< So here's the question for all you more experienced winter paddlers:  
how hard is this on the hull?  Is it to be avoided?   Is the bark worse than 
the bite?  >>

Ann,
    I had my first ice paddling experience earlier this winter. I thought, 
like you that it would be romantic to paddle in the ice. NOT -it sounds like 
it is tearing the hull apart, especially of a composite boat. The plastic 
boat didn't make that ugly sound.
    If it is just ice, it is no problem, just noisy. You really can't push 
against the ice hard enough to do any damage. It won't hurt the boat but I 
don't paddle in much ice for fear of both being trapped in an ice flow and of 
the consequences of going over in an effort to push my way out, VERY scary to 
feel unsteady in ice that your paddle just slides across. If you push hard 
and hit an open place it is like missing a step.

Joan Spinner
   * * *
Looking for a thaw on the Chesapeake Bay 
watershed dreaming about the red  CD Breeze 
and yellow/white, CD Gulfstream  in the back yard
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