Re: [Paddlewise] Sculling Brace

At 07:44 PM 2/19/00 -0800, you wrote:
>Doug wrote:
>>Don't forget to add that sculling brace
>>though...can be mighty important in preventing a full knock-over.
>>
>
>I practice my sculling brace on every outing and am fairly confident in it.
>But I have never used it for real.  A quick low or high brace has always
>been adequate.  In surf, of course, I am on a brace longer when broached.
>
>Any examples of how you actually used your sculling brace.  Did it require
>more than one or two sculls before recovery?
>
>Jerry

I think we had a go 'round on this topic a while back. I can't remember the
concurrences and/or conclusions, but I do remember those with skinny kayaks
were more apt to practice sculling and actually employ its use (apologies
to John Winters for invoking the ill-defined and meaningless "skinny boat"
term).

With my Nordkapp at 21 inches and a round hull, secondary stability is
somewhat dependent upon the user's paddle-play savvy. There is a point
where you know you just don't have the time or right angle to throw that
needed brace. At times like that, I don't even try; I just commit over to a
sculling brace which renders immediate stability in most situations.
Typically, once stability is encountered, I'll either high brace back up by
bringing the scull to center right angle or simply scull powerfully so I am
vertical again.	There are variations.	

I use sculling for surprise "knock-overs", poor eddyline crossing mistakes,
or at times, when things are just too narley and things go "sideways". When
I do my west coast trips with two of my buddies (one's a professor, one's a
school teacher), we three amigos will be seen at the beginning and end of
each paddling day, dunking our heads into the water and sculling back up,
so as to stay "tuned-in". We also paddle close in-shore, amongst the
boomers, so need to stay "tuned-in".

The only time my sculling got me _into_ trouble was during the onset of my
trial Island incident. I had too much faith in my sculling ability, held on
too long such that my sinuses flooded with water. There is a point where
one should simply go over, set up to windward, and roll back up in the
braced position. Interestingly, whitewater paddlers don't use sculling
much. They also have 24 inch or wider kayaks.
 
I don't expect the folks on this list who behave themselves to understand
some of these topics we cover on Paddlewise. They simply can't relate, and
so they shouldn't have to. What I find difficult to understand is those on
this list who do get out into some more difficult conditions, usually
pull-back before the going gets really rough (which is good on them), yet
give others a hard time and call the need to use some of these skills like
sculling and rolling as a sign of some kind of failure. Pull back from
challenging conditions, yes; but pull back from your derogatory remarks
about those who enjoy the other end of the spectrum. If you want to remain
inextensible, that's fine. But those who like a little peradventure in
their lives should remain free to pursue more esoteric skills.

Er, what was the question again, Jerry?

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd
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