Matt Broze wrote: > > Ralph wrote: > >>Generally in a rescue of a double, you want to get the rear person in > first as Bob suggests as they then are in a position to control the > rudder (most doubles are ruddered). This is handy for keeping the boat > pointed into any seas or wind while getting in the second person in.<< > > Ralph you must be having an off day, usually I find myself in agreement with > what you write on paddlewise. > I am always amazed at the magical qualities with which people attribute > rudders. I don't think you can get up enough speed while rescuing your > partner to have the rudder have any significant effect at all, much less > turn and hold the bow into the wind or waves while your partner hangs on and > drags in the water. You and the others who pointed this out are absolutely right in that the rudder wouldn't give you much help in keeping the boat pointed into the wind while static in the water. Where having a person at the rudder helps is in getting into position. As you know in rescues, you often find yourself moving around a bit and any steering by paddle or by rudder is done from the rear by most people. I was thinking more in those terms. Someone also pointed out that the rear person in first is best because it lend for seeing what the next person in is doing. If the first person in goes into the front seat, he or she would have his/her back toward the other person coming in and not be of much help. > > Ralph also wrote: > >>I see some couples who I know love each other and who share a passion > for seakayaking but who are in singles. While I know singles offer > their own reward, I am saddened because I know that in not having a > double in their fleet they are missing some opportunities to regenerate > love and reaffirm the spirit of sharing that underlies it.<< > > I see this very differently. It is my view that the couples who do best in a > double are the ones who have a captain/crew relationship where one person > makes all the decisions and the other always goes along. Communicating with > your partner is also much more difficult in the for and aft position of a > double rather than with a side by side position (where you can turn to face > each other) that is possible paddling two singles. And you don't hate the > bow paddler for throwing water back in your face with their paddle with > every other stroke or form stopping and starting all the time making it hard > to keep your paddle in sync with theirs. I guess I'd rather have a partner > than a master or a slave. > I got stuck in a double for three weeks once, how I ached for a single. > I realized why they were called "divorce machines" after that. Before I > thought it was just a joke. Captain/crew, master/slave. You better not let my wife, my partner of 38 years, hear you saying that.:-) I kinda figured you wouldn't go for a double. I bet I could compile a 90% accurate list of the active members of PaddleWise identifying those who would be good tandem paddlers based on the personalities that come through in their postings. As for divorce machines, I know of at least one case in which a double kayak was actually part of the healing process that helped a separated couple get together. > BTW Ralph, its Bruce Furrer not Bruce Werner. Werner Furrer is the dad (and > Werner Jr. is the brother) of Bruce. I thought of this about a half hour after posting that. I know Bruce quite well. He usually teases me at symposia and shows, one of the last times tossing bread at me in a restaurant when my group didn't get fed right away and his had food. You have to realize that to us Latinos all Anglo-Germanic surnames look alike. :-) ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Mar 10 2000 - 05:18:55 PST
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