Re: [Paddlewise] Dancing in a double

>I found that I had to practically yell to have my partner
>hear me from either the front or back position.

One of the big disadvantages of a double when it's windy.

> and if you want a hug
>you can get together for that too much more easily in a single.

Definitely so. Maybe that's why we paddle singles.....

>2)paddle clash--and the
>tension of trying to avoid it for the stern paddler,

What's that (clash). Ohh you're paddling one of those short boats...

>3)wet ride for the bow paddle--

One friend's comment, women are built to suffer so they go in the front.
His wife was bigger than him so kept him dry.

Also as owner/captain I always paddle in command.

> 4)so wide

Why, there's no need to be all that much wider. Eric (the above owner) has
a narrower double than mine and it always felt perfectly stable. I know the
design has been down south into the "Roaring Forties" Fiordland.

> 5)longer paddles

As I can paddle a single with a 210 cm paddle, a double should be/is easy
enough with my standard 220 cm. If it isn't, it is too wide.

> and so the bow paddler doesn't set too high a stroke rate for
>the stern paddler to keep up,

The reason I designed mine with the paddlers apart was to take novices and
not worry about their paddling style. In this country the rental doubles
have a centre hatch for load carrying and to avoid paddle clash. The one
design that didn't has been redesigned.

> 6)having to agree or negotiate every decision.

The reverse of two singles, one decision maker, the Captain in the back.
With singles it can be, needs to be negotiated. At least you know the
person behind you is still with you not like on one guided trip I did where
the other paddler insisted on paddling in my wake and hadn't learnt to surf
a boat so it was a matter of continually turning to see where she'd got to
and stopping to let her catch up.

The Fiji trip, it was necessary to take a double so the slowest paddler
could stay with the group. Going to windward was hard work (for me) but
running I could sit back and let the front paddler paddle and hope the
group would keep up with us.

Alex
.
.
Alex (Sandy) Ferguson
Chemistry Department
University of Canterbury
New Zealand
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