I was looking at the BCU training/testing requirements for 1 and 2 star certification and saw something confusing. One of the first items that the student needed to demonstrate was getting in and out of the kayak without using a paddle. I think it said something else like "paddle must be kept nearby within reach". I have always used a paddle across the back deck for extra support when getting in and out of the kayak. Is there something wrong with using the paddle (ie I should never be doing this) or is this a test to master and demonstrate balance, (ie it is good to learn but it is not necessarily the way you always do it) or is there some other reason (such as I completely misunderstood what was being said). Rest of the descriptions made very good sense and gave my some good ideas for things to practice. I was reading from the selections at http://www.bcu.org.uk/Coaching/pdfdocs.htm. Hope some of you BCU coaches can enlighten me. Mark J. Arnold MJAkayaker_at_aol.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Thu, 20 Apr 2000 MJAkayaker_at_aol.com wrote: > nearby within reach". I have always used a paddle across the back deck for > extra support when getting in and out of the kayak. Is there something wrong > with using the paddle (ie I should never be doing this) or is this a test to > master and demonstrate balance, Be careful about how much weight you put on the paddle when doing this. If you have a lightweight paddle it's possible to break the paddleshaft. I'm pretty sure at least Lightning recommends against doing this, particularly with their carbon paddles. I know my wife did in her favorite paddle (a Baldwin) using it to get into her boat. The shaft broke right under her hand, which was in the middle of the span between the hull and shore. kirk *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I like to address the issue of using a paddle to get into or exit your boat. First, some general principles: 1. It is best to avoid using your paddle and to develop other ways of getting in and out. That is not to say not to use your paddle but rather try to minimize using this crutch. 2. If you must use a paddle behind you to exit/enter than place only minimum pressure on the shaft. The paddle is just an auxiliary aid for better balance in exiting/entering and not to be used to hold your total weight as some people do with the paddle. (It is similar to using a paddle float rescue where the less weight you put on the outrigged paddle, the better off you are in getting back in.) Consider the hand placement of your outboard hand. Breakage is most likely to occur near the blade and results from having the outboard hand too close to your boat and the resulting long lever putting excessive breaking force at the outboard blade end. If entering off a beach, you may want the outboard hand to be well into the water and close-ish to the blade. Next, some applications: A. One thing I really like about most folding kayaks is how little you have to rely, if at all, on using the paddle behind the back for getting back in. In some models, you can step right in (although I have had several dramatic pratfalls in doing so, much to the entertainment of onlookers!). End of sermon. :-) B. Exiting/entering re. docks. I see a lot of people use the paddle for this when it is least necessary in such situations for any boat. If you position yourself on the dock where you can grab on to something such as a rope or tieoff dock fixture, you don't need the paddle at all. Also there is a way of getting in and out that is quite masterful that I have seen Ken Fink do and write up in some publication (which I have subsquently lost). He uses it for very narrow hardshells and it works. I won't risk describing it but I hope someone on this list can prevail on Ken to replicate it on some website or find the magazine, get permission from the publisher, and get the method on line. Ken goes ballastic when he sees someone putting their paddle behind them (especially a Lightning or other expensive paddle). I was with him when he barked at such a transgression by someone and his bellowing was so startling that it almost sent me tumbling into the drink. C. Exiting and entering at a beach or shoreline. 1. If you sit on your back deck with your feet straddling the boat you can often get in without a paddle supporting you (the secret is keeping yourself centered, your legs acting as outriggers, and having equal amount of force on both hands behind you as you swing in one leg and then the other). Or if you feel a need to use the paddle in this type of straddling entry, you wind up reducing pressure on the paddle because you are already sitting on the boat which is taking a lot of your weight. 2. If coming in from the side, as a lot of people do, whatever you do, don't come in in a way that you are practically sitting on the shaft where it is suspended between boat and the grounded outboard blade...that is a paddle killer. Try to work you butt so that it is over the boat when you start putting pressure on the supporting paddle with your outboard hand (and put plenty of pressure on the inboard hand which is over the boat and pressing down on it thus reducing leveraging pressure on the shaft). And again keep that outboard hand as far toward the grounded outboard blade as you can. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ ***************************************************************************
I was using a carbon paddle for a low brace in deep water, and the shaft broke catastrophically.. I went right into the water. > From: Kirk Olsen > Cc: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] BCU kayak entry & exit > > I know my wife did in her favorite paddle (a Baldwin) using it to get into > her boat. The shaft broke right under her hand, which was in the middle > of the span between the hull and shore. > > kirk *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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