Re: [Paddlewise] Decklines

Hi all,

I hadn't realised that Peter Treby had sent his reply to the list also.
Here's my response...


Peter,

Thanks for your reply. To respond...

>Two thoughts here: First, I don't like having anything that can take the
>skin off
>your hand if you take a wild paddle stroke. So decklines running past the
>cockpit
>would need to be sufficiently inboard to avoid this risk.

I've never had any problem with decklines, or the hand rails on Voyager.
Any fittings proud of the deck are a different matter of course.

> And, some have
>theorised that if a boat breaks in two with the paddler still in the cockpit,
>it's better to have the two halves unconnected. I find it hard to imagine
>this.

In the three cases I know of (Steve Jacobs, David Williamson and Phil
Doddridge (Phil's boat didn't break, it bent)) that wasn't a problem. In
any case, the two pieces would still be connected by rudder cables.

>It's probably more convenient to have other line available, rather than
>dismantling the decklines. The flush deck mountings on my Pittarak are
>tight for
>8mm line, so this would be difficult.

Perhaps, but that means you're carrying another rope. Takes only a couple
of minutes to remove or rethread. As for those deck fittings, I'm not sure
whether you should blame Larry Gray or Derek Hutchinson. Flush deck
fittings are invariably too small, which is why I no longer use them but
use moulded channels beneath the deck.

>Melbourne, mate. What's in a name? The USA seems to use T rescue.

Simply that this is not the US, and there's no need for us to copy US
practice. Much of what they're reinventing was known to serious Australian,
especially Tasmanian, paddlers 20 or more years ago.

>I disagree with the idea that paddlefloats have no place...

Two problems with paddle float rescues, which seem to be promoted mainly
for less-skilled paddlers. First is that even when you've got yourself back
in you're in a vulnerable position without means of propulsion. That's
especially true of US practice which depends on manual pumps. Better to
have a boat that is controllable with the cockpit flooded and use a 'no
hands' pump system. In a group situation rafting is a better proposition.

The other is the false sense of security, especially for the solo paddler,
where seamanship would suggest prudence. In driving instruction, is it
better to teach advanced driving skills or teach avoidance of situations
that may lead to problems? Current view favours the latter. In flying
instruction, does one teach spin recovery, or avoidance of situations that
lead to stalls and spins? (That one sank in one day when I had a C-172 in
an awkward attitude; and I had been taught spinning.)

Better to learn proper paddle and bracing skills, and when to stay on shore.

Yes, rolls and re-entry and roll can fail, but what were you doing in that
situation in the first place?


Cheers,
Peter
pcarter_at_acslink.net.au
allegedly <www.acslink.net.au/~pcarter>
temporarily <users.senet.com.au/~pcarter>
34deg 55' 24.1" S 138deg 32' 9.8" E (GDA-94)



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