Re: [Paddlewise] bombproof roll, cockpit size and rescue scenarios

From: Ulli Hoeger <uhoeger_at_is.dal.ca>
Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 17:42:03 -0300
> 
> From: "Peter Osman" <rebyl_kayak_at_hotmail.com>
> Subject: [Paddlewise] the "bombproof" roll
> 
> G'day,
> 
> Question from a Novice
>      Listening to the rolling debate leaves me puzzled. If no roll is
> bombproof then are wide cockpit boats intrinsically 'safer' than narrow
> cockpit boats? 
snip
>      Here's the argument: - if an expert at rolling can't always roll in
> difficult conditions then what other method is suitable under those
> conditions? Several posts and some of the literature have suggested that a
> paddle float reentry would not be likely to work in severe conditions and
> I think a cowboy reentry into a lightly loaded narrow cockpit boat in such
> difficult conditions would also be near impossible. In a wide cockpit boat
> or just possibly a heavily loaded narrow cockpit boat, might a "Cowboy"
> reentry still work when a roll or paddle float reentry does not? 
> 

No matter what cockpit size, my guess is if the conditions are 
preventing paddle float outrigger rescues, than the "Cowboy" 
bronco style rescue will also fail and you will end up like most 
rodeo cowboys -in the dust (here water).
If you go for a reentry and (paddle-float) roll, a smaller cockpit 
makes it a lot easier to get into the right seat position upside 
down.  In a large cockpit it is to easy to end up to far in the front, 
so you have to slip back to your backrest before setting up for the 
roll.

My 2 cents

Ulli

P.S.  1) Yesterday on a relaxed paddle trip I couldn't resist to give 
it a try.  After practising the roll in a number of pool sessions during 
the winter -still not real spring here in Nova Scotia- I did 2 rolls.  
After #1 I thought "The water wasn't that cold, let's go for one 
more", #2 gave me a icecream headdache so I decided to call it 
end of the session.  Not real life conditions (calm sea) but the first 
shot in cold saltwater.  Afterwards I had about 2 liters water in the 
cockpit, should have pluged the deckhole intended for my future 
electric bilge pump outlet...
2) During paddling (and the 2 rolls) I wore a wetsuit and a paddling 
jacket (kokatat reaction) with latex arm gaskets but only a neopren 
neck closure.  My T-shirt stayed dry, even around the neck.  That 
was much better than I expected, I was prepared to get at least a 
cup or so into the jacket.

Dr. Ulli Hoeger
Dept. Physiology and Biophysics
Dalhousie University
Halifax, B3H4H7, Nova Scotia
Canada

Phone I : 902-494-2673
Fax: 902-494-1685
Phone II :902-488-6796
http://is.dal.ca/~uhoeger
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Received on Mon May 29 2000 - 13:44:41 PDT

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