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? (By wide cockpit boat I mean one that can be entered backside first and conversely a narrow cockpit boat is one that has to be entered feet first). 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? I would be very glad to hear an experienced opinion on what experienced kayakers would do when their roll becomes unachievable? All the best, PeterO Dave Seng wrote: <snip> > It's very important to be able to self rescue in a wide range of >conditions (and I'm a firm believer in the concept of self rescue >being the first, best, and only truly reliable rescue) but don't put >all your eggs in the "I can roll" basket..... Scott wrote: <snip> >I've said it before and I'll say it again; common sense and good >judgment are far more important in this sport then are skills and >equipment. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.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/ ***************************************************************************
PeterO wrote: > I would be > very glad to hear an experienced opinion on what experienced kayakers would > do when their roll becomes unachievable? > > All the best, PeterO When it looks that bad and I'm sitting on shore then my usual course of action is to keep on sitting on shore - Don't Go. If paddling when conditions turn bad head for shore - staying cognizant of changing conditions consists of constantly monitoring a combination of weather, wind, tide(current), and available landing spots as your course changes (and if paddling in a group - the physical and mental state of your partners). If paddling when conditions turn bad and the only shore for miles in either direction consists of cliffs....poor trip planning - Darwin may soon be snapping at your heels. Scott's line about judgment and common sense being far more valuable to a paddler than equipment or skill is 100% on target. Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska *************************************************************************** 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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