Re: [Paddlewise] Spare Paddle Rigging on a CD GTS

At 06:51 PM 7/5/00 -0500, Patrick Maun wrote:
>Hey all,
>
>I am re-rigging my boat and would like some advice on dealing with a 
>spare paddle. While I love many things about my Current Designs GTS, 
>I really hate that annoying back hatch. Sure it's big, but it gets in 
>the way and makes carrying a stable spare paddle a hassle. Who has 
>come up with some good bungie rigging solutions for carrying a 
>mid-sized paddle (in my case, a Swift)? I'd like to keep things low 
>and secure. Thanks.
>
>-Patrick
Patrick,

I have a CD Solstice GT and I share your problem.  I thought of mounting
the spare paddle on the fore deck but, like you, would rather have it aft.
Currently, I have a narrow blade spare and I'm able to thread the blades
through the bundgies just aft of the rear hatch, run the shaft along the
side of the hatch cover, and secure the ferrule end of the paddle shaft
under the bundgies just forward of the rear hatch.

While this works, I don't feel like the paddle is held very securely.  In
rough water I believe I could loose one or both halves.

Finding a secure way of holding the spare paddle despite the large hatch
cover that we have is a bit of a challange.  Naturally, I want to find a
solution that allows me to access each paddle half while seated in the
cockpit (perhaps while inverted under water).  One approach I've been
thinking of is to make a pocket for each blade from cloth allowing it to
cover 3 or 4 inches of the blade tip and attaching this to the deck just
forward of the vee block that the rudder rests in while folded.  That would
secure the blade ends.  To secure the shaft ends, a velcro'd strap could be
attached to the sides of the rear hatch cover within reach from the
cockpit.  To use this then, you would insert the blade into the pocket and
then secure the shaft.  Withdrawing it would be the opposite.  Perhaps the
velcro strap should be replaced with something that operates more "one
handedly'.  Bundgies? I dunno.

Anyway, this is a concept that I've been thinking about.  I've not had an
opportunity yet to develope it.

Let me know if you find a workable solution.

Bill Leonhardt
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