In a message dated 7/6/00 11:47:48 PM, dreeves_at_lucent.com writes: << Fortunately I had a Greenland blade on my front deck. He stuck his 1/2 paddle under the front deck lines, took ahold of my Euro paddle as I retrieved my paddle from my front deck. >> I park my Greenland on the foredeck when I have to but that is only because it fits there. I keep the Euro spare on the rear deck. I don't pretend I can grab-assemble then paddle in the time I could hold my breath under water after I loose my primary paddle. I figure if I'm in that kind of situation I'm stuck with a half paddle or two halves. Have you ever practiced this? I just can't paddle worth much with something on my deck I keep hitting. It makes me crazy, scratches my new boat, and generally irritates me beyond endurance. I've been known to "lose" water bottles if I couldn't stop to shove them into the cockpit. I need to balance the placement of equipment with the ability and need to reach it. If I carried all the junk in my pfd that it seems I should, I'd have to shed the pfd for a rescue because it would weigh as much as s suit of armor. My spare is for when I break/loose the primary or need the euro for whatever reason, like too much wind to make headway. I've been sooooo happy to have it a couple of times and don't paddle a half mile without it but, do I think I really could get to it in a pinch, probably not. I usually need help to make the change if I don't want to scratch the gelcoat. If I really need it I'll scratch the gelcoat and worry about it later. I only take with me what I really need. In general, which means it should all be readably available, like on the front deck. I'd have ALL my stuff there with that idea. What I carry is on the deck is in a mesh deck bag, water, paddle leash, dry cloth in a zippy to dry my glasses when I really can't see, 2 fruit bars, water, and a camera. The VHF is lashed to the deck and a water bladder under the deck bag with a hose. I paddle and hit the clip that holds the deck bag on. I REALLY hate that. Is there any mechanical genius who can give me an idea of what to replace those stupid plastic clips with? I need to take the bag off after every trip so anything permanent won't do. All ideas entertained even if not implemented. Joan Spinner * * * Paddling on the Chesapeake Bay watershed-a red, CD Breeze and a yellow/white CD Gulfstream *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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