Re: [Paddlewise] Now Over or Under PFD

From: Greg Stamer <gstamer_at_magicnet.net>
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 23:13:08 -0500
Matt wrote:
SNIP
Being cantankerous, is not however why I wear my spraydeck outside
sometimes, but I also will continue to do it that way no matter what others
think (at least until the ACA gets a law passed to take away my paddling
license if I don't tuck in my skirt). For me it is a situational thing. If
I'm punching out through surf, paddling in the rain and cold or in
potentially rough weather I put my spraydeck under my PFD for the shingle
effect and the better seal at the waist that it provides that way. Dave is
right about why a paddler in a non-folding kayak might put it outside
though, ventilation.
SNIP

Earlier in this thread someone wrote about water funneling into the kayak
with the skirt worn over the PFD. As luck would have it, there is a
Greenland roll to handle just this task (you didn't think that 30+ rolls
were just for tricks did you ;^). Although the vast majority of Greenland
kayakers that I have met do not wear PFDs, they do wear a sealskin
sprayskirt for summer conditions that has a tall body tube, usually left
open at the top for ventilation. The preferred roll for a capsize with this
garment is to sweep from the stern to the bow in a low brace (Greenland
reverse roll). This roll is very popular in Greenland and is reputed to
allow the least amount of water to enter the kayak with an open skirt. I
would imagine that this would also work well for the
sprayskirt-over-the-PFD crowd. Note that although this roll is similar to a
Steyr, the Steyr is performed as a high brace.

Greg Stamer
Orlando, Florida
http://www.magicnet.net/~gstamer/QK.html

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Received on Wed Nov 15 2000 - 23:09:22 PST

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