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From: <HTERVORT_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Zippered Skirts / Over or Under
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 02:09:06 EST
Somehow, my earlier reply (under "Zippered Skirts") seems to have been 
truncated and I feel the safety issue at hand is important enough to try 
again:

In a message dated 11/14/00 4:24:36 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
ratten_at_uow.edu.au  (Peter Rattenbury)
>  writes:

>   I do like the ease of access which a centre zip provides as I carry
>  everything, including water bottle, below deck.  Sure it is easy to pop an
>  unzippered skirt, but I believe the zip does not compromise the integrity
>  of the skirt, that is, it can be quickly zipped open and shut. . . . . . . 
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From: Jackie Fenton <jackie_at_intelenet.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Zippered Skirts / Over or Under
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 23:26:01 -0800 (PST)
From: HTERVORT_at_aol.com

> Somehow, my earlier reply (under "Zippered Skirts") seems to have been 
> truncated and I feel the safety issue at hand is important enough to try 
> again:
> 
> In a message dated 11/14/00 4:24:36 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
> ratten_at_uow.edu.au  (Peter Rattenbury)
> >  writes:
> 
> >   I do like the ease of access which a centre zip provides as I carry
> >  everything, including water bottle, below deck.  Sure it is easy to pop an
> >  unzippered skirt, but I believe the zip does not compromise the integrity
> >  of the skirt, that is, it can be quickly zipped open and shut. . . . . . 


The problem is this sentence above.  The last period is being wrapped
around and beginning a sentence with a period which signals an end to 
the message.  So folks might want to watch for that.  I'm going to
try to resend your message through again but remove all the periods that
are wrapping around.

Jackie

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From: <HTERVORT_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Zippered Skirts / Over or Under
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 02:09:06 EST
Somehow, my earlier reply (under "Zippered Skirts") seems to have been 
truncated and I feel the safety issue at hand is important enough to try 
again:

In a message dated 11/14/00 4:24:36 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
ratten_at_uow.edu.au  (Peter Rattenbury)
>  writes:

>   I do like the ease of access which a centre zip provides as I carry
>  everything, including water bottle, below deck.  Sure it is easy to pop an
>  unzippered skirt, but I believe the zip does not compromise the integrity
>  of the skirt, that is, it can be quickly zipped open and shut. . 

>     I have found another advantage in zippered skirts in my environment, 
which
>  often means launching off beaches in surf.  I can quickly hop in to the
>  boat, with the skirt already fitted , zip up, and get paddling  while
>  'unzippered' ! folk are still trying to fit their skirt. 


The voices of both reason and experience prompt me to caution against these 
practices.  If you capsize with loose gear inside your cockpit, any object 
can wedge itself between your knees, legs or feet and the deck or seat and 
prevent you from getting out.  The harder you try, the harder the object 
wedges and holds you, partially out of the cockpit but unable to get out.  
Other gear can migrate beneath you and make the scenario even worse.  This is 
particularly serious if you capsize in the surf.

(snip and flip)
>   If I had to pop my skirt at sea, it would be a two-handed recovery
>  operation and quite frankly not something I would like to do in big water
>  unless it was vital. 

I assume you would still remove the skirt from the coaming rather than try to 
open the tunnel.  Trying to wet exit by unzipping the tunnel would seem to 
make the exit, dumping of water and reentry all harder than if you pop the 
skirt.

>   Another advantage, again related to my environment, is that a zippered
>  skirt enables you to 'open' up the boat in hot conditions.  It can be nice
>  to have a bit of breeze through the cockpit.

Or you can release the skirt -- in total, or front only, or back only.


Under-the-PFD in So Cal,

Harold


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