----- Original Message ----- From: "PJ Rattenbury" <ratten_at_uow.edu.au> > > Do any Klepper or Feathercraft owners roll their boats? I mean in real > conditions, not as a 'circus trick' as Ralph Diaz so aptly describes it. > By real conditions, I mean in the sort of sea/swell/wind /surf mix which > would put you upside down in one of these boats? The Feathercraft singles, particularly the K-1 and Khatsalano, are more enough like a hardshell in terms of tighter cockpit fit and width, that some people do roll them more often especially the Khats. > This issue is of importance to me, as the owner of a single Klepper who is > constantly asked about rolling the thing by my glass/plastic boat owning > friends. > My reply to them is why would I want to roll a boat which by reason of its > air sponsons is difficult to roll in ideal conditions, and in fact the > whole notion is contrary to the design of the boat. > And how are you going to hang upside down in a Klepper, without > dangerously compromising your ability to safely and efficiently wet exit. I > just do not think you can fit out the Klepper's large and wide cockpit > without going to ludicrous measures. Actually you could equip the Klepper pretty adequately to keep you locked in enough not to fall out if upside down. When I had my Klepper, I had sidebags alongside me in the cockpit that were so tight that they would have held me in an upside position particularly if I put my knees under the crossrib just a bit forward of the seat. That crossrib is cut in a way that I, at my torso length and leg length, could brace with my legs just back from the knees. Believe me, I was locked in. I never tried rolling and the boat, at its width and with those sponsons, would have resisted a roll some. But it certainly would have been doable. But, as you point out, rolling isn't a practical self-defense or self-rescue technique in a Klepper. You best bet is prevention. Stay well centered in your single Klepper, and there isn't much that will knock you over except stupidity. A case in point on the latter happened during one of those Trailside shows, the one in which Eric Stiller circumnavigated Manhattan with the show's host at the time, Peter Whittaker. Peter was in a single Klepper and Eric in an-unaccustomed-for-him Khatsalano (Eric had sold and promoted Kleppers for some 20 years or so). They were in the area of some whirling waters in the Hell Gate vicinity. Peter got his paddle caught in a downward whirl of a whirlpool. Instead of letting go or slicing the blade back up, he hung on to it figuring he could muscle it up. He couldn't and flipped. I found it hilarious that the more stable boat went over. Experience showed since Eric was a long-time paddler and would not have let that happen to him. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Feb 14 2001 - 04:33:18 PST
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