Wes wrote: > Of course, with a larger group, it probably would have been better to raft > up a second kayak, possibly using paddles under deck lines front and back > to stabilize both boats, and then towing with one or more of the other boats. The folks I paddle with carry a short length of deck line (essentially, twice the width of the deck just forward of the coaming) with stainless steel snap links, or carabiners on each end. This can be used to raft two boats in a rescue situation. Depending on the arrangement of deck lines on the two boats, this line can create a secure and stable raft, permitting the rescuer to use two hands if need be to assist the rescuee, while both are towed by a third paddler. In a two-person situation, this line can be used to secure a contact tow. We call it a paddle park. It's also useful for retriving lost paddles, or parking paddles while helping a paddler back into their boat. It's stored on the boat, with the snap links hooked to one deck line near the coaming, and the line looped around the deck line on the opposite side. You forget it's there until you need it. Bob V *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Wes wrote >>>>>In talking about it afterwards, however, discussing things that could have been done had we not had the friendly bass boat around, and had there been only two of us, we came up with the idea of taking a paddle, sticking it through the back deck lines so it would hang out about equally on either side, and putting a paddle float on each end -- sort of a field expedient sponson arrangement. <<<<<< I have played with this arrangement and find it works quite well if the paddle floats are large and can be kept out of the water most of the time and if it can be held reasonably firmly well back the rear deck (if you want to be able to paddle). There is way better final stability than with Tim's sp*ns*ns and a whole lot less drag in the water during use in a towing situation. In the manual for our Rescue Float Plus (on our website) we wrote: "Alternately, two RESCUE FLOATS can be used, one on each end of a paddle to make outriggers that add an immense amount of stability to a kayak. Two FLOATS could be very useful if one paddler in a group using single kayaks was seriously incapacitated. If the spare paddle and two floats can be attached across the deck far enough back to not to interfere with paddle strokes, you can still paddle and your kayak will be difficult to capsize in any condition short of surf. With many kayaks you can paddle or tow this setup with very little additional drag (if you keep the kayak near level so neither of the floats is dragging in the water). If your fastening method can prevent the paddle shaft from easily rotating you can use the spare in the unfeathered position and blow up only the top half of each float to keep them higher off the water for less drag when paddling. Fasten it so the inflated half is down to increase initial stability if that is desirable when not or towing." I met Tim at a West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium some years back and he didn't seem as wacked out as when he gets to driving a keyboard and advertising to lawyers on lawyers bulletin boards that Sea Kayaking accidents could be way more profitable than Firestone tires. (Look him up on www.Deja.com.) Back then he was displaying his new Sealight Folding Kayak. We had the beach space next to him and wondered when he was ever going to unwrap or unveil the kayak he had wrapped up and hidden away in the loose vinyl bag. I think it was day two of the symposium before I realized that that loose bag was the kayak. Tim has for years used my copyrighted materials "Deep Trouble" and makes it appear I like his sponsons when in reality I think there is lots of room for improvement and major disadvantages for rescues. I've looked at his patent too. It's a joke, he must have done it all himself. I'd advise anyone who wants to improve on sp*ns*ns to go right ahead. I'd be happy to suggest improvements. I can provide you with prior (to Tim's patent) photos of sp*ns*ns being used on kayaks. Photos of my own tests with sp*ns*ns made from modified stuff sacks with float bags inside from around the time I up with the paddlefloat rescue back in 1981. I also have an old photo of a military kayak with sp*ns*ns lashed on the gunnels and other stuff I don't remember that is also related. "The Night of the Hunter" is correct Ralph, I saw it just recently on tape. A very creepy 1955 classic movie starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, Evelyn Varden, Peter Graves. Thanks for the history lesson on Folbot Ralph. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Matt Broze wrote: <big snip> <<< Photos of my own tests with sp*ns*ns made from modified stuff sacks with float bags inside from around the time I up with the paddlefloat rescue back in 1981. >>> <snip> Matt, don't you mean "fixed outrigger paddlefloat rescue"? Your slipping buddy! DL *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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