[Paddlewise] get togethers, paddle floats and rolls

    I've never come to terms with group kayak trips in a successful way.  When
I lead trips with significant exposure I advertise that all participants must
pass an ear in the water test, meaning that they must do a self rescue, a deep
brace, or a roll, that wets at least one ear.  That assures me that they have
some skill, or immersion clothing, (sometimes I also specify immersion
clothing, and make them prove it if I have any doubts) or both.  On trips that
don't list any qualifications, and are open to everyone, the pace is usually
so slow that I'm frustrated.  I think I'd be happy to go on beginner trips if
I was being paid, but it is hard to feel like it is recreation.  It is lucky
for us all that not everyone feels as I do, or there would be precious few
beginner trips.


    Loaded boats usually roll more easily than unloaded boats.  It is
important to practice rolling loaded boats however, or you might not be
confident when you try to roll.  No one rolls well if they aren't confident.
I roll a few times whenever I paddle to maintain my confidence.  Speaking of
rolling, I tried to scull and roll my wife's boat last Sunday.  I couldn't do
sculling braces well at all, and my roll was unreliable.  I could roll
reliably with an extended paddle.  I attribute the problem to 3 things:  (1)
The wider beam of the boat increased the stability of the boat upside down.
(2) I use an extremely short paddle, so with the wide beam, even with the
paddle against the gunwale, the blade was nowhere near horizontal at the end
of the sweep, even if it was near the surface (which it was).  (3) I am unused
to the boat, and the boat did not fit me.  I concluded that my wife, instead
of being a not-very-good roller is actually pretty skillful, and that the
choice of boat makes an even bigger difference that I thought.  The moral to
this story, is to make certain you buy a boat that rolls easily next time you
shop.  Thank God, I did.





Ken Rasmussen





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