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From: Mary Z <mzuschlag_at_home.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Sp***ns, rolling and paddlefloats
Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 17:13:55 -0700
I was interested in reading the comments on the dreaded S word for rescue.
I am in a very similar situation with Mark Zen.  I have rheumatoid arthritis
and have lost mobility in my wrists.  I used to do white water kayaking, but
my roll became unreliable, because my wrists don't flex well. I have done
some seakayaking but recently I have become much more serious about the
sport. I like multi-day trips, so I often have a full loaded boat.  So my
question is how easy is it to roll a fully loaded sea kayak?  If it is
harder considering the lack of flexibility in my wrists would sp**** be
better or would a paddle float be sufficient?  I wondered about using an
unfeathered blade.  Currently I have a great AT bent shaft feathered paddle
that I love.  It is greatly reduces the wrist flex (which used to hurt my
wrists).  I plan to do a lot of roll practice and self rescue this summer,
but I wondered which method I should try.  Thanks sorry for bringing up the
S word. -- MZ
website:
http://members.home.net/mzuschlag

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From: Jack Fu <SeaDogJack_at_cablespeed.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Sp***ns, rolling and paddlefloats
Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 17:50:23 -0700
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Mary Z <mzuschlag_at_home.com>
<snip>
>  ...So my question is how easy is it to roll a fully loaded sea kayak?  

I find my fully loaded Romany just as easy to roll as an empty Romany.
Coming back from a 5 day camping trip last summer, not only was my
Romany fully loaded, but I had to strap stuff on top of the deck, both 
fore and aft. (We had to carry our own garbage out, so I looked like a 
garbage scow coming into home harbor.) The Romany was easy to
roll even in that comical state.

This above may not apply to other kayaks. The Romany is one of
the easiest kayaks to roll, almost as easy as my ww RPM.

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From: Jochen Grikschat <grikschat_at_surfeu.de>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Sp***ns, rolling and paddlefloats
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 08:40:46 +0200
Hey Mary,

sorry for your wrists problems.
In my experiences a fully loaded seakayak is to roll quite easy. But it also
depends on the kayak. Is it a broad or a narrow one, high of the sitting
position.
But spoken in general words, the more weight you got in the kayak the better
it is for the centre of gravity which helps you for the roll.
But itīs also my experience, a fully loaded kayak is quite dificult to let
it capsize... because of the deep centre of gravity.

Best way may, you train it under controlled conditions and with a
realistically loaded kayak.

all the best
Jochen

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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_home.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Sp***ns, rolling and paddlefloats
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 21:40:46 -0400
From: "Mary Z" <mzuschlag_at_home.com>

> So my question is how easy is it to roll a fully loaded sea kayak?  

It takes a little more "oomph" to start the kayak rolling, due to the 
greater mass, but once it's mostly over, the extra stability from its
weight snaps you up and holds you there - well, compared to the
same kayak empty.  Is it harder?  Sort of - it's different.

>would sp**** be better or would a paddle float be sufficient?  

If you can try both, do so and decide.  I prefer the paddle float because
it's simpler, functional and easier to inflate (less volume).  

I find the value of the sponsons somewhat overstated by the enthusiasts 
and greatly overrated by sponsonboy (who is a member of my kayak club
that I've never met).  I've found that they don't provide as much stability in 
the tests I've done as I'd expect from all the hype.  On the other hand, a friend 
of mine likes them a lot.  YMMV.  

If you want to see that sponson boy's product looks like deployed and what
it can do, go to http://www.zeuter.com/~squall/ and select the Squall-Mart
Paddlogue and then select rescue&repair.  Scroll down near the bottom.
That's _not_ timmy in the kayak, it's Jack Elliott.
Mike

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