[Paddlewise] Sandal/foot pedal entrapment?

Hi, folks

Paddlewise is a wide ranging group and I hope it may have some insights on
the subject I raise below.  Basically what I have below are "talking points"
for a possible ban on sandals being proposed by someone for a specific local
trip we are having because of the possibility of a sandal being ensnarred by
a foot pedal and trapping the paddler.  A ban is being proposed based on the
real life experience of a safety coordinator.  My own view is that a blanket
ban may not really be called for because there are pedals and there are
pedals and there are sandals and there are sandals.  But it may be an
overall safety issue we may want to hash out here on Paddlewise.  And it
something that sandal wearers may want to test as suggested toward the end
of my talking points.

TALKING POINTS: SANDALS VS. PEDALS

The sandal issue is certainly real given Ken's own experience.  But the only
other such example I remember is for Tammy Venn, the publisher of Atlantic
Coastal Kayaker.  It happened to some one on one of the trips she was
guiding years ago, before she started the magazine, and she would thereafter
not allow sandals on trips she led (she no longer leads trips, I believe).

But, as I mentioned, I am unaware of any touring or instructional outfit or
club that says "no sandals."  Things may have changed, but the last time I
saw X (a tour/instruction leader) on the water, I believe she was wearing
Tevas.  To my knowledge, not one of the outfitters within 100 miles of the
Big Apple has such a restriction.  Maybe some are now saying no to sandals,
but certainly most don't have that proviso, among these some outfitters with
a stellar reputation for safety.

There are two elements involved:

1) the shape of the foot pedal

2) the particular sandal

Let's look at this one at a time:

1)foot pedal shape.  Some foot pedals have a low aspect ratio shape, i.e.
they are thin for most of their length, being more like a spatula blade
(albeit actually a bit thicker than a spatula).  Because of this, it is
possible that this type pedal can slip under the straps of a sandal, either
between footbed and foot or under one of the straps on the top part of the
foot.  Other pedals have a high aspect ratio shape, i.e. they are fat not
thin.  They have no spatula-like blade that can slip under a sandal strap at
any point; it would be like trying to shove a 2X3 piece of wood under a
strap.

2) sandal type.  Some sandals like the classic Teva have few strap anchor
points to the footbed  and, thus, large open areas between the straps.  So
it is possible with them for a low aspect ratio shaped pedal to slip between
the straps and catch the sandal.  But there are sandals that have many
anchor points such as the Alps, now owned and distributor by Teva; there is
no opening that is large enough for the end of even a low aspect ratio pedal
to poke through and catch the sandal.  The same is true of sandals put out
by Merrell and other companies that are more like a huarache, the Mexican
type sandal that is really more of a shoe with an open weave basket on it.
With these, there is no way any type pedal blade can grab on to anything.

A lot of this is a matter of perspective and determining odds of occurence.
For example, I can point to as many, if not more, incidents in which the
pull loop on spray skirts have caught on to deck fittings in a capsize or
re-entry, snaring the paddler in an awkward dangerous position.  The same
with attachments on PFDs such as whistles, knifes, overfilled pockets, etc.
snaring on to deck fittings and bungee in re-entries.  I don' t see us
saying, no pull loops on skirts or attachments on PFDs.

I think that best thing would be not to have a blanket statement about "no
sandals" but rather a warning that the paddler check  (on land!) to see if
his or her sandal has a possibility to catch on the foot pedal of the kayak
they paddle.  It may be that the person's type of pedal and type of sandal
are a recipe for potential disaster and he/she should know about it in any
event, whether they plan to paddle with the Trip or not.

My own personal experience is with the Feathercraft pedals which are quite
thick in profile and broad and with Chaco sandals which have broad straps
and more anchor points than the normal Tevas.  I have a spare set of foot
pedals here at home and just now I tried and tried and could not get the
Chacos to catch up on the Feathercraft pedals in any way.  But I have seen
other type pedals in which conceivably the pedal might catch even on the
Chacos (but I haven't tried, so, don't take this as a blanket statement).

In sum, if you are a sandal wearer as am I, as a safety consideration, see
if your sandal has even the remotest possibility of catching on the pedals
in your kayak (s).  It has been known to happen and you would not want to
find out in a wet exit, or even, when exiting off of a dock or beach.  The
latter cases could lead to an awkward exit and capsize.  The wet exit case
could be disastrous.

Again, I am not advocating blanket bans on sandals, just that you carry out
a safety check for your particular sandal and pedal.

ralph diaz

--
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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."
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