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From: <JSpinner_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Sandal/foot pedal entrapment?
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 22:25:49 EDT
In a message dated 5/29/01 2:01:33 PM, MJAkayaker_at_aol.com writes:

<< I have the "Keepers" footrests in both of my kayaks.  I could not figure 
out 
how they could get caught on my sandals, but I have seen things happen when 
rolling around in the surf that I never expected could happen.  With the 
Keepers I feel a little safer since they slide right off the tracks when you 
apply any rear pressure.  In fact it is a real annoyance that they often slip 
back a notch or two if I adjust my seating position or pull my little drink 
cooler back to me.  Are my Keepers just really loose or do other people have 
this same situation?  They have never slipped forward on me without releasing 
the catch. >>

I've been a bit out of the loop for a while and will actually be off the list 
altogether as of Sun. afternoon so this may have been responded to. This 
sounds VERY alarmingly dangerous unless you can reach down in rough water and 
move the peg back into a position where it is useful.
    I got into a stupid situation where one of my pegs moved too far towards 
me and I couldn't paddle with my foot on it. It was just not possible. My 
cockpit was too small for me to reach down and move it back where I could fix 
it with my feet. I had to paddle some distance with it like that until I 
could get up on the back deck to fix it. (I have to ground the boat to do 
this.)
    I was exhausted and by back hurt fiercely then and the next day. I felt 
that I was very unsafe and if I had gone over I would have been totally 
unable to roll back up as it was my onside peg that was missing. This wasn't 
an issue of the sliding pegs from a rudder but actually needing to press on 
the back side and top side at the same time to move it. 
    Moving or mushy pegs is one of the biggest reasons I object to most 
rudders, other than their lack in the aesthetics arena. Has anyone found a 
way to solve the issue of a lost peg or two? One of our guys lost a peg off 
the slide and into the drink after a blown roll. I get a bit afraid when I 
see something like this. It can happen and then what?

Joan Spinner 
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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_home.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Sandal/foot pedal entrapment?
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 22:49:50 -0400
From: <JSpinner_at_aol.com>


>     Moving or mushy pegs is one of the biggest reasons I object to most 
> rudders, other than their lack in the aesthetics arena. 

Gas pedal type foot pegs are the answer here.  That's why I put the Seaward
rudder pedals in my Solstice.

> Has anyone found a way to solve the issue of a lost peg or two? 

Assuming you're talking about rudderless craft, you could put two footpegs on 
each track.  If the first peg breaks, just slide the second into place.  A few
ounce penalty on overall weight and a few bucks for the extra pedals.  This 
also lets two different sized folks share a kayak without needing to adjust the
pedals.

This won't solve the problem of a track breaking, though.

Mike

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