Being new to sea kayaking I have a lot of questions. I have yet to do a self or assisted rescue (will do as soon as the weather warms up). There is a lot that I know that I don't know so I govern myself accordingly. One of my questions is about sponsons vs paddle floats. My first thought is that the sponsons appear be safer and would provide a much easier rescue. See http://www.sponsonguy.com/index.html But the paddle floats seem to be in much greater usage so I'm wondering about the advantages and disadvantages of each. Any advice offered will be appreciated. Thanks. Skip *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Skip, Don't wait for the weather to warm up unless you're not going to paddle until then. The biggest risk is hypothermia. If you can't rescue yourself in cold water, there's no point in just learning it for warm water. Practice when you are cold and tired. That's probably the shape you will be in when you need to use it. The people I paddle with practice our rescues all year long and at least once per month. Paddle floats are quick to inflate and when you know how to use them, you will be in a dry boat while someone using sp*8**ns will still be trying to fasten them to the boat. Steve Holtzman Skip said: Being new to sea kayaking I have a lot of questions. I have yet to do a self or assisted rescue (will do as soon as the weather warms up). snip.... My first thought is that the sponsons appear be safer and would provide a much easier rescue. But the paddle floats seem to be in much greater usage so I'm wondering about the advantages and disadvantages of each. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Skip, Don't wait for the weather to warm up unless you're not going to paddle until then. The biggest risk is hypothermia. If you can't rescue yourself in cold water, there's no point in just learning it for warm water. Practice when you are cold and tired. That's probably the shape you will be in when you need to use it. --------- Or putting that another way, since you will be dressed to swim, and having tested your gear in the water on which you plan to paddle, you will in fact be warm and comfortable in the water and practicing your rescues in the COLD WATER will not be a problem since you will be doing your training in a spot where you can easily GET OUT when you have had enough of it etc. etc. Capsizing by accident into cold water should not ever be THE FIRST TIME you tried your gear in the cold water!!! Chuck Sutherland *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> One of my questions is about sponsons vs paddle floats. My first > thought is > that the sponsons appear be safer and would provide a much easier > rescue. > But the paddle floats seem to be in much greater usage so I'm > wondering about > the advantages and disadvantages of each. Any advice offered will be > appreciated. You might want to read the in depth discussion of sp*nsons on paddlewise http://www.paddlewise.net/topics/boatequip/sponson.html The maker of sp*sons has a terrible reputation with this group because he is so fanatical. Lots of folks will not use the word sponson because they are afraid of Tim coming out of the bushes and starting some rant. Many folks were turned off by Rec.boats.paddle news group and Tim's ranting on the subject. -- MZ visit my website: http://www.mzuschlag.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/ ***************************************************************************
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