Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle leashes

> ...I would say there are several rational arguments
> (noting that nothing is fool proof or necessarily unquestionably better)
> 1. Whether a paddle leash is tethered to the boat or wrist --after capsize
> the first task is to get ahold of the boat.  I don't think either tethering
> location has more or less of an advantage here.  In either case if you have
> the boat-- you have your paddle.
   
   With the paddle tethered to the boat, if you hang onto your paddle, which 
is in your hands already, then you also hang onto your boat. If the paddle is 
tethered to your wrist, then when you wet exit you have to then grab your 
boat. If for some reason you do not, and there is a significant wind or 
current moving the boat along, then your screwed!

   2. If you do loose your boat (bad ,bad) then having your paddle (strapped> 
> to your         
>    wrist) might allow you to paddle-swim to catch your boat if it is > only
> a short distance away. 

   With the paddle tethered to the boat, if you hang onto your paddle, which 
is in your hands already, then you will not lose your boat, period! No need 
for paddle swimming.
  

   3. Doing a wet re-entry/rescue I like not having the paddle tied to the > 
> boat-
> it seems to give me more manuvering room to get the paddle float on and
> into position for climbing back into the boat.  And I cannot imagine any 
> but
> the wildest scenario where a wrist telthered paddle could entangle the
> kayaker?

   True! The wrist tether may have an advantage in this scenario. However, 
only if performing the paddle float rescue from the proper side of the boat. 
If the paddle was tethered to my left wrist, then I do not think I could 
properly perform a paddle float rescue on the starboard side of my kayak 
without first disconnecting the tether.

>     Comment: So why not use the wrist paddle leash in the surf? Does anyone,
> other than Matt Broze's example of a leg wrapped to a boat in surf,
> presumably with a boat to paddle tether, have any actual experience of a
> tether being a lethal threat in surf? Whatever threat exists here has to be
> balanced against a situation say of landing through surf breaking a long 
> way
> from shore, and losing the paddle. I want to be in the boat with the paddle
> then, and not facing a long swim if the paddle's lost. Easy to answer hang
> on to your paddle at all times, but surf power can deal with that. Does
> anyone have any examples of problems caused by losing a paddle in surf?

   I do have what most people would probably consider to be considerable 
experience with a kayak in the surf. I have been in some pretty big stuff 
too. I have broken boats and paddles in the surf. But I have never lost my 
paddle! Maybe I've been lucky. But I just have not found it to be all that 
difficult to hang onto my paddle.
   As far as the leash goes, I'm sure people on this list know that I am not 
real big on always wearing a PFD. But I would NEVER go through the surf with 
my paddle tied to my boat. I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid!


> 4. When rolling I guess I did not like all the lines (paddle tethered to the
> bungies) dangling around  when trying to set up for the roll- I find a
> paddle
> tethered to my wrist much less cumbersome in this situation and if it
> becomes a problem the tether is very easily slipped off the wrist.
>     Comment: Agree fully. An untethered, or wrist tethered, paddle is
> definitely more free and easy than a boat tethered one.

      I think in theory this is probably true, but I have not found the 
paddle to boat tether to restrict my rolling at all. However, I will concede 
that it probably has greater potential for entanglement then does the wrist 
tether.


>  FWIW, did the Greenlanders and other
> early kayakers ever use tethers?

   Probably not. But then they didn't use PFD's either! 

Scott
So.Cal.

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