Despite their generally (or at least locally) recognized lack of lifesaving utility, Arthur Hebert felt that sponsons played a significant role in the safety of his Gulf of Mexico crossing in 1998, ( http://homepages.gs.net/seacajun/ ). He deployed them nightly for 19 days to stabilize his kayak while he caught 20 - 30 minute sleep segments between scans of the horizon for approaching commercial ships. Clearly, this is not a standard use for a sponson but, ... it apparently worked for him. I've never used 'em. Larry Koenig *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Koenigs wrote: > Despite their generally (or at least locally) recognized lack of lifesaving > utility, Arthur Hebert felt that sponsons played a significant role in the > safety of his Gulf of Mexico crossing in 1998, ( > http://homepages.gs.net/seacajun/ ). He deployed them nightly for 19 days to > stabilize his kayak while he caught 20 - 30 minute sleep segments between > scans of the horizon for approaching commercial ships. Clearly, this is not a > standard use for a sponson but, ... it apparently worked for him. He also told me in a back channel exchange of e-mails that he used them for extra stability when hoisting himself out of the cockpit to get to his hatches (food and water storage) and position himself over a collapsible bucket he put in his seat when those items eventually came out the other end! John *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
-----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net]On Behalf Of John Blackburn Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 9:02 AM To: Paddlewise Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Re. the fabled sp*ns*ns Koenigs wrote: > Despite their generally (or at least locally) recognized lack of lifesaving > utility, Arthur Hebert felt that sponsons played a significant role in the > safety of his Gulf of Mexico crossing in 1998, ( > http://homepages.gs.net/seacajun/ ). He deployed them nightly for 19 days to > stabilize his kayak while he caught 20 - 30 minute sleep segments between > scans of the horizon for approaching commercial ships. Clearly, this is not a > standard use for a sponson but, ... it apparently worked for him. John Blackburn wrote: >He also told me in a back channel exchange of e-mails that he used them for extra >stability when hoisting himself out of the cockpit to get to his hatches (food and >water storage) and position himself over a collapsible bucket he put in his seat >when those items eventually came out the other end! And I said in my ironic and I recognize ( and apologize for that) up-tuned reply to that offensive post from Mr. Bemis that sponsons are an "involutive" devise ( something that interrupt, difficult, or even reverse the evolutive precess, I don't know if this is correct ) with no good use at all. And this last comment is not correct. I am not against sponsons as well as I believe nobody on this list is. But I think it we are talking here about two different situations, both true and antagonist at the same time. One thing is when a very experienced paddler, who already masters all the different paddling and rescue techniques, uses a paddlefloat or sponson as a temporary aid for certain situation. He is using them as a tool to improve his comfort or make things easier, but he does not depend on them for safety. In other words, the sponson is not the only way they could go thru that situation, it only makes it simple. A different situation is a new paddler who is still learning the very basics and finds in sponsons/paddlefloats an aid to gain stability and avoid capsizing. Then they rely completely on the sponsons/paddlefloats to paddle a kayak that without them would be too tippy for them. With the sponsons/paddlefloats they feel safe and confident and ready to go everywhere, and they do. As the boat feels stable they don't learn the eskimo roll and as with the sponsons/paddlefloats is really easy to reenter the kayak from the water, they believe they'll be able to do it under any condition. And this why I say sponsons/paddlefloats cause confusion, encouraging novice paddlers with a false sense of security that eventually leads them into trouble. The worst of it being that they feel they are ready and learning the advanced techniques is no longer necessary for "the kind of paddling" they are planning to do. When this happens, with the sponsons/paddlefloats they also bought a one way ticket to deep trouble ... Sponsons and paddlefloats can be useful but never replace the efficiency of a good rolling technique. We must develop and master all of the advanced techniques for paddling, stability, and rescue, practicing constantly under REAL conditions. The only way to know we can roll our kayak in stormy seas, is after doing it in stormy seas. There are many ways to "safely" get in trouble to practice and improve our skills on how to get out of it. ADVANCED PADDLING SKILLS ARE ESSENTIAL AND PERMANENT - SPONSONS AND PADDLEFLOATS MUST BE OPTIONAL AND TEMPORARY - ONE DOES NOT REPLACE THE OTHERS. Finally, over-reacting against whoever plans to make mandatory something meant to be optional is more than justified. More when the experience proves that by doing that they will encourage the happening of the very same situations they say they are trying to avoid. More, when the only benefit is for the unscrupulous manufacturer who will get the contract. Fernando Lopez Arbarello .- *************************************************************************** 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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