> ----- Original Message ----- > From: "PeterO" <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au> > > My day hatch cover is a VCP unit and is attached to a point inside the > hatch > with a line. Not needing to worry about losing the cover makes using the > day > hatch straightforward for me despite a stiff neck. Are there day hatches > fitted with metal clamps and are they more difficult? Peter, I couldn't agree more with you about the safety advantages of a clean deck. Try doing a good sweep stroke with gear all stacked up on your deck. It interferes with the paddle shaft. My day hatch is set up just like yours with a VCP hatch that is tethered to the boat. I've never seen one with metal clamps. Steve *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Steve, et al... I think Steve has a CD Gulfstream (like me), so... what do you folks do? Can you twist around enough to see what's in the day hatch? Do you just feel around and pull what's necessary out? My hatch is teathered, of course, and getting it back on is a matter of pressing all edges with one hand (the other's useless, either with a paddle or too far away to do much good). Any good tips? Tom At 12:50 PM 1/7/2003 -0800, Steve Holtzman wrote: > Peter, > >I couldn't agree more with you about the safety advantages of a clean deck. >Try doing a good sweep stroke with gear all stacked up on your deck. It >interferes with the paddle shaft. > > My day hatch is set up just like yours with a VCP hatch that is tethered to >the boat. I've never seen one with metal clamps. > > Steve *************************************************************************** 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: "TomL" <tletourn_at_maine.rr.com> > > I think Steve has a CD Gulfstream (like me), so... what do you folks do? > Can you twist around enough to see what's in the day hatch? Do you just > feel around and pull what's necessary out? Tom, You're right about the CD Gulfstream. I'm rather large and not so flexible (220 pounds) and cannot pivot around to see the day hatch. I just reach behind me with one hand to pop the cover and then feel around for what I'm looking for. I usually put my paddling jacket in first--it sort of keeps things from moving around in there a lot. My emergency bag is the largest thing in their. It's a drybag with a flare pistol, handheld flares, duct tape, etc so it's fairly easy to recognize and it is always put in the hatch and pushed toward the cockpit so I always no where to reach. Water bottles and snacks or lunch are on the very top of the pile. And of course, when I still can't find what I'm looking for, I just root around. Eventually, you'll get your hand on it. Another technique that I use is that I have a paddle leash with a wooden ball on the end wrapped around my paddle shaft. I also added two plastic balls to the deck line on the bow of the boat that goes from one side to the other. This makes it easy to slip my paddle blade under it, and then I take the wooden ball from the paddle leash and slip it under one of the deck lines just in front of the cockpit. Now I can put my left hand on the combing in front of me and actually pivot a little for better access to the day hatch. Putting the hatch on is fairly easy. Just get it started with one hand and then take the heel of your hand and bang around the edges. It will close after you've hit it a while. Good luck, Steve *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Tom wrote: - >I think Steve has a CD Gulfstream (like me), so... what do you folks do? >Can you twist around enough to see what's in the day hatch? Do you just >feel around and pull what's necessary out? Steve wrote: - >Tom, You're right about the CD Gulfstream. I'm rather large and not >so flexible (220 pounds) and cannot pivot around to see the day hatch. >I just reach behind me with one hand to pop the cover and then feel >around for what I'm looking for. G'Day Tom, Steve and Paddlewise, My set up/technique is similar to Steve's and I don't twist round much more than 50 degrees, but work by feeling behind with my hand and using my hips to stabilise the boat. The trick for me is having two containers tethered neatly so they don't tangle and so it doesn't matter if they go in the water. There are three combo smoke flares at the bottom side of my day hatch in an Otterbox tethered by a long cord to a point inside the hatch. Likewise in a small bag is safety gear including: miniflares, one combo flare, duct-tape, first-aid kit, multitool, torches, waterproof patches and phone. The bag handle is placed near the top of the hatch and accessible by feel. The bag is smaller than the day hatch opening. The tethers are long enough to let containers be opened on the front deck. So there's no worry if they drop in the water while being removed from the hatch. I'm still experimenting and need more practise removing the bag and otter box as I seldom use them - will try this weekend and let you know how it goes. Food, water and CAG are loosely packed at the side so as not to jam the bag. Carkeys and money go in the CAG. I don't always take the Otterbox with flares but the rest of the gear is always packed. All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
G'Day, Thanks for all the advice on sculling braces. It was a bit too rough and windy last weekend to practice but I will get into it when I'm back in Oz week after next. However, the conditions were very good to practice accessing the emergency bag from my day hatch. In somewhat choppy water and without turning around at all, it was straightforward to open the hatch and remove the dry bag. One handed opening and closing the bag was also reasonable. Closing the bag and returning it to the day hatch was slightly more difficult but not by much. Heres the rub - Using the safety equipment single handed in choppy to rough water!!! It seems to be a real challenge (Flares, EPIRB, mirror, telephone, dye, patches). The only equipment I know I can use single handled is my VHF radio which is the only thing tied on the front deck. The problem isn't the day hatch its using the gear. I can see how to use the safety equipment when rafted up or when out of the boat and hanging over its side. But I'm predicting some real problems in handling some safety gear solo in rough water while using a paddle to stabilise the boat! Has anyone any experience in this??? All the best. Peter *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
. But I'm > predicting some real problems in handling some safety gear solo in rough > water while using a paddle to stabilise the boat! Maybe a floating anchor is kind or part of solution. Connected to the front, it will hold the boat in straigth direction towards the waves, so ´maybe it´s not so extreme wobbly. Other option (maybe) is to stuck the (spare) paddle under decks-bungies to the side, so they could behave like kind of outrigger (+ float ?). But it all will be an individual problem and the solution depends on the concrete situation. I carry most important things (VHF, flares, spare compass, light, little bit of food) in or around my paddling jacket and the west or on my sprayskirt. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
"PeterO" <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au> wrote: >Heres the rub - Using the safety equipment single handed in choppy to >rough water!!! It seems to be a real challenge (Flares, EPIRB, mirror, >telephone, dye, patches). I can see the difficulty using the other things one-handed in rough water, but the EPIRB? I don't actually have one, so I'm not familiar with the controls on one, but not being able to set it off easily when you are actually in distress seems like a serious design flaw. What do you need to do to it? Tommy McGuire *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> I can see the difficulty using the other things one-handed in rough > water, but the EPIRB? I don't actually have one, so I'm not familiar > with the controls on one, It doesn´t matter which type of EPRIB (or PLB) it is. All satelite-distress beacons are to activate fast and with only very few movements. On some beacons you have to unfold the Antenna (flip out), and then press or push the activation key which might be protected by a cap. Some beacons are activated by water pressure (or something similiar), but thats no solution for paddlers. There only ver y few EPIRBs suitable for paddlers on the market. The newest and (my opinion) best one for kayakers is the McMurdo Fastfind 406, have a look at www.pwss.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/ ***************************************************************************
Jochen Grikschat" <grikschat_at_web.de> wrote: >>>>>Maybe a floating anchor is kind or part of solution. Connected to the front, it will hold the boat in straigth direction towards the waves, so ´maybe it´s not so extreme wobbly.<<<<<< Unfortunately, a sea anchor will not hold most kayaks straight into the waves. The kayak will yaw to one side. How much it yaws pretty much depends on how much bow keel or how bow heavy the kayak is. This is one of the few situations where more bow keel or more weight in the bow would be beneficial. Try operating the sea anchor from the stern. You can't easily see the waves coming but you are less likely to yaw as much in most kayaks. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.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/ ***************************************************************************
Peter, ----- Original Message ----- From: "PeterO" <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au> > Heres the rub - Using the safety equipment single handed in choppy to rough > water!!! It seems to be a real challenge (Flares, EPIRB, mirror, telephone, > dye, patches). The only equipment I know I can use single handled is my VHF > radio which is the only thing tied on the front deck. The problem isn't the > day hatch its using the gear. Aside from the answer of practice, practice, practice what I really wanted to comment on was the tying of the VHF to the front deck. IMHO, that is not a good place for it. If you get separated from the boat (easy to happen in wind), you've lost your most important signaling device. It would be better to tie it to your PFD and keep it in one of the pockets if it will fit. Steve Holtzman *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
The following message is list-administrator compliant. :-) Peter said: >snip, snip< >>>Heres the rub - Using the safety equipment single handed in choppy to rough water!!! It seems to be a real challenge (Flares, EPIRB, mirror, telephone, dye, patches). The only equipment I know I can use single handled is my VHF radio which is the only thing tied on the front deck. <<< In extremis, thou shalt find a way! Prayer helps, as Derek H. says, too. As for the VHF, if you must keep it on the deck, do employ a quick release clip/buckle/whatever system for instant removal. If buying a new VHF, spend the bucks and get a small one that fits in your PFD pocket, if possible. And as a Coast Guard officer once told me: "if your emergency signalling equipment is your backup, and you can't hold your backup equipment in choppy seas, just what kind of backup is that anyway?" A rhetorical question, I'm sure. You mention rafting up further in your post. Fair enough. But rafting up usually means you will all end up abeam to the wind and waves. Ever tried a multiple-paddler raft in a big sea (breaking seas, swell, high wind, and strong current-set with turbulent eddies)? I have. The difficulties are just different (in my case, I ended up towing the others into the wind/seas/current, while the other two made emergency communication attempts and volleyed rounds of flares (12-gauge pistol, the only way to go with this type of short-duration attractant - just a smoking brother, with those bandolier-available quick reloads!). A hand held flare, like the kind you see on the side of the road sometimes during an emergency/roadblock situation, is one of the best devices for helping authorities close in on your final location but, try holding one of those in your hand in a poor sea state (just what kind of backup is that...?). Doug Lloyd - Gotta run, wife-unit on prowl, now scowling; on PW probation - again! - it's like living with your own in-house list admin. - well, some of us need that :-) Victoria BC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ "Whatever can be said at all can be said clearly and whatever cannot be said clearly should not be said at all." Ludwig Wittgenstein ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
G'Day, Theres a lot of useful ideas in this thread - thanks very much to all contributors. Also seems to be a need for dummy flares and other disabled equipment to practice handling with. I'm rethinking - will summarise when I come back in a week. All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> > Doug Lloyd - Gotta run, wife-unit on prowl, now scowling; on PW probation - > again! - it's like living with your own in-house list admin. - well, some > of us need that :-) > Doug, I can more or less understand your wifes point of view: She seems to want your full attention 100% percent of the time, while you try to split your attention between the Sea, the Lord, Paddlewise, your children, your pink house and her, more or less in that order. She seems specifically to nag about Paddlewise, leaving the other points for what they are. There seems to be some space for negotiation. - Could you promise her to spend less time looking in horror at your pink walls, and divide that extra time between her and Paddlewise? - Could you sign up your children on Paddlewise, so you can share time with them while contributing to the list? If negotiation fails, just tell her that you are saving lives contributing to Paddlewise. Not only by forcing us to wear PFD's, but also in writing extreme trip reports, saving us the bother to go out ourselves in storm conditions. She is selfish in her demands and leaves a trail of drowned kayakkers in her wake. If you don't feel up to the discussion, why don't you send her email address, post address or telephone number to the list, so we can all have a go at talking some sense into her. Looking forward to your next trip report, Niels. *************************************************************************** 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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