A couple questions for the assembled knowledge base, if I may. As far as knives go, do you carry a blunt tip or a pointy one? Does it matter? Do you tether it with something so it can't get loose? As far as toe ropes go, what's the least amount of rope that should be carried. I don't want to have any more than I need. I have a Feathercraft rudder and find the foot peddles painful because of the small surface area. Why do the make these so small? Any good, easy(cheap) soulutions out there? I guess that's more than a couple. Thanks Mark Sanders *************************************************************************** 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 have a Feathercraft rudder and find the foot peddles painful because of > the small surface area. Why do the make these so small? Any good, > easy(cheap) soulutions out there? > I'll let someone else address your other questions, but as for the footpegs being uncomfortable, I have suffered from this as well. While I suppose it would not be overly difficult to pad your footpegs yourself, I have opted instead to try out the footpeg pads offered by Yakpads ( <A HREF="http://www.yakpads.com/">Yakpads kayak accessories for comfort</A> ). They are gel filled neoprene pads which fit over your existing footpegs. I have not been using them very long, but so far I am impressed and pleased. My only question at this point is how long will they last? Scott So.Cal. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Mark Sanders wrote: > As far as knives go, do you carry a blunt tip or a pointy one? Does it > matter? Do you tether it with something so it can't get loose? I prefer a blunt tip - I'm not interested in stabbing myself when I just want to cut something away from me. I've never tethered my knife; the good knives have a sheath with a lock that doesn't let go. A tether is something that would get in the way and tangle... unless you had a self winding coil of some kind to take up the slack. > > As far as toe ropes go, what's the least amount of rope that should be > carried. I don't want to have any more than I need. Most folks seem to go with 15m or 50ft. Use a chain sinnet to shorten it for towing in calmer water and let it go full length to deal with waves and such. Some prefer a two part tow rope, one long and one short rather than deal with sinnets and such. Mike *************************************************************************** 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 Mark Sanders > As far as knives go, do you carry a blunt tip or a pointy > one? Does it matter? Do you tether it with something so it > can't get loose? I carry a blunt tip knife because the sheath is attached upside down to my PFD in front and I don't want to take the chance of a point stabbing me. > > As far as toe ropes go, what's the least amount of rope that > should be carried. I don't want to have any more than I need. I use a Salamander "Keel Hauler Pro" Tow Rope. It has 2 different lengths in it. There is a long 45 foot line that is used for normal ocean towing and a short 15' line that is used to tow an empty boat to a swimmer or a boat out of the surf zone so that a rescue can be performed. If I was going to have only one line, it would be a long one about 45' long so that the towed boat would not surf into my stern in following seas. > > I have a Feathercraft rudder and find the foot peddles > painful because of the small surface area. Why do the make > these so small? Any good, > easy(cheap) soulutions out there? Can't help here--I don't use a rudder. Steve Holtzman Southern, CA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> As far as knives go, do you carry a blunt tip or a pointy one? Does it matter? Yes I carry a Gerberr easy out rescue knife. It also has a serrated edge that is good for cutting plastic! > I have a Feathercraft rudder and find the foot peddles painful because of > the small surface area. Why do the make these so small? Any good, > easy(cheap) soulutions out there? I wear an old pair of trainers/running shoes to get over this problem cheers Steve Dent *************************************************************************** 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 wear an old pair of trainers/running shoes to get over this problem One of the things that I was taught early on was not to wear shoes with laces. Apparently, in a capsize, the laces can loop around the foot pegs and entrap you in the boat. I "think" (my recollection is vague) that this may have actually happened to a paddler a couple of winters ago on the Potomac River. Anyway.... I'm no expert, but food for thought. Rick *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
true enough, I remembered this as well. I have very short laces with a spring clip that holds them in place. there are no bows etc to catch as I exit. I am very new to paddling and have only wet exited a couple of times and none of those were in a real situation. 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/ ***************************************************************************
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