[Paddlewise] Backbands

Backbands...Peter...Did you have a bad experience without one?
Duane: My previous boat had a high coaming at the rear of the cockpit making
for an unpleasant digging in the back when trying to lay back for rolls,
sculling, getting walloped in surf etc. I took out a backband in this boat,
and made a closed cell foam pad, which padded the edge and improved things a
bit, without really solving the main problem of the high coaming. The
backband did not prevent me from hitting the coaming edge.
Present boat has a lower, much better coaming/back deck. The foam seat is
positioned a little forward, and I have a backband. Lying back is much
easier. I don't think the risk of back injury if flattened onto the back
deck when punching out through surf is anything like as high as with the
first boat. But I don't think I would be well held in the boat for bracing,
rolling, and turning without my back fitting against the backband, hip pads
firm, knees under deck, and feet on the bulkhead footrests.
Without the backband, I would not be able to push on the stroke side with my
foot as firmly, and so lose power in the forward stroke. I would risk
slipping back on the seat when performing other strokes. I think I prefer to
keep the backband. I can't see any advantage in removing it. You can always
lean forward and place little weight on it, but it is still there to help
hold you in position.
That said, backbands can have problems. As you take a forward stroke, body
rotation can move you side to side on the backband. This can lead to rubbing
wounds which take a long time to heal. The backband can fall forward and be
troublesome when entering the boat, particularly in a re-enter and roll
situation. I think backbands should be well held in position, including some
sort of bungy arrangement at top centre to prevent them falling forward.
My present backband is a flexible foam, cordura covered one supported by 2"
webbing. The previous band was a thin fibreglass backplate, grey minicell
foam covered, supported by 8mm rope. With the side to side action of body
rotation on forward strokes, the rope sawed through the backplate, and the
backband split in two, luckily towards the end of a trip. The manufacturer
has since re-designed this backband.
Some people do not seem to have the same rotational movement against the
backband, but I am puny enough to need every bit of body rotation I can
muster!
Cheers, PT.

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