RE: [Paddlewise] SOT's

At 06:51 PM 6/7/2003 +1000, PeterO wrote:
>PeterO wrote:
> > For long trips in choppy water I imagine that the
> > increased risk of coming off the SOT, because of
> > lack of hip control, would entail a serious risk
> > of exhaustion.
>
>David wrote:
> > Not a problem, use of thigh straps, or seatbelts
> > ala Tsunami Rangers, is de rigor in rough conditions
> > and makes falling off not a worry. SOTs can even be
> > rolled, tho' it's hardly necessary.
>
>
>G'Day David and Paddlewise,
>
>Thats good news, I like the freedom of SOTs but have never seen SOT straps
>over here. How good are they? Between 1m and 2m sea I tend to use hips/knees
>to stabilise the boat and try (but don't always succeed) to maintain a near
>vertical stroke. This is because I'm not particularly strong but enjoy long
>trips. Are these straps snug enough to allow that? Also how good is the
>quick release on the strap. I did hear of someone using one for the first
>time and drowning when they flipped because they couldn't release the strap.
>Would velcro be strong enough?

I've played around on a SOT whitewater boat (a Prijon ) that comes equipped 
with a backband and knee straps.  The knee straps are attached to the hull 
near the feet and  just behind the hip.  They're just pulled in over the 
knee and lower thigh.  With the knee straps in place one can capsize and 
hang upside down as long as you want.  Coming out is just a matter of 
straighten a leg a bit and pulling the knee strap off to the side.  It 
doesn't require a quick release.  For rolling,  if anything, the kneestraps 
give better control than a closed cockpit boat that isn't tightly 
outfitted.  When driving your knee towards the surface it really pulls the 
hull around and reinforces the use of knee drive vs. hip snap.   That 
Prijon SOT is one of the easiest boats I've ever rolled and is really good 
for teaching someone to roll because if they don't make it's very easy to 
just climb back on.
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