RE:[Paddlewise] Forward from Roger Schumann to M. Broze

Roger wrote:
<SNIP>>>The paddle is secured against the stomach
with the elbows while the hands are on the pump. <<<<SNIP>

Roger, by elbows do you mean the paddle is held down to the cockpit rim with
the forearms near the elbows or the paddle is held up against the stomach
with the back of the upper arms near the elbows? The reason I ask is that
using the former I found it extremely difficult (even in a swimming pool) to
put the spraydeck on a tippy swamped kayak and pumping was also much slower
because I couldn't use my forearm like a con-rod (imagine a steam engine)
attached to a piston (rather than pulling up from the shoulder--or
elbow--like an oil well pump). Perhaps your students who pump the same speed
either way aren't also using the con-rod pumping method to speed up pumping
when using a fixed outrigger even though they would be free to do so because
of the fixed outrigger. If you tire with one pumping method you are free to
switch to the other if the outrigger is fixed to the deck, not so if holding
something with your elbows. Roger, should I have tried to hold the paddle up
off the coaming and back into my gut with the back of my elbows instead of
holding it down on to the coaming (where it also seriously interferes with
putting on the spraydeck)?

I can't disagree with most of what Roger wrote or with how he describes
teaching paddlefloat rescues. But, why not demonstrate both methods and
point out when (or with what kind of person or kayak) each might work
better. Even those better suited to one or the other ought to know of the
other possibilities (even if they won't work for them they should understand
why).

Note: one does not have to climb over the coaming to slide up on the back
deck from in front of the paddle. done as I describe, one automatically goes
back at about 45 degrees to the kayak and straight into the position where
you can put your feet down into the cockpit. It is pretty much like a seal
landing onto the back deck. Starting with your feet on the surface in a
swimming position, pull yourself towards the back deck  and the paddle (one
hand on the paddle and one on the coaming) and then pull your arms down a
bit to lift your chest up enough to slide onto the deck in one continuous
motion.

With back decks that are too high (or for those who lack the coordination
and/or strength to do this) then try to get up over the stern because you
can sink it lower into the water by climbing more over the thinner end of
the kayak and effectively make the deck a ramp to climb up gradually. If
even that doesn't work for you then take the time to fasten a pre-rigged
sling (either several inches below the surface or deep enough so that your
knee or foot doesn't swing forward under the kayak as you step up on the
sling) to use leg muscles to try to get ones chest up onto the back deck.

The front of the paddle method should be quicker (without fastening the
paddle) because it puts you into position to enter the cockpit as soon as
you have slid up on the back deck (which is one continuous move). However,
since it only takes me a few seconds to slide the paddle under the deck
lines and lift a line over a drip ring (this helps to keep the paddle from
easily pulling out if you pull to much in that direction when entering and
is very easy to undo) why would I want to carefully walk around on the
paddle shaft while carefully switching hands and feet on the shaft to always
make sure to hold the paddle into the perpendicular to the kayak position
(especially when the deck lines hold it there for me automatically if I
slide the paddle under them). Of course, especially heavy or weakened
paddlers may need other methods but an agile paddler with a reasonably low
back deck does not need to deal with the extra time they take.

Fixing the paddle frees up both your hands and your arms to more efficiently
pump by hand, (or hand and foot, or hand, foot and electrically pump all at
the same time, if so equipped). Of course, if you don't use your forearm in
line with the pump shaft and still pump like you were holding your paddle
into your gut with your elbows, pumping might not be much faster that way
even with the paddle fixed to the deck.

Someone was asking about breaking paddles using a paddlefloat rescue. I see
a lot of folks throwing a leg or knee up onto the paddle shaft to try to
help them climb out of the water and onto the kayak. This looks like a good
way to break a paddle shaft to me although I've only cringed when I've seen
it rather than actually witnessing a paddle break). Which ever paddlefloat
method you use, try to put most of your weight over the boat (or if walking
around on the paddle put pressure either out near the float and over the
kayak rather than in the middle of the shaft (or worse directly over the
joint on a two-piece paddle). With the fixed paddlefloat method I describe,
one never has to put more than just a little weight on the paddle shaft
during the rescue. Just enough weight to the float side so that you don't
risk unbalancing yourself to the other side where there is usually no
paddlefloat to support you.

Matt Broze
www.marinerkayaks.com

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