Scott wrote of his experiments and concluded: <Snip>>>>>>I am still not convinced that the fixed paddle method is the better way. Each method has it's strong points, just as each method has it's weaknesses as well. I have some further experiments in mind which I would like to try if and when the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime I will continue to do what works.<<<<< Thanks for trying these experiments Scott. Please keep at it and report back to us some more. Keep in mind that you may be much better at teaching the rescue you have been teaching the most or have practiced the most yourself. I'm all for teaching beginners the easiest way first. My objection is not with other methods it is with not even telling students of the benefits of having the paddle fixed during pumping and that many times it can be easier for many paddlers to shortcut the spider walk by getting on in front of the paddle. However, just as with Eskimo rolling the easiest to learn roll might not be the best in the long run but, "easiest to learn" can be a big redeeming feature none the less. Once one can roll one way learning other, possibly superior, rolls is much easier since a fall back roll is available and certain common features have been learned. The danger seems to be that the first way learned may be the only way learned. For example, in teaching my friends skiing I used to try to short cut the snow plow (later called wedge) turn because I saw too many skiers get stuck in it and never be able to break out of stem turns to using true parallel much less scissors turns (skis slightly wider apart at the tips and using outside edges--an incredible technique for high speed mogul skiing). Troubles that beginners have with a technique can often be easily overcome with a little practice or instruction. Those who have practiced several times soon learn to balance the kayak and get all the weight off the paddlefloat before trying to remove the paddle from under the deck lines. Luckily, if you have to slip the paddle straight out from under lines that will be very difficult to do if you have weight on the float at the same time. I'd be curious to see how many fell over on their first try with the quick release Nimbus system. Scott has already taught half of the class the consequences if they don't balance the kayak first. It is the same for putting the paddle under the deck lines in the first place. Once one learns to hold the blade in place at the right height and then angle the kayak (by rolling the kayak some in the water to align the back deck properly with the shaft in the way it needs to slide in) shoving the blade (face down) under deck lines is usually quite easy. Also no law says the paddlefloat must be attached to the paddle first or even blown up before the paddle is fixed to the kayak if the paddler finds it difficult to line up the paddle to slip it under the deck lines with the float already inflated. Nimbus deck hold downs can be loosened way up to make inserting the paddle easier if need be and then easily tightened down once the paddle is in place. Notes on paddle breakage: I would avoid using light wood paddles especially those that do not have laminated shafts (or at the minimum a very straight fine grain in line with the shaft) with any rescue where you might put too much weight on the paddle between the boat and the any other support for the shaft (like a paddlefoat or another kayak). It is probably good practice with any paddle to do the rescue in such a way that all ones weight is not placed in the middle third of the paddle. Nor with the paddle (especially a graphite one is pressed against any hard edge or protrusion that could dimple the thin wall. Dimpling the wall leads to paddle breakage if the paddle is under a load when that occurs. I'd like to answer several points and comments that Peter made to my last e-mail but I've got to get packing (literally). I can't send e-mail from France (the word has recently been banned there as not French enough). I'll probably not post again until I get back home. Matt Broze 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/ ***************************************************************************
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