Cary wrote: - >Reviewing the archived thread on leashes got me thinking... G'Day Cary, Welcome to Paddlewise I do the following: - Carry essential safety gear in my lifejacket (learnt this recently from Trevor Gardner NSWSKC). Always tether my paddle to the kayak using a telephone cord style surfboard tether with triple marine velcro strap at the paddle end. This is less likely to tangle than a line but can be noisy if you're in a really quiet environment (Matt pointed this out and he's right). I then hold on to the paddle if knocked from the boat. Carry spare paddles on the back deck of the kayak, blade ends near the cockpit, each held down using a closed loop of bungie at the stern and an open length of bungie anchored to the deck and slipped over the paddle shaft and around a hook on the deck. They are solidly held in surf but can be picked up very easily with a push sideways to release the bungee loop when needed. This works well but is not the best arrangement IMO. Putting them back is difficult at sea. The cleverest idea, very popular in my club, is to fit a fabric sock of shade cloth on the deck of the boat, blade end near the cockpit, so you can easily take the paddle out AND put it back while at sea. Not sure but I think the original idea was Andrew Eddies of NSWSKC. Very occasionally carry another surf tether fitted to the boat for hooking to my self, if alone and in really rough conditions. I would NEVER use this when landing, especially not in surf. I hardly ever use this, not being a fan of such rough weather. The personal tether thread was inspired by the story of the death of Lone Madsen. Always carry a knife on my PFD. Never had to use it except for taking oysters from rocks, but glad its there. Audrey Sutherland is a very well known and experienced kayaker who routinely uses a tether. Really appreciated Michael Daly showing us the link to her recent interview, http://www.cbc.ca/roundup/interviews/index.html . Wish I knew how to save it on my computer. Or can you buy it I wonder? Doug Lloyd wrote a good comprehensive article "Staying connected - the case for tethers" in Sea Kayaker in February 2000. All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Sep 01 2003 - 14:16:50 PDT
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