[Paddlewise] Roll Aid Discussion

It's been great to see the discussion about this safety device.

Steve Holtzman seems to fully understand the role of this product, and

I'm glad he's out there. I have a few comments to add.

I work by the philosophy that a paddler should have multiple safety

options, and in my mind they are:

1. stay upright

2. Eskimo roll

3. some kinda righting aid

4. wet exit and then re-enter

If a bomb-proof roll (rare) means that you disregard levels 3 and 4

then you're comfortable with a higher level of risk than I am. A wet

exit is an extreme measure. It can happen that the next wave

separates you from your boat, and then you're in trouble even if the

water is nice and warm. In cold water there are lots of other reasons

to avoid a wet exit.

Many things can be used as righting aids: inflated paddle float,

half a flutter board (swimming training thing), someone's boat bow,

inflated seal skin ... But how fast are these to deploy? When you are

probably a bit surprised and maybe a little freaked? Using a PFD as a

righting aid is better than a wet exit if you are successful. But if

you drop it, or come out of your boat, then you're not wearing a PFD.

So much for ease of deployment, how about size? The BackUP (or Roll-Aid)

is the size of a can of 3 tennis balls. How big are these other potential

righting aids? I suggest that someone who carries 2 paddle floats plus

a sea seat would have less bulk if they had just a BackUP instead.

Every BackUP has, written on the outside, "Avoid dangerous conditions.

Learn to roll." Safety levels 1 and 2. Learn how to read the weather

and the water, practice your bracing and rolling, and consider having

a level 3 option rather than just skipping to level 4. My 2 cents,



KS

www.CoastalWatersRec.com
every trip, a new adventure!
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