Re: [Paddlewise] Roll-aid PLUS/compressed air

If you can concentrate on breathing and not holding your breath, there is
little or no danger from compressed air, especially from the 2 or so feet
down that a kayaker would be.  I'd guess that if you became comfortable with
using it and practiced to get it fixed in your mind to breath, it would
work.  It's also worth saying that most of the damage that not breathing
during a roll after using a pony bottle would cause probably wouldn't kill
you immediately.  I know that isn't a ringing endorsement, but as staying
underwater and not breathing for 5 minutes, probably would kill you, I can't
say that the pony bottle is a bad idea.
>
> Divers will strongly suggest the severe damage that can occur by holding
your
> breath with compressed air. Sea Kayaker had a review a while back of
> compressed air units for kayakers seeking a little more time underwater
than the
> standard half gasp prior to full immersion usually allows.
>
> I used at one time a snorkel tube with a closed cell stand of sorts that
fit
> under the thighs. But that arrangement seemed only meant for training and
> might be a pain to keep in the cockpit full time. A modification can
easily be
> made to make it more permanent by someone handy with customizing.
>
I had seen some company sell an assembled version of the breathing tube that
you fastened to a spot inside your cockpit and ran the other end of the tube
out the top of your skirt.  I can't find the company so I think they went
out of business, but doing something like that would let you chose a
location for the snorkel that would be unlikely to pick up water during
rolling.  Comparing the two ideas though, the snorkel does have the
advantage of not sending you to the hospital if you mess up and has almost
no parts to break at an inconvenient time.
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