RE: [Paddlewise] SV: SV: T-Rescue not T-brace

Hi All

I have sat quietly reading this discussion but feel that I need to agree
with the last comments and put in my two cents worth (thats dimes to those
of you in the US)

I am Manager - Canoe Education at Australian Canoeing with responsibility
for the Australian qualification system.  I also have many years experience
as a commercial sea kayak guide and Outdoor Educator (taking school students
on sea expeditions).  I have also managed a sea kayak training centre.

In Australia on a "normal" spring/summer afternoon we get sea breezes and
wind/wave conditions that make it impossible for anyone other than Ian
Thorpe to easily get back to their boat in the event of separation -
decklines make it much easier to keep hold of your boat if you do end up in
the water.

Further as per John Browning's comments we often get sea conditions where
(unless the persons boat is made of a sticky substance or very badly
scratched) it is near impossible to grab hold of a hull - decklines make all
the difference.

Decklines are also a good point to attach side-by-side towing systems as
well as long tows (many attachment points are always safer than one.

Finally on the question of getting the "victim" to assist in the rescue - I
could go on forever about this however if a person ends up unexpectedly in
the sea they are probably no longer an asset and should be treated very
differently.

Ian Dewey


-----Original Message-----
From: Seakayakerjb_at_aol.com
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] SV: SV: T-Rescue not T-brace


In a message dated 2/24/2004 7:26:46 PM Central Standard Time,
KiAyker_at_aol.com writes:

<<  Hmmmm, interesting. I have never had even the slightest difficulty doing
a
 "T" rescue on a boat without decklines. I wonder why that is? >>

Since I started this discussion by stating "To effectively execute a
T-rescue
it is important that the "victim's" kayak be outfitted with deck lines--and
that these lines be loose enough to enable the rescuer to get their hands
around."  I'm going to chime back in--

My experience has been that when handling another (i.e., victim's) kayak,
whether it is for a T-rescue, or needing to repair a leaking boat, it is
MORE
effective to control and handle said boat if it is outfitted with properly
fitted
deck lines.  In performing a rescue in 4 foot seas, I once had a kayak
without decklines ripped from my grasp by a rogue breaker.  Wet kayaks can
be pretty
slippery too, even in warm weather.  Paddling in cold weather, the decks
become icy--making rescues without decklines very difficult, but not
necessarily
impossible.

I don't know about the conditions that other paddle in, but I do know that
in
the conditions I paddle in, I want the people I paddle with to have their
kayaks outfitted with decklines, they may make a difference when time is of
the
essence.

John Browning
Milwaukee, WI
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