Now that I think about it: A couple of issues need some additional comment. Deck lines have only been mentioned in relation to managing the boat during the rescue. To me, the real place for deck lines relates to catching the boat after a capsize and exit. In a training session on a windy day I saw a skilled paddler capsize and make a grab for the boat and catch only the slippery deck. Another paddler caught the boat, which had quickly gone out of reach. If you only get one shot at the boat after an exit, there better be a deckline where your hand hits the boat. Inuit skills: It should not be said that Inuits didn't/don't have drysuits. They had anoraks with tightly snugged hoods that allowed relative comfort in rolling in rough cold seas. I have pointed out on another occasion that some, if not all, of those anoraks had long skirts that allowed a paddler to exit the boat "Petrussan manuver" and bring head and shoulders out next to the cockpit while waiting for an assisted rescue. Spray skirt part of Anorak remained attached to the cockpit. IMHO, the trained Inuit paddlers were more like our modern whirte water paddlers in that they had one basic skill above all others, which was to roll the boat without fail. As a former white water paddler, and canoeist before that, I was well aware that a fellow can die swimming rapids. I spent enough time swimming after dumping the canoe that " I GOT THE MESSAGE"! I worked with diligence to learn to roll no matter how I got hammered. I once rolled up after the spray skirt blew off and still paddled to shore. It was a dangerous place for swimming. We have too many sea kayakers who don't get the message. They depend too much on rescues. If they insist on storm paddling or rough water paddling, they should have a dependable roll. The Inuit have many rolls and they are "low impact", not power manuvers. Such rolls can be done repeatedly in rough conditions. Being capsized, half up in a balance brace position, skulling brace or upright was rountine not a struggle. It should be so for us. We are not safer than Inuit paddlers. What do you mean no deck lines on Inuit boats? They had throwing sticks, seal skin floats, harpoons, etc all on the deck under deck lines. such boats had many lines and some cinch toggles to tighten pairs of lines. Chuck Sutherland *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 2/25/2004 6:45:17 AM Pacific Standard Time, skimmer_at_enter.net writes: > Deck lines have only been mentioned in relation to managing the boat > during the rescue. To me, the real place for deck lines relates to > catching the boat after a capsize and exit. In a training session on > a windy day I saw a skilled paddler capsize and make a grab for the > boat and catch only the slippery deck. Another paddler caught the > boat, which had quickly gone out of reach. If you only get one shot > at the boat after an exit, there better be a deckline where your hand > hits the boat. > FWIW when practicing wet exits, reenter and roll or assisted rescues I always keep a hand on the cockpit rim and as I'm nearly out of the boat keep a leg hooked into the cockpit, even when exited. For me it has kept the boat from running away in wind or waves. In a reenter and roll I do not let go of the cockpit rim. The boat most often sits in my lap, as my feet and lower legs stick out the other side. If I'm to roll back on the right side my paddle is set correctly in my left hand and clamped between left hand and cockpit rim. I look to stern, reimmerse myself, kick up back into the cockpit. I'm still using the cockpit rim to seat myself firmly. I then roll back up. I try to never let go of the kayak. I too believe that deck lines are a great asset, but I don't need them for maintaining hold on the boat. I agree with Chuck though, that someone can grab a line while coming up or preferably underwater. Great thread(s) Rob G *************************************************************************** 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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