My favorite rock garden boat is my Prijon Yukon Expedition which does not have deck lines and has fixed handles at each end. The boat was designed for multi-day river expeditions which is an environment where you wouldn't want deck lines. I though about adding them, but decided against it. I would hate to be upside down and have a deck line get caught in a crack in the rocks. I think it is safer without them. Also, I have, and have seen others catch their paddle in the deck rigging while rolling. My touring boats all have deck lines and I think it's an asset, but not for rock gardening or any other potentially upside-down intensive environment. My view on what makes a valid kayak is slightly different: A kayak is a unique craft in that it is sealed and seaworthy. Waves can break over the deck without swamping the boat and even when capsized it can be righted without the paddler leaving the craft or even creating any danger. I have owned kayaks from 8 feet long to 18 feet long and they all share this special quality. The ability to stay safely in the boat during an upset is what differentiates a kayak from other craft, and is its main safety feature. In my opinion, a boat that doesn't meet this criterion may have a right to exist, but it is not a kayak. Steve Brown -----Original Message----- Richard, ....... I don't think we should be legislating anything here, but I do think the manufacturer should on his own add deck lines and toggles to a boat sold as a sea kayak to beginning paddlers.......... Steve Holtzman Southern CA *************************************************************************** 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 Sun Apr 04 2004 - 21:19:30 PDT
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