Re: [Paddlewise] Surf Drogue

In a message dated 12/31/2004 11:42:59 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, 
kdruger_at_pacifier.com writes:

Tom, the drogue is what I thought it was.  I would not use one for the 
reasons you mention, but Rob indicates a drogue is one of the options (but 
not for him).  I'd rather be swimming and have my kayak free of me than have 
the drogue line, me, and my kayak mixed up in surf.

Rob has much more experience in surf than I do, so could be he has ways to 
minimize the hazard.  I could learn from that.



It's funny, the kinds of equipment carried, particularly those with a very 
narrow purpose, such as a surf drogue. It's really intended for landing a 
disabled paddler or one who is likely to be one if they come through. Anyway, it's 
not very big and I'm expected to use it on assessment day, so in the hatch it 
goes whenever there is a coastal trip.
 
I've only had mine a few months, but we have had one along on the last 
several trips. A buddy (the owner of the drogue) was green in the face sick and I 
towed him to just outside the surf line. We thought about it, but in the end he 
went in without it. The swells were running 6-8 feet that day but we used a 
rocky offshore environment and a cove to great advantage, minimizing the surf to 
3-5 foot faces. He claimed to be within seconds of meltdown,  but on touching 
shore he stood up and instantly was cured.
 
Rob G
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