Re: [Paddlewise] Research project

> Just to update everyone and to reassure some.  As some concluded this 
> arose after I injured my hand on the looped toggle strap of a friends kayak.
> 
> Kayaking coaches Shawna Franklin and Leon Somme of Body Boat Blade 
> (BBB) advise their students to cut the toggle loops on the bow of 
> kayaks and to suspend the toggle from a single line.
> 
<snip>

My old Mid-Canada Fibreglass (now Impex) Diamonte has toggles that 
are attached to a metal hoop via a *very* short loop. By very short, 
I mean in the order of three-quarters of an inch. I used to pass the 
bow and stern tie-down through that small loop (since it was slightly 
larger than the metal hoop) and it used to take me several seconds to 
feed the rope through. You *might* get your pinkie finger in there if 
you persevered, but you'd be hard pressed to get any other finger in 
there at all, let alone by accident.

I got tired of threading my tie-down ropes through that tiny slot, 
and switched to a good steel carabiner that I leave on the boat 
hooked through the metal hoop. I don't paddle much in salt water, so 
I'm not worried about the carabiner being affected by weather. I then 
pass the tie-down through the much-larger carabiner opening, saving 
me valuable seconds and much angst.

But I wonder about the plastic loops that are attached to some boats 
instead of toggles. One could conceivably grab one, have the boat 
twist and find that one could not let go.It wouldn't be because the 
loop closed in on your fingers, but because the entire boat was 
blocking the removal of your arm, pinning it into position where 
further twisting of the boat might end up in strained or torn 
tendons, muscles, or even a broken arm.

For carrying on dry land, if the boat has gear in it, I grab the boat 
itself. If it is empty, and the grab handles or toggles are 
comfortable, I will use those. Many handles in front of stern rudders 
are uncomfortable, so I will often stern carry by cupping my hand 
under the boat and "grabbing" the keel.

-- 
  Darryl
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