As a large sized paddler(in kayaking I think they refer to it as "grizzly")who paddles mostly solo, I've always been concerned with paddle float rescues. I figure if I'm in conditions to knock me over, the idea of being able to get my 200 and none-of-your-business pounds back in balancing on a paddle float outrigger seems asking too much. It is why I am one of the few who will admit to owning, dare I say it, sponsons! Not that I think they are the answer instead, I figured in bad conditions I would need all the help I could get. Though I practice the outrigger rescues, I think people would be much better off to learn to do paddle float reentry rolls. As people who have seen me do it will probably tell you, it doesn't seem to take much technique. Neither do I think it takes much more strength then the traditional method. I think it is probably far superior in wind and waves. The major drawback could be seen as having a cockpit full of water, but I think even that is easier than dealing with climbing in a bouncing kayak. And my further solution to deal with that problem is an electric bilge pump. It can pump out your kayak if a fraction of the time while you are free to deal with the waves with two hands on your paddle. Sure there is maintenance involved and a little added weight, but for me it has made kayaking a lot less worrisome. I know people don't like the idea of electronics at sea, but if I can put together a system that has never let me down in the year I've been using it, I think it's time to admit it can be done. Mark Sanders www.sandmarks.net *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Mark Sanders wrote: > Though I practice the outrigger rescues, I think people would be much better > off to learn to do paddle float reentry rolls. I agree. In one class, i taught the outrigger version first, then the paddlefloat re-enter and roll. Students then asked me, aren't you supposed to teach us the easy moves first before the more difficult? The assisted version--re-enter and bow rescue--is easier for some people than the launch-yourself-over-the-stern-deck-and-slither-backwards-into-the-cockpit reentry. Steve -- Steve Cramer Athens, GA http://www.savvypaddler.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I think an electric pump is almost mandatory for a large displacement hull. I've seen these pumps extract water out of a fully flooded, big Nimbus kayak. Amazing volume of water expelled in a very short time. I couldn't imagine hand pumping that much H20. There is a new paddlepark that locks onto the front coaming of one's kayak I saw advertised in Sea Kayaker Mag recently. Looks like a great way to hold a paddle and paddlefloat deployed during pump and skirt attachment phases. Of course, more gadgets to carry/rely on. As for re-entry's, with or without a paddlefloat, they are fairly easy to do. Paddlers just don't practice the technique enough, nor does the technique get much promotion. For big guys, it would probably save more than a few broken paddle shafts using the technique you suggest. Mark, speaking of paddleshafts, I liked your paddleshaft camera holder recently profiled. A fine solution that doesn't cost much. Doug L. > As a large sized paddler(in kayaking I think they refer to it as > "grizzly")who paddles mostly solo, I've always been concerned with paddle > float rescues. I figure if I'm in conditions to knock me over, the idea of > being able to get my 200 and none-of-your-business pounds back in > balancing > on a paddle float outrigger seems asking too much. It is why I am one of > the > few who will admit to owning, dare I say it, sponsons! Not that I think > they > are the answer instead, I figured in bad conditions I would need all the > help I could get. > > Though I practice the outrigger rescues, I think people would be much > better > off to learn to do paddle float reentry rolls. As people who have seen me > do > it will probably tell you, it doesn't seem to take much technique. Neither > do I think it takes much more strength then the traditional method. I > think > it is probably far superior in wind and waves. The major drawback could be > seen as having a cockpit full of water, but I think even that is easier > than > dealing with climbing in a bouncing kayak. And my further solution to deal > with that problem is an electric bilge pump. It can pump out your kayak if > a > fraction of the time while you are free to deal with the waves with two > hands on your paddle. Sure there is maintenance involved and a little > added > weight, but for me it has made kayaking a lot less worrisome. I know > people > don't like the idea of electronics at sea, but if I can put together a > system that has never let me down in the year I've been using it, I think > it's time to admit it can be done. *************************************************************************** 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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