9/11/08 Last Thursday I took the GTS out for a short spin with Ken and Barb. I had removed the FG seat supports, so I fit a whole lot better, although the thigh braces still gave me concern. It was the first time I've had the boat out of the harbor and we moseyed over to BAR. There was just enough water to make some passes through BAR and the boat seemed to handle the churning swells pretty good. Ken and I rolled in the cove without any trouble, then we headed back in. At Pirate's Cove we continued rolling and I practiced a wet exit so Ken could try out my boat. He said it rolled well, but was hard to turn, which seems to describe it to a tee. Back at the Secret Beach, the dock was free so K&B used it to land on. I decided to do another wet exit right by the shore. Now I'm feeling lucky to be writing this! My feet had slipped off my pegs and with my legs tight in the braces, I couldn't get them back on. Without something to push on, I found myself upside down and having trouble getting out. I think I was mostly out of the boat, but my legs were leveraged against the braces and wouldn't come out. I felt a twinge of panic starting, but was actually able to roll up enough to grab a breath and then while upside down again, concentrate on freeing my legs. When I came up a concerned Barb was watching from the dock almost ready to come in after me. It quickly made me realize how even experienced paddlers can get into trouble. Both this boat and my Delfin are tight fits for me, but at least on the Delfin, I've removed the thigh braces. That will be my next mod on the GTS before it goes out again. I've always been careful to practice my first wet exit from a boat with people around, but once I've shown I could do it, I've taken them for granted. Might be time to consider some other possible entanglements and practice this most basic of moves more often. 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/ ***************************************************************************
You definitely will want to consult Craig Jungers for some practical advice on this topic. Brad Quoting Mark Sanders <sandmarks_at_ca.rr.com>: > I've always been careful to practice my first wet exit from a boat with > people around, but once I've shown I could do it, I've taken them for > granted. Might be time to consider some other possible entanglements and > practice this most basic of moves more often. > > 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 6:23 PM, Bradford R. Crain <crainb_at_pdx.edu> wrote: > You definitely will want to consult Craig Jungers for some practical > advice on this topic. > > My advice is to not do it again. Craig *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 5:03 PM, Mark Sanders <sandmarks_at_ca.rr.com> wrote: > > I've always been careful to practice my first wet exit from a boat with > people around, but once I've shown I could do it, I've taken them for > granted. Might be time to consider some other possible entanglements and > practice this most basic of moves more often. > > Your experience was eerily like the one I had a few weeks back. I didn't have anyone around to watch but our dogs set up such a racket in the yard that my wife came out and was in the process of launching a jet ski when I managed to extricate myself. Just in time to keep from getting run over by her in the jet ski. LOL. So, in a sense, I had two close calls out of the same incident. :P Seriously, I agree that we all need to examine our wet exit strategy more often and several time during each paddling season in every boat we paddle. Although, in all honesty, I'm sure I'd just fall out of the Mariner Escape if it went upside down. Glad no one had to come rescue you. I'll bring a jet ski down for your next practice session. <grin> Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Back at the Secret Beach, the dock was free so K&B used it to land on. I decided to do another wet exit right by the shore. Now I'm feeling lucky to be writing this! My feet had slipped off my pegs and with my legs tight in the braces, I couldn't get them back on. Without something to push on, I found myself upside down and having trouble getting out. I think I was mostly out of the boat, but my legs were leveraged against the braces and wouldn't come out. I felt a twinge of panic starting, but was actually able to roll up enough to grab a breath and then while upside down again, concentrate on freeing my legs. When I came up a concerned Barb was watching from the dock almost ready to come in after me. It quickly made me realize how even experienced paddlers can get into trouble. Both this boat and my Delfin are tight fits for me, but at least on the Delfin, I've removed the thigh braces. That will be my next mod on the GTS before it goes out again. What do the whitewater kayakers do? They are the ones who seem to be almost glued into their boats! I've always been careful to practice my first wet exit from a boat with people around, but once I've shown I could do it, I've taken them for granted. Might be time to consider some other possible entanglements and practice this most basic of moves more often. After having the issue of the air in my drysuit causing a bit of an issue by rushing to the seat area when upside down, I agree! Things happen which are not predictable, and the more we practice, the more likely we are to have them happen when others can help! I had one occurrence where my carabiner on my tow belt managed to hook onto the strap for my backband of my seat when I was reentering the kayak! This was a practice capsize and reentry, and it took a minute or more for me to figure out why I simply could not get into the boat! If I had re-capsized at that point, I probably would have drowned, since I would not have recognized the tow belt as the problem, so would not have worked the quick release. I understand that one of the well known Pacific NW kayak instructors had to cut a a kayaker out of her drysuit, after the pull on the women's relief zipper hung up in the cockpit when capsized. Mark Sanders www.sandmarks.net Thanks for not drowning! We would miss your posts, and where would my excuse be to come down to California next year? Pam in Washington State, heading to the Kayak Symposium in Port Townsend later this week! Craig is bringing the hot chocolate! **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
the wuestion was: What do the whitewater kayakers do? They are the ones who seem to be almost glued into their boats! My answer has always been to use only foam bulkheads as foot braces. This has many good advantages over adjustable pegs: They are a bit soft and very comfortable to push against. They allow me to move my feet around a lot and still be in a pushing mode. No one else has legs as short as mine, so no one can borrow my boats. Adjustment is as easy as putting in a different set of foam, but I've never had to do it. It adds flotation. Slalom boats have minimal, almost no, flotation, so the bulkheads make the boat legal. When the boat is on end, there is no concern about sliding down into the boat like a pen in pocket protector. The footbraces can't break or jam. Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Tue, Sep 16, 2008 at 5:04 AM, James <jimtibensky_at_fastmail.fm> wrote: > the wuestion was: What do the whitewater kayakers do? They are the ones > who seem to be almost glued into their boats! > White water paddlers are already in smaller boats equipped with seat-backs that they ratchet forward until their bodies are jammed into place. This ensures good control over edging and fore-and-aft weight shifts but it can be a factor if the paddler has to swim out. Add into the mix the simple fact that wide, flat-bottomed boats can be really difficult to roll upright. > > My answer has always been to use only foam bulkheads as foot braces. > This has many good advantages over adjustable pegs: I completely agree with this. My w/w boats all have adjustable bulkheads. I'd be very nervous in a w/w boat with foot pegs. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** 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 like this idea too. In my Delfin which is a very tight fit, my legs are too long for the pegs so I can use the front bulkhead. Even in the surf, I've never had a problem getting out. As they are, I don't think the bulkheads in the GTS are strong enough to take a 250 pounder pushing on them, but maybe I could beef them up. What I really don't like on this boat are the sliding rudder foot pegs. They can slide back when your foot's not on them and then it's really hard to get them back. The boat is missing it's rudder though and I don't plan to put one on till I find one in a junk yard, so I may get rid of the sliders till then. By the by, the Andrew McCauley show last night was chilling. To come so far, what an achievement. It seems to me they should have made Casper a watertight base on the back deck so Andrew could roll while paddling. I have to imagine the effort to re right kayak over the trip took a lot out of him and led to his demise. I agree with his wife, though, he made it. Mark -----Original Message----- > My answer has always been to use only foam bulkheads as foot braces. > This has many good advantages over adjustable pegs: I completely agree with this. My w/w boats all have adjustable bulkheads. I'd be very nervous in a w/w boat with foot pegs. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
My advice is to not let Craig and Mark go off kayaking alone together. :-) Doug Lloyd > On Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 6:23 PM, Bradford R. Crain <crainb_at_pdx.edu> wrote: > >> You definitely will want to consult Craig Jungers for some practical >> advice on this topic. >> >> > My advice is to not do it again. > > Craig *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 10:16 PM, Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca> wrote: > My advice is to not let Craig and Mark go off kayaking alone together. :-) > > Too late!!! :P Craig *************************************************************************** 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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