Surfski Knowledge Base

Reivers Dustin
04/08/08 #4222

At the last kayak safety session there was a couple who brought a
touring kayak into the Coast Guard station for show and tell. The idea
was to show some of the work that the British Canoe Union (BCU) has
done to raise the standard of safety for Kayaks (Canoes in England).

The level of attention to detail was impressive. There is a grab line
running the full perimeter of the boat. There is a grab loop at each
end. All hard points are recessed. The grab loops are engineered so
that they minimize pinch-points or entrapment hazard. The rudder
system is hidden so you don't hook a boot strap or PFD strap anywhere.
The cockpit coaming is engineered so that there is minimum risk of
catchment.

The couple talked about several incidents of unlikely straps getting
caught on re-entry or exit. They also had a case where the boat loop
at the front was grabbed, but as the boat rolled, the fingers did too.

This type of thing deserves some thought for our own individual set-
up. I've done that trip out to Elize a few times and had the weather
change amazingly. I guess you can figure out the rest - you are your
gear. Set yourself up to survive.

RD

Re: The details….
Reivers Dustin
04/09/08 #4225

Now that you mention it, way far ahead. They influenced a lot of
paddlers quite a few years ago. Jeeze, this is a little like
remembering old rock bands. It can make you sad.

Speaking of old, some of my interest in equipment set up is from LRRP
missions in RVN. We were crazy kids with the illusion of being
important. When you are six guys in the jungle doing recon in a free-
fire zone your gear must be very well organized. Every strap is
taped down, there are no reflective surfaces, every piece of gear
works every time and there is not a single thing you do not need.
Any kind of extras or 'style' is bad.

I don't know what to tell people about where to attach their
leashes. It's just a good idea to recognize the logic that the Broze
brothers and the BCU apply: the boat, the paddle and you are likely
to become wildly reconfigured somewhere in your travels together.
Fingers, straps, strings and buttons will go where you never wanted
them and resist your will to behave. Maybe even more important, any
weakness in the serviceability of your equipment will make you
suffer.