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Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles diminishing returns
By:Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks
Date: 12/6/2017, 9:30 am
In Response To: Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles (JohnAbercrombie)

If the toggles are a safety device for a swimmer to grab, having the toggle up on the deck is not making things easy for the swimmer.

It is fairly rare that people capsize in their kayak, but obviously it does happen,
If it does happen, it is fairly rare that you can't just stand up, but it does happen,
If it does happen, it is fairly rate that you can't swim ashore, but it does happen,
If it does happen, it is fairly rare that you can't just grab the cockpit, but it does happen,
If it does happen, it is fairly rare that you can't just grab a hatch or deck lines, but it does happen,
If it does happen, it is fairly rare that you can't just grab a perimeter line, but it does happen,
If it does happen, it is fairly rare that you can't just grab a end loop held back with a shock cord, but it does happen,
If it does happen, it is fairly rare that a grab loop will twist and trap your fingers, but it does happen,
If it does happen, maybe would have been better off with a toggle on a single rope, but you if you want to stay safe, don't go kayaking.

Everyone needs to make a choice about how "safe" they want their kayak.

There are activities that make certain scenarios more likely, but kayaking as an activity ranges from quiet summer paddling on little ponds to winter rock gardening in 8' surge. The idea of maximizing safety seems like a no-brainer, after all nobody wants to die ignominiously because their end toggle was held just millimeters from their fingers by a shock cord. As you sink below the surface the idea that a you are drowning because you were annoyed by a banging toggle would not be a pleasant thought.

Yet, the only reason we kayak ourselves instead of watch video of someone else doing it, is because it is more pleasant to actually be there, on the water ourselves. Kayaking is an aesthetic activity. We do it to please our senses. The goal is usually more about maximizing our pleasure than maximizing our safety. To that end certain tradeoffs must be made.

Some people don't like deck lines or toggles knocking. This doesn't make them unsafe. It is the choices the paddler makes on the water that determine safety, not equipment. Kayaking is not "safe", while it is good to be prepared for rare circumstances, we don't need to make all our decisions based on situations that may be avoided with a bit of judgement.

Messages In This Thread

S&G: Kayak grab handles
Glen Albert -- 12/1/2017, 8:34 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles *PIC*
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/1/2017, 12:50 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
John Urschel -- 12/1/2017, 1:10 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles *PIC*
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/1/2017, 2:43 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
John Urschel -- 12/1/2017, 2:59 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles *PIC*
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 12/1/2017, 1:36 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/1/2017, 2:03 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles *PIC*
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/1/2017, 2:52 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/1/2017, 3:06 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
John Urschel -- 12/1/2017, 9:21 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/1/2017, 10:19 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
John Urschel -- 12/2/2017, 7:38 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 12/2/2017, 8:40 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
John Urschel -- 12/2/2017, 9:23 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/2/2017, 11:22 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/2/2017, 11:37 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
John Urschel -- 12/2/2017, 12:02 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 12/2/2017, 2:36 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
Etienne Muller -- 12/2/2017, 2:38 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles *PIC*
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/2/2017, 3:24 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 12/3/2017, 4:44 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/3/2017, 12:22 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
John Urschel -- 12/2/2017, 4:50 pm
Fake News Handles?
mick allen -- 12/1/2017, 11:38 pm
Re: Fake News Handles?
Dan Thaler -- 12/2/2017, 7:08 am
Re: Fake News Handles?
Jay Babina -- 12/2/2017, 7:50 am
Re: Fake News Handles?
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 12/2/2017, 8:47 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
M A Bielski -- 12/1/2017, 11:44 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
Bill Hamm -- 12/5/2017, 12:29 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/5/2017, 1:20 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
Bill Hamm -- 12/6/2017, 12:11 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles diminishing returns
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 12/6/2017, 9:30 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles diminishing returns
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/6/2017, 12:20 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles diminishing returns
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 12/6/2017, 1:43 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles diminishing returns
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/6/2017, 2:24 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles diminishing returns
Bill Hamm -- 12/7/2017, 12:26 am
Re: Cold water kills
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 12/7/2017, 8:13 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
Glen Albert -- 12/5/2017, 3:03 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles *PIC*
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 12/6/2017, 10:14 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
Glen Albert -- 12/1/2017, 1:41 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/1/2017, 3:03 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
Paul Sylvester -- 12/2/2017, 3:52 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
Mark N -- 12/2/2017, 5:08 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 12/2/2017, 8:31 am
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/2/2017, 12:55 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
Jay Babina -- 12/2/2017, 12:56 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
JohnAbercrombie -- 12/2/2017, 1:34 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
Tom Thomas -- 12/4/2017, 8:32 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 12/3/2017, 4:56 pm
Re: S&G: Kayak grab handles
Glen Albert -- 12/3/2017, 7:31 pm