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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Unsafe perimeter lines
Posted By: Ben Staley
Date: Monday, 4 March 2002, at 12:50 p.m.
Had an interesting experience on Saturday I thought I'd share.
Out for a great paddle with a friend after having redone all of the deck rigging on my boat. I added deck bungies, redid the hatch straps and added a stainless u-bolt at the bow and stern to attach perimeter deck lines or grab lines. I have been feeling guilty about paddling without these easy to add safety lines.
I left the front deck perimeter lines a bit loose so they would drape and follow the contour of the deck instead of having them tight and sitting 3" up off of the deck near the front where the bow curves upward. I thought I would be less likely to hang a paddle up in them while rolling etc. So much for thinking!!
About half way through a 5 mile paddle I thought I'd dump over for a one hand butterfly roll just for fun. Missed the 1st try barely, no problem, just set up for the offside sweep. Paddle was hard to bring around, it acted funny, like I didn't have it all the way surfaced before starting the sweep, missed that roll also but got a breath. Back under again, water temp in the 40's and air low 30's and I'm thinking I'm gonna have to exit. Cold water is making it hard to keep the focus.
Third try, pushing the paddle to the surface and it just won't go, now I'm mad and really don't want to exit. Finally after 10 - 15 seconds of struggling I can feel the paddle at the surface and sweep and roll up. WHEW.
My friend was 5 ft away ready for the bow assist if I signaled but was laughing.
I still hadn't figured out why the rolls had failed.
The front deck perimeter line was loose enough to drift out away from the boat about 6" and I was getting my inboard hand up between the boat and the line which then kept the rest of the paddle from surfacing.
On the 3rd roll I finally got both of my hands out past the line and was able to get the paddle to the surface for the roll, although at the time I didn't have any idea what the problem was.
I untied the line and stowed it until later when I can add a few fittings along the deck to keep the line tight to the boat but loose enough to grab easily.
My improperly rigged safety device screwed me!
Ben Staley
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