John Fereira wrote:
"Oci-One Kanubi" wrote in
oups.com:

John Fereira typed:

[lotsa good advice]

[snip]

But the easiest highly effective solution, if you are working
without
spraydecks, is to just two- or three-centimeter (diameter) drain
*holes* through the top deck at each end. Then you don't have to
lift
all that weight of water at one time to shift it toward the
cockpit;
just lift the downhill end a few millimeters at a time; as long as
you
lift the interior waterlevel a hair above the exterior waterlevel,
it
will drain.

'Course, if these are multi-use boats which are sometimes used with
speardecks, you will need to install drainplugs rather than just
drill
holes. But for yer novice classes, when you must, you can easily
reach
beneath a capsized boat to open the plug.

I don't get this.

The goal of the class isn't to perform a successful rescue in the
context of
the class setting. The goal of the class is, or at least should be,
to
teach a skill that can be practiced, perfected, and called upon when
necessary if it really needed.

[snip]

Actually, if you read from the OPs first message, I think you will
agree that "to perform a successful rescue in the context of the class
setting" is EXACXTLY her goal. It sounds like she works for a buncha
cheapskates that follow no serious teaching standards (since they
refuse to provide a second instructor, or, at a minimum, an experienced
safety boater), from which I draw the further inference that this is
not a place to get serious kayak instruction, but a place that just
kinda sticks tourists on the water for a few hours so they can go home
and say they "went kayaking". The OP is trying to give her students
decent and safe instruction despite the more simply mercenary aims of
her employer. I think.

See also said they use Pyranha Master kayaks. These look to me like
whitewater boats (and appear to have drainplugs installed) and are
categorized as "Whitewater Range; School/Fleet" (i.e., I imagine, a
compromise between a whitewater and a rec boat) on the Pyranha website
(http://www.pyranha.com/osb/itemdetails.cfm?ID=48) and described this
way:

"The Master TG is something totally new and fresh, with modern looks
that will appeal to paddlers of all ages. It is designed for use as a
general purpose elementary kayak on rivers with small easy rapids,
lakes and coastal areas where full specification WW safety features are
not required. With it's unique optional 'Flexi-Skeg' system it is an
ideal instructional WW kayak or short distance flat-water touring
kayak.

"Designed using the very latest in modern features from the proven H3
and i3 series to optimize the learning experience. The TG has great
stability and an easy going feel combined with innovative ideas such as
the molded in carry handles, low maintenance adjustable outfitting and
full plate footrest ( deluxe model only ). The Master TG is a kayak
that only enhances peoples introduction to the sport and will prove to
be a very cost effective asset for any fleet or instructional user as
well as the general paddler.

Unless the students are going to be paddling similar multi-use boats
you
can't very well asked them to drill holes in the decks of their own
boats
to assist someone else in rescueing them. I don't think I've ever
seen a
touring kayak that had drain plugs unless you count recreational
boats
(which I don't in the touring category).

It's fairly clear that these are livery boats; these first timers
taking a "taster" course don't have boats of their own.

I've only done a small amount of whitewater kayaking so I have to ask
how
often an assisted deep water rescue is used involving whitewater
kayaks
in real conditions. My guess is almost never. Either the
whitewater
paddler learns how and employs a roll or they swim, make their way to
shore and collect the yard sale floating down the river as best they
can. If another boater is used an assist for a resuce it's more
likely
going to be an assisted eskimo rescue off their bow, or if it's a
swimmer, a tow to shore.

She also typed "[i]ts not sea kayaking, but flat water kayaking in
beginner boats...". I have the impression it is in a loch or a bay.
You are replying to an ideal situation, where people are taking serious
seakayaking lessons, so you expect safety and rescue techniques to be
included as part of the subject matter. She is in an entirely
different situation, I think, probably with only a half-day class in
which she can only cover the basics of making a boat go straight, and
has to provide all the safety by herself.

It seems to me that the biggest problem here is ... and the
reluctance
of the shop to provide an assistant.

Amen.


-Richard, His Kanubic Travesty
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