"Steve Cramer" wrote in message
...
On 4/11/2010 5:47 PM, Robert Scott wrote:
Can any of you recommend a good reference book or two? I'm particularly
fond of Bill Mason's "Path of the Paddle" as a canoeing reference. Is
there
a similar work in print for kayakers?

You don't want Tom Foster's book, good as it is, for the paddling you're
going to do in a Pungo. Here's a short list of my favorites.

The Complete Sea Kayaker's Handbook, Shelley Johnson
Sea Kayaking Illustrated : A Visual Guide to Better Paddling, John Robison
Paddle Your Own Kayak: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Kayaking, Gary
McGuffin and Joanie McGuffin

I think all of these are really good. The McGuffin book is especially
gorgeous to look at.

Steve


Thanks for the suggestions, Steve. I appreciate it.

Good paddling,
desmobob

OK... I did some searching in a place I hadn't initially thought of:
YouTube.

I found a clip of someone loading a kayak using the outrigger crossbar
extension type device. I have to say I was not impressed because it looks
like it would be VERY easy to scrape the boat against the side of the car.

But what I also saw were some pretty cool vids of guys using home-made
loading aids. Instead of being out to the side, they were temporarily
attached to the very rear of the roof (when used with a station wagon/SUV
type vehicle like my Subaru Forester). One end of the boat was lifted up to
the skid/roller/whatever type car protection, and then the boat was pushed
straight up onto the pads on the roof racks. I think I'm favoring this
approach. As did jaybird, I used to easily load my canoes that way on the
ladder racks on my pickup, and they were w-a-a-y up there.

As and added benefit, the home-made rigs are cheap. And so am I. :-)

Good paddling,
desmobob

On Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:13:46 -0400, "Robert Scott"
wrote:

OK... I did some searching in a place I hadn't initially thought of:
YouTube.

I found a clip of someone loading a kayak using the outrigger crossbar
extension type device. I have to say I was not impressed because it looks
like it would be VERY easy to scrape the boat against the side of the car.

But what I also saw were some pretty cool vids of guys using home-made
loading aids. Instead of being out to the side, they were temporarily
attached to the very rear of the roof (when used with a station wagon/SUV
type vehicle like my Subaru Forester). One end of the boat was lifted up to
the skid/roller/whatever type car protection, and then the boat was pushed
straight up onto the pads on the roof racks. I think I'm favoring this
approach. As did jaybird, I used to easily load my canoes that way on the
ladder racks on my pickup, and they were w-a-a-y up there.

As and added benefit, the home-made rigs are cheap. And so am I. :-)

Good paddling,
desmobob

That's sort of what I used to use -- I got a bunch of big V shaped
boat rollers (the yellow ones don't leave black marks) then a winch.
I'd run the cable up from the back where the winch was up to the front
of the rack and then back down over the rollers to the boat. I'd drag
the boat to the back of the car/truck, then clip on the line and winch
the boat up the rollers to the top.

On Apr 22, 6:13*pm, "Robert Scott" wrote:
OK... I did some searching in a place I hadn't initially thought of:
YouTube.

I found a clip of someone loading a kayak using the outrigger crossbar
extension type device. *I have to say I was not impressed because it looks
like it would be VERY easy to scrape the boat against the side of the car..

I'm so glad I don't drive a showcar, just for that reason! I drive a
boating vehicle, and it has the scars of a life well lived to prove
it.

John Kuthe...

Bob, if your hand is coming back far enough to whack that aft clip, you
stroke is too long. Your hand really shouldn't go past your hip, and it
should be lifting the paddle up out of the water as it does. Have a look
at this guy.
http://www.atlantickayaktours.com/Pa...ion/Exit.shtml

On 4/12/2010 7:40 PM, Robert Scott wrote:
I should add that MY oversized pool toy will be paddled 95% on inland
flat-water and 5% on inshore sal****er.

I had it out today for the first time. I was cursing the entire trip! The
Pungo 140 Angler comes with some add-ons like a pair of rod holders (one
flush and one conventional) and a pair of paddle or rod clips. Turns out
the aft clip is mounted right at the outside edge of the deck just about
even with the seat back:
http://www.wildernesssystems.com/pro...ngo_140_angler

I whacked my fingers against it on every stroke until I started having to
make an uncomfortable "correction" to keep my hand clear of it. I
definitely need to relocate or remove it, or get a longer paddle for
low-angle style paddling. :-(

"Steve Cramer" wrote in message
...
Bob, if your hand is coming back far enough to whack that aft clip, you
stroke is too long. Your hand really shouldn't go past your hip, and it
should be lifting the paddle up out of the water as it does. Have a look
at this guy.
http://www.atlantickayaktours.com/Pa...ion/Exit.shtml



Thanks for that information and link, Steve. It shows I need to do some
research, video-watching and reading on kayak paddling. I guess I paddle
the kayak like I do a canoe... I'm reaching way across with the off-side
hand and sticking the paddle in almost vertically, then pull myself/my boat
to it. Does anyone make a bent-shaft kayak paddle? ;-)

Thanks again,
desmobob

Per Steve Cramer:
Your hand really shouldn't go past your hip, and it
should be lifting the paddle up out of the water as it does. Have a look
at this guy.
http://www.atlantickayaktours.com/Pa...ion/Exit.shtml

I'm just a duffer, but the word I get from serious paddlers is
that a short stroke like that shown combined with the lack of
torso rotation in the pix will lead to shoulder damage.

The ones I consult say that the paddle should exit the water
further back - but be further back by virtue of torso rotation.

Enough torso rotation feels extreme at first, but becomes natural
with practice. It brings other muscles into play - offloading
the shoulders.
--
PeteCresswell

On 5/1/2010 5:30 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:

I'm just a duffer, but the word I get from serious paddlers is
that a short stroke like that shown combined with the lack of
torso rotation in the pix will lead to shoulder damage.

The ones I consult say that the paddle should exit the water
further back - but be further back by virtue of torso rotation.

A little apples and oranges, here, Pete. I posted those pics to
emphasize the exit, not rotation per se. Frankly, I think he's exiting a
little early, but that's not what most newbies do. I agree that if you
don't rotate, it's bad for your shoulders. I don't agree that serious
paddlers exit farther back. Watch this guy and see how far his right
hand moves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lef_ut8n0ms. Greg is a pretty
serious paddler.

This one's a little harder to see, but note that their hands never go
past their hips. And rotation? When you can see their back numbers from
the side, that's rotation.
http://www.youtube.com/v/zs2HQG0HLNo&hl=en_US&fs=1&

Steve

Per Steve Cramer:
Bob, if your hand is coming back far enough to whack that aft clip, you
stroke is too long. Your hand really shouldn't go past your hip, and it
should be lifting the paddle up out of the water as it does. Have a look
at this guy.
http://www.atlantickayaktours.com/Pa...ion/Exit.shtml

http://www.wildernesssystems.com/pro...ngo_140_angler

I think it's blade vs hand.

In the OP, it has the blade exiting at the hips.

In the two clips above (and my own stroke...) the blade exits
astern of the hips, and it's the hand that stops at the hips.
--
PeteCresswell

On 5/3/2010 1:31 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
In the two clips above (and my own stroke...) the blade exits
astern of the hips, and it's the hand that stops at the hips.

Righto.

Steve