Rick wrote:
"Oci-One Kanubi" wrote in message
ups.com...

snip...


I wear Converse Chuck Taylor's All Stars in my whitewater
canoe, but
I'm a decided minority on the river in that respect.



Richard,

I always wore converse all-stars in the 70s. They really gripped
wet rocks and were still good for portages. When the last pair
finally wore out and it was time to replace them, the soles were
not the same material, it was much harder, and were decidedly
slippier on wet rocks. I haven't looked for them since the early
80s, so are the soles somewhat 'softer' again?

I cannot really compare. But the current soles are a little more
slippery than I would like. I wear them for the firm sole, since I
paddle kneeling with my toes pointed straight down: the sole (attached
to the high tops lashed around the ankle) supports the weight of the
foot and lower leg, rather than the toes.

I always have two pairs on hand; a pair that fits, and an outsized pair
that fits over wool socks and the built-in latex foots of my drysuit.
When I was paddling 100 days/year I had to replace both pairs annually,
because of the unfortunate tendency of wet canvas to rot! These days I
am boating only 50 or 60 days per year, and so they last a liddle
longer.


-Richard, His Kanubic Travesty
--

================================================== ====================
Richard Hopley Winston-Salem, NC, USA
rhopley[at]earthlink[dot]net
Nothing really matters except Boats, Sex, and Rock'n'Roll
rhopley[at]wfubmc[dot]edu
OK, OK; computer programming for scientific research also matters
================================================== ====================

Ok..let me pose this question to the group

I don't have a knife...any kind of knife

What exact brand/model of knife should I buy for
general use in kayak on river? To cut myself lose in a
tangle (emergency)..... to cut food...etc

Any kind of cheap stainless folder with a built on clip will suffice, unless
you want to attach it your PFD, then look at Gerber, there are
others...google river knife...I'm too lazy


wrote in message
...
Ok..let me pose this question to the group

I don't have a knife...any kind of knife

What exact brand/model of knife should I buy for
general use in kayak on river? To cut myself lose in a
tangle (emergency)..... to cut food...etc

wrote:
Ok..let me pose this question to the group

I don't have a knife...any kind of knife

What exact brand/model of knife should I buy for
general use in kayak on river? To cut myself lose in a
tangle (emergency)..... to cut food...etc

This tip Oci-One Kanubi taught me:

Whenever you use throwlines, make sure to carry paramedic's shears or a
sharp knife as well!

The advantage of using paramedic's shears: They are a lot cheaper than
"normal" rescue knives. They have small serrated "blades" which will go
through throwrope very easily, but which can also be used very close to
a victim's body without injuring them. Unlike folding knives, they are
easy to operate with one hand. In area's where normal knives are illegal
(that's the case around here), they offer a nice non-threathening and
legal option. I do have a folding knife as a backup, but it's only been
used in anger to slit the throat of a baquette (French stick bread) or
skin an orange.

--
Wilko van den Bergh wilkoa t)dse(d o tnl
Eindhoven The Netherlands Europe
---Look at the possibilities, don't worry about the limitations.---
http://kayaker.nl/

Wilko wrote:


Whenever you use throwlines, make sure to carry paramedic's shears or a
sharp knife as well!

Ok but where to buy such a thing?

I'm going to REI this weekend so will get the Gerber
shortly river knife as well

wrote:
Wilko wrote:

Whenever you use throwlines, make sure to carry paramedic's shears or a
sharp knife as well!

Ok but where to buy such a thing?

I'm going to REI this weekend so will get the Gerber shortly river knife as well

I'm not a metallurgist, but I married a metallurgist's daughter, and
I've found out a little about metals (actually, those three facts have
nothing to do with each other).

Anyhow, I've learned that stainless steel does not mean the same as
rustproof, especially if you paddle in salt water. The most rustproof
knives have lots of chromium (the shiny stuff) in the layup, um, alloy.
The sharpest knives have lots of carbon in the alloy.

So, high carbon knives are easy to make sharp, but rust. High chromium
knives are a pain to sharpen, but don't rust as fast. YMMV

1. Pay money. 2. Take choice.

As I think about it, my mother-in-law sometimes does pottery, but I
know nothing at all about ceramic (e.g., Boker) knives.

Steve

On 22-Jun-2006, " wrote:

So, high carbon knives are easy to make sharp, but rust. High chromium
knives are a pain to sharpen, but don't rust as fast. YMMV

Titanium blades are tough to sharpen but retain (I'm told) a wicked edge
when you finish. Titanium isn't a really strong metal on its own, but, like
aluminum, almost all useful alloys are much stronger/harder/tougher
than the native metal. Wenoka makes a titanium knife that is not too
expensive and has lots of "cool factor" to it (yer basic Blackie Collins
blade). Plus a polycarbonate handle/sheath. Tanto tip. Fishing line
hook.

I know nothing at all about ceramic (e.g., Boker) knives.

Ceramic knives are too brittle to trust in a rescue situation. Great in a
kitchen, though.

Still prospecting for the unobtanium mine.

Mike

"Michael Daly" wrote:

Wenoka makes a titanium knife

For kayaking?

wrote:
Wilko wrote:


Whenever you use throwlines, make sure to carry paramedic's shears or a
sharp knife as well!

Ok but where to buy such a thing?


Go to the website that sells police and emergency responders'
equipment: www.galls.com. They are called "bandage shears" and will be
in the section with equipment for EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians).

Get several pairs; they're only about $5.00 each. In addition to the
advantages Wilko cited, is this: when you are bouncing around in
turbulent water, having just saved yer buddy's life by cutting him free
of an entanglement, you don't have to give a lot of thought (or take
any chances working further with a sharp tool) to how you are going to
stow this thing away. Just drop the &%$%^$ in the river. You've got a
$5.00 replacement in yer boat and another one in yer car.


-Richard, His Kanubic Travesty
--
================================================== ====================
Richard Hopley Winston-Salem, NC, USA
.. rhopley[at]earthlink[dot]net
.. Nothing really matters except Boats, Sex, and Rock'n'Roll
.. rhopley[at]wfubmc[dot]edu
.. OK, OK; computer programming for scientific research also matters
================================================== ====================

"Oci-One Kanubi" wrote:

Get several pairs; they're only about $5.00 each. In addition to the
advantages Wilko cited, is this: when you are bouncing around in
turbulent water, having just saved yer buddy's life by cutting him free
of an entanglement, you don't have to give a lot of thought (or take
any chances working further with a sharp tool) to how you are going to
stow this thing away. Just drop the &%$%^$ in the river. You've got a
$5.00 replacement in yer boat and another one in yer car.

Thanks

Good idea!