"stayinalive" wrote in news:1103835108.037263.289320
@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com:

For bracing, look for the
February issue of Seakayaker for an article called "Bracing Drills".
How do
I know about the article if it hasn't come out yet? I wrote it.

Yes I've read your recent article on the high brace save and have a
couple of questions? One, why hasn't this manuever been suggested
before? Is it because most instructors are reluctant to recommend
something which missused by a novice might lead to shoulder injury?

I've seen someone dislocate a shoulder when grabbing the side of a pool to
practice hip snaps. The exercises themselves do not make paddlers
inherently prone to shoulder injury. I've taken a number of classes that
covered a high brace and every time the instructor has warned of the
potential dangers if it is done incorrectly. The article does stress the
importance of keeping your hands close to the body and below the head.
Chris was pretty firm about getting that verbage into the article. I had
taken a bunch of photos which demonstrated the exercises, one of which
should a friend of mine in a marginally vulnerable position. Chris didn't
want the photos in the mag. A coupld of years ago Nigel Foster did an
article on a reentry roll which had a photo with a paddler in a similarly
unsafe position. There were quite a few editorial comments on that. I
actually heard about the queen annes salute through some friends that did
some BCU training and assessment. The assessor was having the student
perform the exercise to demonstrate that the bigh brace component of the 3
star assessment is suppose to be a recovery stroke and not just for
stability.

Two, would you recommend starting off with a paddle float to at least
learn the correct arm position? You could lay over very gently with the
float in the water and let the outboard arm rise up until the paddle
was in the best postion for bracing before hip snapping up.

That's not a bad way to learn the position. Doug Alderson's rolling article
in the previos issue demonstrates using a paddle float in this manner. You
may have also noticed that I wrote an editorial comment in the current issue
on that article, specifically cautioning the use of a paddle float as
demonstrated and the pressure that it can put on your shoulder. Sliding over
slowly with a paddle float with a paddle float is okay but I wouldn't
recommend getting into a queen annes salute position with a paddle float and
falling over. Instead, set the paddle parallel to the boat on the opposite
side that you're going to capsize. After you've hit the water bring the
paddlefloat to a perpendicular position and brace up.

Bracing is rarely taught in novice classes. One of the reasons is that when
novices first start trying to brace they end up capsizing a lot more. In
one class of six students we had four of them in the water at the same time
when they first started trying a low brace. In the novice classes I teach
we don't get into any of the strokes that involve tilting the boat although
if a student seems to be doing very well we'll introduce edging the boat a
bit to help turn. In the intermediate class we start with hip snapping off
a partners boat and then have them tip over, let go of the partners boat,
re-grab then hip snap back up. Once they're able to capsize and perform an
eskimo rescue off the bow of a partners boat we'll start working on bracing.
Because they often capsize while learning to brace it's nice if they're able
to do an eskimo rescue rather than we exit and have to reenter. The
exercises that I suggested in the article are not really for a novice that
doesn't know how to brace at all.

Another method for learning the arm position requires a helper. Have a
friend paddle up parallel to your boat and grasp your cockpit rim. They can
hold your boat while you get into position to keep you from going all the
way over. They can even assist in getting your boat back upright by pulling
on the cockpit rim as you do a brace. This method also works really well
for learning how to perform a deep sculling brace.

Kind of beyond what you were asking about but my half dollar
suggestions.

Consider the "Safety Blaster Horn". Lung powered, 120dbs, 1 mile
range, $10. Do not try it out in enclosed space. I did. Could not
hear for 10 mins. Wife and I both carry one on PFD. All plastic, no
rust. URL below takes you Fogdog which sells them. Immersion in salt
water does not effect it at all - drain for 2 seconds and blow. Used
by us any number of times both on land and sea. Great for hiking if
separated by terrain.
http://www.fogdog.com/product/index....oductId=841305

Also the common garden variety cell phone in waterproof container.
Highly recommend AquaPac containers. Bought the ones we have in
London years ago but I believe that REI here in states sells them now.
Can personally attest to waterproofness in very gnarly Hawaiian
waters. We only paddle out if we have them on board. Have one for
each of the following; digital camera, cell phone, GPS, VHF and paper
nautical charts. May sound like overkill to many but our paddling in
Hawaii and other places tends to the extreme side and length. URL for
AquaPack below.
http://www.aquapac.net/

Last but not least is signaling mirror. Anything that helps the SAR
folks pinpoint your location, especially something that requires no
batteries, is worth having if it could save your life. Cheap, light,
and simple to use. There are endless tirades about which is better,
metal or plastic, which will last the longest etal. Just get one and
stick in the PFD. If you get caught up in "what type will last the
longest," buy a new one every year, they are that cheap. Is your life
worth $15 or so?
--
Big Island Bob

Bib wrote:
Kind of beyond what you were asking about but my half dollar
suggestions.

Consider the "Safety Blaster Horn". Lung powered, 120dbs, 1 mile
range, $10. Do not try it out in enclosed space. I did. Could not
hear for 10 mins. Wife and I both carry one on PFD. All plastic, no
rust. URL below takes you Fogdog which sells them. Immersion in salt
water does not effect it at all - drain for 2 seconds and blow. Used
by us any number of times both on land and sea. Great for hiking if
separated by terrain.
http://www.fogdog.com/product/index....oductId=841305

I agree. This horn makes whistles seem anemic by comparison. I carry one
in my PFD.

I saw this type of "Safety Blaster Horn" blaster in Boaters World and its
alot bigger than I would want on my PFD. Is there a smaller one like 3"- 4"
instead of 8". The one I saw remains me of a bong.

Thanks.

Steve
Wilmington, NC

Steven Murch wrote:
I saw this type of "Safety Blaster Horn" blaster in Boaters World and its
alot bigger than I would want on my PFD. Is there a smaller one like 3"- 4"
instead of 8". The one I saw remains me of a bong.

Yeah, there are two sizes and the smaller one is hard to find. I think
the one at the FogDog link is the smaller size. According to SeaSense,
K-Mart sells the small ones, but I've never seen them in the local
stores and they're not on their web site either. Dick's Sporting goods
carries them, too.

Having a roll is very, very important, especially in cold water. Lot's of
paddling clubs use indoor pools during the winter for instruction. For the
warm weather flat water paddler just something fun to learn. For
recreational boaters, most of that type of craft won't take a skirt anyway
and if they do, they're nylon, 4 feet long and implode upon going over.
wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm a recent convert to the occassionally wet world of kayaking. I have
practised wet exits and self rescues, wear a PDF and always carry a
paddle float and bail pump. While most of my rough water experience has
been coastal and always accompanied by at least one other more
experienced paddler I would like to equip myself with additional
protection for the days I might venture solo. In the Spring I intend to
continue to work on my non existent (as yet) roll and other braces.
Here is my thought: a reliable VHF radio, an inexpensive GPS and
finally a usable dry suit. I like to paddle mostly the North shore of
MA where the water temperature even in summer never gets better than
60. (I think) I own a farmer john 3mm wet suit but not sure if this is
enough. Currently I'm looking at a ICOM IC-MIV VHF radio and a Palm dry
suit. Anyone out there want to weigh in on my choices or suggest other
alternatives. Are the built in neoprene socks advisable? I do insist on
a pee zipper being of the prostate challenged generation.

Thanks,
Gene

On 12/19/04 1857, in article , "Mike B"
wrote:

Having a roll is very, very important, especially in cold water. Lot's of
paddling clubs use indoor pools during the winter for instruction. For the
warm weather flat water paddler just something fun to learn. For
recreational boaters, most of that type of craft won't take a skirt anyway
and if they do, they're nylon, 4 feet long and implode upon going over.
wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm a recent convert to the occassionally wet world of kayaking. I have
practised wet exits and self rescues, wear a PDF and always carry a
paddle float and bail pump. While most of my rough water experience has
been coastal and always accompanied by at least one other more
experienced paddler I would like to equip myself with additional
protection for the days I might venture solo. In the Spring I intend to
continue to work on my non existent (as yet) roll and other braces.
Here is my thought: a reliable VHF radio, an inexpensive GPS and
finally a usable dry suit. I like to paddle mostly the North shore of
MA where the water temperature even in summer never gets better than
60. (I think) I own a farmer john 3mm wet suit but not sure if this is
enough. Currently I'm looking at a ICOM IC-MIV VHF radio and a Palm dry
suit. Anyone out there want to weigh in on my choices or suggest other
alternatives. Are the built in neoprene socks advisable? I do insist on
a pee zipper being of the prostate challenged generation.

Thanks,
Gene




Signal Mirror = AOL CDs... They work really well and are very free!

On 20-Dec-2004, "Patrick, Whit" wrote:

Signal Mirror = AOL CDs... They work really well and are very free!

The myth is that CDs work well. They are not that reflective.
Better to get a real signal mirror.

http://www.seakayakermag.com/2001/01Oct/mirror2.htm

Mike

On 12/20/04 1054, in article , "Michael Daly"
wrote:

On 20-Dec-2004, "Patrick, Whit" wrote:

Signal Mirror = AOL CDs... They work really well and are very free!

The myth is that CDs work well. They are not that reflective.
Better to get a real signal mirror.

http://www.seakayakermag.com/2001/01Oct/mirror2.htm

Mike

Actually, the CDs do work quite well. I have tested them in various
situations and found them an adequate emergency substitute for a real signal
mirror. They can also be hung from branches on shore to attract the
attention of SAR personnel.

You are right, though. There is no real substitute for a real mirror. Carry
both.

Whit - CWO4(Bosn) USCG retired

If your consistently wearing a wetsuit, why hava pee-zipper.

By having a your keeping your pee inside the suit, it helps retain the heat.