Paddling Safety Gotchas

Most times before paddling, we all have a list or checklist of what we need to launch. In the last couple months, a few things have occurred which prompt me to also check what condition my condition is in...these are sometimes referred to as "gotchas" if you miss em.

1. At the beach end of a long paddle, a 2 foot wave broadsided me, I couldn't touch the bottom, and the wave force pulled my leash off and the ski almost tumbled onto the beach...turns out my leash velcro was so worn, it had no grab - could have been a long swim if I had been far from shore!

2. Halfway through a high winds Hawai'i Kai run I noticed my rudder throw to the right seemed limited...later on shore, I found the rudder rig had slipped and in fact was only allowing a couple degrees (versus 45 degrees) right rudder - recent repairs to the tail section must have resulted in pulling the linkage line loose from optimum center. On the same run, an oc2 lost steerage due to a rudder cable malfunction, and struggled mightily to finish the last 4 miles, yikes. Good to check for full normal rudder deflection, feel, and condition.

3. Recently during a local winter series race, temp mid 30s, observed a paddler's front iako separate from his ama. That water must have been COLD. Turns out the tightening screw was just a little short, so that when it felt tightened down, was not actually fully secure...later a longer tightening screw solved the problem.

Well that's it for now. Hope this info helps and feel free to send items of interest you'd like to share to enhance Paddling Safety.

Hui hou, Uncle Pete

Cold Water Paddling Considerations

Aloha,

Just received a great link on cold water paddling precautions and survival from Shane Baker:

http://www.coldwaterbootcamp.com/pages/home.html

Be safe.

Hui hou, Uncle Pete

Paddling Safety

Aloha,

Welcome to Paddling Safety! I've created this blog in the interest of enhancing safe paddling for the canoe and surfski paddling family. Please feel free to add any ideas or suggestions that would also benefit.

Hui hou, Pete