Surfski Knowledge Base

Reivers Dustin
03/13/19 #24467

Anyone using paddle to wrist leash? I see one for sale at Ocean Paddlesports website.

For first 10 years or so never heard of anyone using a leash of any kind. Then we discovered neoprene. Nice. We didn't have to wear our wive's throw away spandex. Well, maybe some of us did in private.

Next came leashes. For several years we just did a leash between the paddle and the boat. Big improvement because really most of us are grabbing something when we tea-kettle up. A few guys were doing leg leashes because we saw it on OC-1's. But I was stubborn and stayed on paddle-to-boat leash. Until JD kicked me out of a Gorge Relay. Actually I had a leg leash ready so he (grumpy bastid) let me in.

There have been times when I've leashed myself to boat plus paddle to boat. Makes me nervous to do this. It's un-fun to detangle. (Say that 3 times real quick - then untungle yer tang.) OK, so it's blaspheme, but I consider leash more important than PFD. However, I concede to race director because they are the one's called to the stand in the event of loss of life. The legal phrase is “due diligence”.

So back to the point. Losing a paddle is almost as muckey as losing your boat. If it's blowing over 20, this sometimes occupies a few brain cells that should be having fun. What to do. I sure do like the simplicity of boat to paddle only. Helps a great deal when I want to fuss with something that needs both hands.

OK. I forgot the question. Is it Wednesday yet? Yeah, and tomorrow is Thursday. Good, I'm thirsty too - let's go have a beer.

rd

James Klein
03/14/19 #24470

I use a boogie board leash modified with a short string that I loop around the paddle shaft. If you make the string the correct length it doesn’t mess with hand or paddle and works with pogies

Jamie Klein

OPS
03/14/19 #24471

The wrist paddle leash we sell has a clip for an easy release. I sell quite a few and along with a body to ski it’s a good way to leave both hands free for easier remount. It doesn’t

Tangle and doesn’t bother you like a paddle to ski leash does. No lap flopping.
DeAnne Hemmens
Ocean Paddlesports

James Klein

03/14/19 #24472

….oh yea, and I get my boogie board leashes off all the broken kids boards when on vacation at beach. Free, but I buy one those boards every year so I guess it’s not really free?

Jamie

Carl Tessmann
03/14/19 #24473

On big days I run a 3-4mm cord from my pfd shoulder strap to the middle of my paddle at a length just beyond arms reach. Doesn't get in the way and offers some piece of mind if you have to wrassle your boat with both both hands in the wind, or your leash gets tangled and you need to sort it out, or after cold water shock you come to your senses and are grateful that you still have an iron grip on your paddle. Sure I always carry a spare paddle on big days, but who wants to risk losing a $400-500 piece of kit.

When I first met you guys I’ll never forget pulling up to the beach to have Larry B grab my leg leash and unsnap it with a jerk, demonstrating how unsafe It is. I don’t think he had even introduced himself at that point so it was a little weird at first, but stuck with me. Since then I have had a few instances where I have remounted after a spill and found my leash uselessly hanging unclipped (How the hell did that happen?) – good thing I didn’t let the boat go. Now if you clip with the gate facing outward, it minimizes the risk, but I now have a fixed leash – no clip – and better piece of mind.

So I run a standard leg leash – haven’t adopted the Barnacles’ stern line rigging yet (my boat is too pretty to mess with) – and a cord from PFD to paddle. Seems to work pretty well.

On another note, if anyone is feeling frisky this weekend, we have a pretty awesome race on Sunday in Nanaimo. The NPI attack is walking distance from the Departure Bay ferry (https://goo.gl/maps/GMd6v3sjwwH2 ) and is a really great course around Newcastle and Protection island. Great people, some fast competition, good swag, one of my favourite race routes, and only about 10k or so. So for something different, drive up to horseshoe bay, park, walk onto the ferry and join us for a pretty spectacular race – forecast is for sunny spring conditions! Race registration sign up on race day. Cost $10.00. Registration starts at 9am and race is at 11am. Attached a screenshot of the location and course.

http://www.nckc.ca/crazy-8-outrigger-canoe-race-and-npi-attack/ https://www.facebook.com/events/241290743462300/

Looking forward to seeing you all down there in a couple of weeks!

Carl Tessmann

Larry Bussinger

03/15/19 #24475

If its blowing over about 15 mph, I use a paddle leash built like Carl's. Thin, almost weightless cord, tied to my vest. I use a slip knot to the middle of the paddle. It takes 5 seconds to put on and adds another level of protection. The cord is short enough that it does (not) get tangled.
Larry B