My wife and I went into this sport together, with the understanding we wouldn't paddle alone until we were ready. I feel pretty ready, and I really want to, I kind of enjoy solitude. I spend hours walking out on the salt marsh alone. Anyhoo, my wife isn't quite comfortable with paddling alone yet, and I don't want to stress her out, so I haven't done it. I think when we both have good rolls, she'll be able to relax while I'm on the water alone, so I'll wait. In the meantime, I just want the rain to stop so we can both get out there!
Wollyworld,(a name I've occasionally heard used for Wollaston, I'm a five minute walk from the beach.)
Notiones: My wife and I are both in glass Chathams, she's in a 16 and I'm in an 18 and although we've only done assited rolls thus far, from my limited experience they roll quite nicely. It's a fine boat. Congrats on the new boat, have fun!
capsizing offshore near a ledge in surf, blowing your roll because a wave grabs your paddle and dislocates your shoulder. Now youre out of the boat, in hideous pain, not gettin in and rolling upright unless you've got mad skills and focus.
For solo sea kayaking you've got to roll. I'd also insist that a friend going solo learned to use a a stirrup, learned reenter and roll skills, dressed for one hour functional immersion time, had good navigation skills etc, and was great in terms of boat handling. I have threatened friend of min with putting 100 holes in their boats.
ON a lake much less danger. I've a friend who carries surf flippers in a pfd pack to help him be able to swim for miles if neededwhen he goes solo.
Brilliant Insight Peter There has been no venue specific advice offered. All basic general safety related stuff. Nothing Floridian (or anywhere else) about it.
If you’re really concerned and have something specific to offer regarding Bostonian solo paddling - other than the obvious “it’s colder, dress for it” - please follow up with some details. Otherwise, that was a very lame post.
Messing around in the pool waiting for the water to warm up, I was able to get as far as a re-enter and roll with a paddle float. But, I tell you, there's plenty of water in the boat when you get back up in a wet exit scenario, things can get pretty wobbly, and I'd much prefer to have a real roll, with no water in the boat. Ergo, the following suggestions for solo and no reliable roll:
- relatively calm water (easier to pump out a boatload of water without capsizing again)
- near shore (so you can limp to shore if need be)
- always wear good immersion protection (in case you are stuck in the water by your sorry self waiting for help)
- A submersible radio capable of reaching somebody (and a cell in a dry bag too)
- spare paddle (no one is going to lend you theirs because you are alone)
Hey Evan Hate to go on a tangent here, but I tried some deep sculling last night in the pool(just a little bit of face sticking out of the water), and I really saw the potential. Tried working with “to the shoulder” high braces also. Plenty of good stuff to work on this summer.