I always have a spare paddle
but when playing for some reason (
the surf keeps on tossing me out of my kayak.
While I swim I try to grab my kayak and let go of the paddle.
If I would not have the paddle on the leash somebody else would have to keep on fetching it for me…
since someone started it…
you know what i think may never be used, or useful on a pfd, yet people go crazy for it? your whistle.
how well can a whistle be heard over the water, in any kind of wind or breaking waves? barely at all. even as a guide, i’ve tried using it, and almost no one hears it, don’t know how to interpret it, etc. of all the possible signaling means, from hands to paddle, to voice, i have found the whistle to be all but useless, yet i continue to carry it because its regulation and i’m supposed to model it as in instructor. phooey, i think they’re shite for paddling…
let the flames begin!!
Use my pfd “knife” regularly…
…mostly to remove snagged fishing tackle from the tree limbs around my head. I figure since I can, I should. Besides - I’ve collected some usable stuff. Actually, it ain’t a knife really - it’s a “cutting hook” (rescue tool).
BTW - I don’t have the rust issue here, but anything made of titanium will not rust.
Try the Fox 40 . . .
. . . whistle. It is painfully loud.
Spyderco Caspian
has great write ups in a paddling magazine over a month ago - maybe you can find the review (one of the popular mags from Borders but i cannot remember which one). If I didnt buy my Spyderco Atlantic Salt (folder) I would probably seriously consider this one although double the price. Sounds like the perfect knife!!!
smolder…fzzzt
The way I look at knives, whistles, and yes, paddlefloats is - what is the consequence of taking them? All that wasted space the whistle and knife take up?
Okay, not much of a knife,
but it’s always available, and I use it a lot, for all of the described reasons and more. It’s a Heavy 4" blade stainless pairing knife I found in our kitchen drawer. I made a plastic friction fit sheath for it, and carry it under a foredeck bungie. It won’t rust and I can’t lose it. Probably because it was made in China and only cost $2.00! I’m always in salt water, and do give the boat and knife a quick hose down after use. The knife stays on the kayak. Holds a good edge, too.
Carefree? Not at all. I wear a helmet
when needed, a PFD almost always, but I’ve never needed a knife 1n 35 years, and the friends I paddle with, serious whitewater types, haven’t had situations where they needed a knife in their long paddling careers either.
I think it’s a phallic thing. The knife I mean.
Totally, dude…nm
Exactly
"The remote chance that something will happen." After rolling I had to cut myself out of fishing line. Im here to talk about it. We lost an experienced kayaker practicing her roll she missed the roll and could not find her grab loop. She buried the loop under her skirt. When they found her, her knife was in her pocket. She could have cut her skirt to escape. Get the knife and I hope you never need.
Really again
Please explain the “phallic” reference?
It is NOT a paddling knife unless
it looks cool and cost 100 bucks.A kitchen knife! The shame! And you call yourself a paddler?
Why do you need an explanation?
A paddler died on the Ocoee when
someone cut into his skirt to help him wet exit. We don’t know why he didn’t wet exit, but the knife cut into a big artery, and then he really was a goner.
I once missed three rolls in a small hydraulic, and my grab loop was under my skirt. I simply grabbed a handful of skirt and pulled it off.
I wonder whether there is a circumstance where cutting a skirt would be the best solution.
And if the knife was in her pocket, what were the odds she could get it out and open it promptly? When I do carry a knife (seldom), it is a sheath knife lashed to my PFD.
I used to be able to swim the length of an Olympic pool underwater, but I’m amazed at what people expect to be able to do when they’ve gotten thrashed and are hanging upside down in a boat. Maybe pull out a waterproofed cell phone and call the Coast Guard.
different grades of stainless
There are a variety of alloys all called “stainless”, but their corrosion resistance varies widely. The 300 series alloys won’t rust at all in salt water. If they aren’t polished they might tarnish a bit, but never any corrosion you’d care about, or that would affect use. 302, 304(also called 18/8) and 316 being the most popular.
The next step down is the 400 series, and they will rust in salt water. Then there are even cheaper/worse varieties. Basically, if you want rust-free steel look for 300-series or 18/8.
boye dendritic cobalt
Do a search for “boye dendritic cobalt knives”. They are made from a cobalt alloy that is tailored to produce dendrites, which are needle-like carbide structures within the knife. Once sharpened they provide a very aggressive edge, and cobalt will NEVER rust. Almost all stainless “river knives” are junk. Any decent stainless will never rust with even the slightest amount of care. A couple other good ones: Chris Reeves Knives
Dozier Knives
Both of these are excellent
Chris Reeves uses CPM S-30-V which was developed for cutlery
Dozier uses D-2, which is an industrial steel, and also very good
300 series stainless is typically quite soft steel, and not suited for knives. Most production knives are geared toward less abraision resistant steels, due to the fact that they grind easier, making for faster production. A limited-production cutler, or a custom maker will usually use a better steel, and often the prices are not too bad.
Because
Some how a knife and my “phallic region” in the same sentence suggests some uncomfortable images. My new question to you is how is it that you make the connection between the two? I can’t wait to hear this reply.
You can keep waiting. Anyone who can’t
see the relationship between a knife and a phallic symbol should smoke a cigar and think it out.
Wow again
Ok … I would like to see the documentation of that particular rescue. I WILL comment on that when you show me that it is true. I refuse to believe that a second party or anyone, even you would be that foolish to resort to a knife in that scenario. As for the knife being in her pocket, She simply did not give herself the option. As she also chose to paddle alone. Im aware that you may have more of your inspired insights on that matter to, but in the interest of sharing GOOD information with interested paddlers I will chance waving that red flag in your face.
You can go to the AWA river accident
database and find it for yourself. I don’t see why I have to prove anything to you, anymore than you have to document your fishing line tales to me. You can believe it or not.
When people are frantic, they do almost as many stupid things with knives as they do with guns.