Hidden tab

[crashnodrog]

I know it's a river thing but I had a coach who was always pointing out the dangers of loops of any kind not only on decks but on my B A as well. The adjustment tapes at the side which retained excess tape by passing it through a plastic buckle were then stitched over at the end making it awkward to pass back through.. These particularly if you went for a swim on a river could get you hung up in a serious situation as could the loop on the spraydeck. I've seen some of the remedies for forgetting about the hidden tab and whilst they might be OK on the sea be aware if you can only afford one deck for both disciplines. I have to say that the BA I had was a touring one designed for the sea but used on the river aswell. Why do river boaters have lengths of tape tied to the back of their craft to assist swimmers and not a grab loop?

[WaterStillScaresMe]

A load of useful discussion in this thread. I want to add a supplementary question...

When I'm teaching beginners I suggest that EVERY time they put a spraydeck on they do a final check by reaching for the tab/loop and touching it to check it's there. I wasn't taught that myself, nor have I heard others teaching it. As someone with a reputation in my club for being overcautious already (justified reputation unfortunately!) I don't make a big song and dance about this - for instance not commenting if beginners don't do it (on the basis that this is a personal choice of course).

To help me to consider my approach I'd like to know if others think this is a sensible thing to teach - and do you teach it / were you taught it?

My justification for working this way is that we teach our body to do something physical as a check - adding to the mental check we'd all like to think we do - making this check something relatively easier to remember / harder to forget.

Thoughts welcome...

[Kayaks'N'Beer]

I use the pavlovian method. If a beginner forgets and closes the spraydeck, leaving the loop inside, smack them over the head with your paddle. Repeat every time he/she does it until they stop. If you hit them hard enough it usually doesn't take too many repetitions.

[Chris Bolton]

Why do river boaters have lengths of tape tied to the back of their craft to assist swimmers and not a grab loop?

If you have hold of a loop it's easy to get your hand trapped, particularly if the boat gets rolled over a few times. A swamped boat may go lots of places on a river where you don't want to follow it.

Chris

[TechnoEngineer]

When I'm teaching beginners I suggest that EVERY time they put a spraydeck on they do a final check by reaching for the tab/loop and touching it to check it's there.

Good thing to do, another thing I instill is to make sure they hold on to their paddle when doing wet exits and eskimo rescues (e.g. tuck under the arm).

[MikeB]

Why do river boaters have lengths of tape tied to the back of their craft to assist swimmers and not a grab loop?

If you have hold of a loop it's easy to get your hand trapped, particularly if the boat gets rolled over a few times. A swamped boat may go lots of places on a river where you don't want to follow it.

Chris

The last thing you'd want is a loop in that situation - the risk of it getting hooked up on something is enormous. As well as the danger Chris outlines. Mike.

[nigelhatton]

I had my first look at the spraydeck I used on my sea kayak after I was hit by a speed boat.I found the waist tube has torn away from the deck at the front.I realise now that when I capsized I never pulled the front tab or had a chance to pull it. So as I tried to get out in a rush the shoulder braces tried to hold me in till something gave way.

My new XP18 has a very deep recessed cockpit rim and I am just a little concerned that if I ever did accidently tuck the loop inside and something goes wrong I could have a problem. I'll have to work on that one.

[tg]

When I was learning to paddle my instructor/coach had a mantra...

'Water and ropes don't mix'.

I still hold to that, particularly about my person. No tabs, no knots; just straight tapes, if neccessary. Of course that was mainly for our WW trip prep., although we paddled on the sea more often (because we lived near it). It has given me a 'natural', maybe unfounded, aversion to the throw tow idea.

No matter who I paddle with these days I try to remember to check over their boats. Loose lines, hatches, spraydeck pulls etc. I hope my compadres do likewise.

I think it was a good habit, instilled early.

T

[Kayaks'N'Beer]

Golden rules - things I make a really big deal about right at the start

Capsize - count to 3, pull the tab, keep a hold of paddle and boat - they're your ticket home

Do not lift kayaks by the toggles. Most beginners I've found have assumed that's what they're for. Time to explain why they're really there (using your best scary rescue expression) and also what happens when you grab the toggle on a expedition loaded boat out of habit.

Check the hatches - more use of the scary rescue face

Leave out the pulltab on the spraydeck

[Chris Bolton]

Why do river boaters have lengths of tape tied to the back of their craft to assist swimmers and not a grab loop?

If you have hold of a loop it's easy to get your hand trapped, particularly if the boat gets rolled over a few times. A swamped boat may go lots of places on a river where you don't want to follow it.

Sorry, crashnodrog, on re-reading your post I realised you know that and it was a rhetorical question.

Chris

[crashnodrog]

No. problem. Re read some things myself, had second thoughts, and found I'm too late to edit..

[WaterStillScaresMe]

Thanks for the replies on my supplementary question so far... any one else care to comment?
Teaching people to touch the tab/loop every time they put the spraydeck on? Or any better way to remember to check?