: ...I use an inflatable paddle float that I roll up and stuff through bungee
: loops on the backrest. In a pinch, it could be stored nearly fully
: inflated behind the back band. Unhooking a single bungee cord would make
: it easily accessible, though the back band is flexible enough that it
: could probably be yanked out without detaching the back band. I've heard
: of foam backrests that double as paddle floats, but I cannot recall who
: makes them.

: I saw somenone at a skills clinic last night who's paddle float was nothing
: more than a couple of 10" long sections of a pool "noodle"
: with slots cut in them so they could be slid over a paddle blade. They
: permitted her to do float assisted rolling practice, without interfering
: unduly with her ability to sweep with the paddle. Pretty ingenious.

I like the ideas and locations. I wonder if another use of the noodle may be as a carrying yoke. Say one long one at abt 2' or 2 short and slotted down one side as you just recounted. Slip over coaming from side to back to side, turn yak upside down and rest noodles on shoulders. Visibility may be ok (no good side to side) to the front b/c coaming level may be abt eye level if yak level. If tipped, may be able to actually see ahead.

-mick