: Betsie Bay boats come with deck rigging that only runs from just behind the
: cockpit to near the front bulkhead. My Nordkapp and Pintail had full
: perimeter rigging that ran beside the cockpit. I believe that most VCP
: boats are rigged this way from the factory.

thanks, i'll have a look.

: Therein lies the problem.
yes, thats the main issue. i just wonder that if run past that problem could be addressed. if it could not be, this location is seriously compromised as you say.

: I really dislike the idea of anything that would introduce slack into the
: deck rigging, especially in a rescue scenario. For this to work, you would
: need to have the rigging tied off a the attachment points for the cockpit
: rigging. It's also difficult to see how this could be done without the
: rigging next to the cockpit being slack.

there one of the ways that lines can be grabbed is by raising them, unfortunately if raised they also can grab. maybe another way is to make them slackable.

: With the attachment point so close to the center of the boat, you would never
: be able keep it pointed forward.

i meant a leash for the paddle not the yak

: this might work

: I tend to view theses as useless gimmicks that tend to capsize the boat and
: put a lot a stress on a paddle float rescue system. Learing proper
: technique is a better solution.

that is many pples point of view and the crux of many arguments of equipment vs technique. i just think that there are situations in which there is no technique or ability is compromised.

: Perhaps when resting, but not if you're going to be paddling. There are
: better ways of securing a paddle.

: I doubt that it would make much difference if you mounted it a few inches
: forward or aft of the cockpit.
the main part of the notion is having perimeter lines accessible by the paddler so that they can be manipulated, and used for some of these purposes. a few inches either way is ok for the idea. usually side floats have some horizontal dimension so some horizontal access to the line may move it closer by a few inches in this example.

: One thing that I've seen that does seem useful is built-in, recessed hand
: rails beside/behind the cockpit. Very few boats have these and AFAIK, none
: of them are built - or even available - in the US. It could be done on a
: wood boat, but I haven't seen it.

the same idea except rigid and recessed mount. so usual small or larger line and recessed mount, few more fittings? if others can grab my lines, why can't i?

the issue (as with all deck lines to a lesser degree) is the amount of disfunction they cause versus their usefullness. does one have slack lines that will grab or tight lines that wont or lines that can do both or lines that are raised that can grab or not raised that cant. or lines that will bug you near the cockpit or can be placed or manipulated so wont. and are there then advantages.

i just think there are possibilities.