Brian,
Just briefly reviewd the photographs from your web page. Very cool. Ah, so that's what sliders are. Good idea, and the wood compliments your nice boat. What's a throwing stick? I imagine you paddling about with a spear or something. I'll do more research on paddles...the website you posted as a reference is very informative on a number of kayak topics. Thanks again!

Yes, wrapping the kite line around the coaming would be a bad idea. I think you saved my life again! I can just see the headlines... "Wisconsin Kayaker strangled by kite string...found on Michigan shore line without boat."

Paddles...I'll give it more thought and take a look at the books giving instructions and plans...of course I could always buy a plastic cheapo...not. I don't get the guys (sorry guys, no offense) who go to all the trouble to make a beautiful wooden canoe or kayak, and then in the picture they've got these plastic paddles that look like they came off a rack at Dunham's Sporting Goods Store...though the plywood paddle I made for my wife (with the grain horizontal rather than verticle with the shaft) has a very "home-made" look to it (heavy too). They say those Greenland paddles, or the ones with the thin long blades, are better for rolling and bracing...is this true? You said it made no noticable difference in propulsion, but what about handling and rolling/bracing?
What do you think of the Bending Branches ergonomically bent kayak paddles? I picked one up and weilded it around the store...and it felt okay, but I was wondering how it would affect stroke, rolling and bracing. The price tag of any of the wooden paddles makes me think my wife's home made is much cooler...and the "For Sue, with love" inscription is a plus on the home front. What's next? Wait a second, I'll think of something else...or I'll make something up...that imagination thing mentioned earlier this week (See Another 12 step candidate).

Great website you have. Thanks for sharing your photos.

Bill

: Bill,

: Go to http://community.webshots.com/user/brian_nystrom and check out the
: albums on deck rigging and outfitting. You'll see what cords and sliders
: are. My experience is that bungee cord is largely useless, except for
: holding light items like a chart case, neoprene hood, etc. I won't trust
: it to secure my spare paddle or anything else critical.

: I've thought about using netting, but it's just not versatile enough. It
: doesn't hold stongly and you can't read a chart through it easily.

: I carry as little gear on deck as possible. Typically, it amounts to my spare
: paddle, chart case, 3mm neoprene hood and occasionally a GPS or throwing
: stick (if I feel like practicing rolls with it). Everything else I need is
: either on my person or inside the boat. I have a couple of deck bags (Seal
: Line and Dagger), but haven't used either in at least two years. I guess
: it's time to sell one...

: I mount my pumps either under the foredeck (lots of unused space there) or
: between the right cheek plate and the hull, depending on the boat. The
: paddle float is stored in bungee loops on the back of my backband or
: behind the left cheek plate. I rarely access these items unless I'm out of
: the boat, so I see no need to keep them on deck. Smaller items are either
: in my PFD pockets or in the day hatch.

: I agree that items on deck are vulerable to loss and I've seen (and been
: involved in) some pretty big "yard sales" in surf conditions.
: I've also seen and experienced what a liability that gear laden decks can
: be during rescues. Rescue training, more than any other experience,
: convinced me that when it comes to decks, clean is good.

: Bungee is far from ideal for paddle float rigging, as it stretches and allows
: the paddle to move around too much. It also goes slack over time and
: rapidly loses stength. I simply don't trust it for anything structural or
: critical.

: I've never used a drogue or a kite, but may try them someday. In either case,
: some type of quick release is mandatory.

: Wrapping anything around the coaming is a bad idea. If it pops off, it will
: end up around your body and possibly around your neck. No thanks.

: If you check out Webshots albums, you'll see that I don't use the standard
: 'box' rigging and I rig my boats in similar fashion. Making them identical
: can be difficult with commercial boats, since the number and location of
: deck fittings varies.

: My preference is for lower volume boats. Although I do go kayak camping
: occasionally, I don't find that I need the room of an
: "expedition" boat. Large hatches are nice for loading, but huge
: volume isn't necessary. Unless you're going on long trips and/or are
: forced to carry all of your fresh water, a "day boat" will
: probably suffice for camping, too.

: As you'll see from the pics, I'm a Greenland paddle user. I find no
: difference in my ability to move the boat vs. a euro paddle. I prefer the
: GP for it's versatility and ease of construction, among other things. A
: 'storm paddle" is simply a shorter version of a GP that's used with a
: sliding stroke. My storm paddle has the same length blades as my standard
: paddle, but the loom (shaft) between the blades is only 3" long. The
: point of the short paddle is that by sliding it back and forth on each
: stroke, you get the same thrust as a full size paddle, but there is no
: upper blade to catch the wind. I use mine mainly as a spare, since I don't
: find my full-length paddle to be a problem in wind and I feel more secure
: using it.

: If you go to www.qajaqusa.org , you'll find lots of info on GPs and other
: Greenland kayaking related gear and techniques.

: Phew! I think that's everything you asked. What's next?