: SAVE YOUR BACK PADDLING !!!
: tie a rope from the bow to the center of your paddle!!
: This way you dont have to twist your lower back paddling..... you
: just use a rowing motion !!! :)

- what a brilliantly simple idea! I must try it. Also the paddle stays within reach after a spill. I'm having trouble getting out of my kayak as I am putting on weight - it's a side effect of my arthritis medication; that's my story and I'm sticking to it - but the cord would probably help getting out of the cockpit whiile staying dry - the water's a bit too chilly for a dip right now.

: 1880's canoe /kayak sail rig. You erect a 5ft mast, then attach the
: sail to a 9 or 10ft spar . The spar has a ring in the middle
: that you hook over the top of the mast, then tie the spar to the
: bottom of the mast. You use your paddle for a leaboard. ((like a
: centerboard)). Sailing across the wind, moving the paddle
: forward of the sails center of effort causes the bow to turn
: upwind. moving the paddle aft causes the bow to turn downwind.

- I used a small sailing rig with a Bruce foil years ago. it was too small (only 12 sq ft) to make progress upwind but sailed well on a reach or downwind. It doesn't need a float to stay upright - there's an explanation of how it works on my blog at http://theancientkayaker.weebly.com/sailing-rigs-for-kayaks--canoes.html