I love my new boat, however the deck is quite hard to get off and this
makes me nervous. I am used to being lazy and just pulling the deck
release loop towards my body to get out. With my new deck I cannot do
this- I need to pull it towards the front of my boat with a reasonable
amount of force. Kneeing the deck off will not work as I can't get my
knees out

I figure if I attatch a length of webbing to the inside of the front of
my cockpit and make sure it is hanging outside the cockpit when I
attatch me deck this would solve the (potential) problem.

I figure a length of webbing (or maybe a loop) and just drill a hole
and bolt it through. Any issues? Will it make my deck leak? Will it
introduce a weakness into the hull causing it to split in half when I
use it? Will it jus rip off?

Comments appreciated...

p.s. I know the real solution is to roll, but I have currently mislaid
that ability. Plus I am a bit of an underwater panicker and need to get
out NOW and not faff about...

"ChipsCheeseandMayo" wrote in message
oups.com...
I love my new boat, however the deck is quite hard to get off and this
makes me nervous. I am used to being lazy and just pulling the deck
release loop towards my body to get out. With my new deck I cannot do
this- I need to pull it towards the front of my boat with a reasonable
amount of force. Kneeing the deck off will not work as I can't get my
knees out

I figure if I attatch a length of webbing to the inside of the front of
my cockpit and make sure it is hanging outside the cockpit when I
attatch me deck this would solve the (potential) problem.

I figure a length of webbing (or maybe a loop) and just drill a hole
and bolt it through. Any issues? Will it make my deck leak? Will it
introduce a weakness into the hull causing it to split in half when I
use it? Will it jus rip off?

Comments appreciated...

p.s. I know the real solution is to roll, but I have currently mislaid
that ability. Plus I am a bit of an underwater panicker and need to get
out NOW and not faff about...

The Inazone used to come with a webbing loop at the front of the cockpit
that does exaclty what you say. If you do pop rivit a loop to the front of
the cockpit rim, make sure to reinforce it with washers top and bottom, file
down the tip of the sheared rivet shaft, and I'd cover the rivet with
silicone sealant.

Plan B - buy a deck that fits a little looser.

My deck has a cross deck strap that I can tension to suit the width of the
cockpit. In a worst case scenario I can yank it and it will pull the deck
off from the sides of the cockpit.

Plab C, get some rolling practice in :-)

Ewan Scott

In message
"Ewan Scott" wrote:


"ChipsCheeseandMayo" wrote in message
oups.com...
I love my new boat, however the deck is quite hard to get off and this
makes me nervous. I am used to being lazy and just pulling the deck
release loop towards my body to get out. With my new deck I cannot do
this- I need to pull it towards the front of my boat with a reasonable
amount of force. Kneeing the deck off will not work as I can't get my
knees out

I figure if I attatch a length of webbing to the inside of the front of
my cockpit and make sure it is hanging outside the cockpit when I
attatch me deck this would solve the (potential) problem.

I figure a length of webbing (or maybe a loop) and just drill a hole
and bolt it through. Any issues? Will it make my deck leak? Will it
introduce a weakness into the hull causing it to split in half when I
use it? Will it jus rip off?

Comments appreciated...

p.s. I know the real solution is to roll, but I have currently mislaid
that ability. Plus I am a bit of an underwater panicker and need to get
out NOW and not faff about...

The Inazone used to come with a webbing loop at the front of the cockpit
that does exaclty what you say. If you do pop rivit a loop to the front of
the cockpit rim, make sure to reinforce it with washers top and bottom, file
down the tip of the sheared rivet shaft, and I'd cover the rivet with
silicone sealant.

Plan B - buy a deck that fits a little looser.

My deck has a cross deck strap that I can tension to suit the width of the
cockpit. In a worst case scenario I can yank it and it will pull the deck
off from the sides of the cockpit.

One of our club was unfortunate enough to get pinned, with the bow in the
air, and his body pinned flat on the back deck. He could just reach the
cross-strap and release the deck. He would still be there if the only
release had been at the far end of the cockpit.

Unfortunately such decks are getting hard to find.


Plab C, get some rolling practice in :-)

Ewan Scott



--
Alan Adams

http://www.nckc.org.uk/

i started with a long reply and got interupted.
If you secure a tennis ball to some webbing and duct tape that to the
inside of your cockpit , leave a trailing end out to the outside of the
cockpit taping it the you will have the same effect without damaging
the hull..a fast tug will pull the spray deck up and away from the
cockpit. i have a very good friend that had an identical problem with a
capella ( mine ) . the grab loop was tucked inside the cockpit ( big
oops ) and there was a cold water upset amongst rocks. he opted to bail
, mistake # 2. both boat and my friend were fine.
a tennis ball and webbing is less invasive and works better than a
fixed strap. it is an emergency only thing ( one use ) but works well
in classes too. i see you teach, so does my friend. he has this taped
this arrangement to a couple of his boats that may have tricky cockpits
and combings.
good luck cc & m
fiona.

ChipsCheeseandMayo wrote:
I love my new boat, however the deck is quite hard to get off and this
makes me nervous.

Not unreasonably! Faced with a similar problem a couple of years ago
when I supplemented my sea boat with a playboat that I could get my
existing deck on with a struggle, I threw some money at the problem and
bought a second, slightly larger deck. Problem solved.

p.s. I know the real solution is to roll

All very well saying that, but if you've lost your blades in surf or
whatever it can be a bit of a moot point.

Recently, at a training evening a pal was practicing rolls and it All
Went Horribly Wrong. Having missed a couple, George decides it's time
to eject, so he leans forward for the grab loop. Ooops, hasn't bled the
dry suit before zipping it up, can't physically get far enough forwards
to get a good hold on it, and it is a *tight* deck! Doesn't notice the
bow there for a rescue, and just before the coach was about to go under
himself to pull the paddler out the boat George decided it really was
Time To Leave, pulled up his knees and popped the deck by pushing out
with his feet. If you *need* to eject then you usually can (barring
being pinned by rocks/trees/whatever), but you might as well make it
easy for yourself with a deck that fits properly.

And if you're less nervous because your deck fits well and you know you
can easily get out then the presence of mind to get your roll in is
easier to come by.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

simple solution works with any kayak, length of webbing (e.g. roof rack
strap) round your waist underneath your spraydeck, next to dry suit
(whatever).
before snapping on spraydeck, lay trailing end of strap onto foredeck.
gets deck off every time. may be difficult to find, so refinement,
attach loose end to waist on outside.

for a cross deck release strap, attach a loop to existing grab loop, use
tape knot to form loop. see climbing knots book. then arrange cross loop
over apex of deck, under and over deck. crap explanation, simple
solution.


ChipsCheeseandMayo wrote:
I love my new boat, however the deck is quite hard to get off and this
makes me nervous. I am used to being lazy and just pulling the deck
release loop towards my body to get out. With my new deck I cannot do
this- I need to pull it towards the front of my boat with a reasonable
amount of force. Kneeing the deck off will not work as I can't get my
knees out

I figure if I attatch a length of webbing to the inside of the front of
my cockpit and make sure it is hanging outside the cockpit when I
attatch me deck this would solve the (potential) problem.

I figure a length of webbing (or maybe a loop) and just drill a hole
and bolt it through. Any issues? Will it make my deck leak? Will it
introduce a weakness into the hull causing it to split in half when I
use it? Will it jus rip off?

Comments appreciated...

p.s. I know the real solution is to roll, but I have currently mislaid
that ability. Plus I am a bit of an underwater panicker and need to get
out NOW and not faff about...


FlipFlopNick