Aloha! I’ve been incommunicado for the last couple of weeks. My wife Nancy and I went to Maui on a secret mission—to recon the highest sea cliffs in the world, located on Molokai, the Hawaiian island visible from our perch on the northwestern end of Maui, near Honolua Bay. You see, the Tsunami Rangers intend to paddle the coast of Molokai in two years on one of our retreats, and the island cliff landing spots are rough, full of rocks, wind, and waves.
Originally, I hoped to take a helicopter tour from Maui to Molokai, so I could get a good overview of the beautiful sea cliffs and scout a route. But a few days after our arrival on Maui, the very helicopter I intended to ride in crashed into a cliff in Molokai. That dimmed my enthusiasm for an aerial view. Instead, I just took pictures of the mountains of Molokai from the beach in Maui. Good enough.
SUPs Rule the Waters
So what to do? I checked out the small boat scene, hoping to paddle an OC2 with Nancy. It turns out that OCs (outrigger canoes) and surf skis are not for rent on Maui. At least, I could not find a place to rent one. However, stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) were everywhere and beginner’s boards could be rented for a mere $45 a day ($65 for speed or surfing SUPs). Jeez, what a deal. A $600 SUP could be rented for the same price as a $25,000 car. Somebody was sure making the big bucks.
There was no way I was going to get ripped off that badly, so I asked a sunburned touron if I could take a spin on his intermediate SUP. He was tired of paddling in circles so he magnanimously let me toddle around the bay, which was experiencing wind, currents, and surf from the storms of the past few days. Now, I’ve never paddled an SUP, so I promptly fell off when I first stood up. Undaunted by the choppy water, I kept trying and finally got the hang of it, but I did not break any speed records nor surf any significant waves.
The long-handled SUP paddles presented a dilemma. The dude I borrowed the board from said that you’re supposed to paddle it with the non-scoop side of the blade, which made no sense to me, as I’m used to maximizing scoop power (as in swimming the crawl stroke and your hand scoops the water as opposed to bulldozing it), but what do I know? So I tried using the paddle with what I’d deem the power face (the scoop, with the blade bent toward the paddler) and the way the guy said (the bulldozer, with the blade bent toward the bow). It turned out it worked either way, but I believe the scoop power face produced more speed. Maybe a reader can set me straight about the mechanics of the SUP forward stroke.
I counted about 20 SUPs a day for a total of 200. There were two of all other paddle-powered boats per day (that includes all plastic sit-on-tops [SOTs], inflatables, surf skis, OCs). That means SUPs outnumbered all other boats by a 10-to1 ratio. A year ago the ratio would have been the opposite. That’s how fast the SUP craze has swept the world.
The water and air temperatures were warm (75F and 81F respectively), so I didn’t expect boaters to wear wetsuits, and no one did. But guess how many wore PFDs? Zero. Guess how many had PFDs on board? Nada. Guess how many paddlers appeared competent? Maybe 11 of 220, or 1 in 20—and those were locals on surf skis, OCs and surfing SUPs. So much for water safety in Hawaii.
The Rest of the Visit
We don’t visit Hawaii for the nightlife (insert Don Ho joke here), and we’ve already done the requisite whale watching/catamaran sailing/snorkeling tour to Lanai, so mostly we spent our time relaxing, doing tai chi in the morning, body surfing, swimming and skin diving, and eating delicious Spam musubi and ahi poke.
We also walked around. On past trips to Maui we have hiked miles up the exquisitely beautiful Iao valley and through the desolate craters of Haleakala. This trip we strolled along the coast and watched waves crash into rocks. Every day we golfed—okay, we putted on an 18-hole course in bare feet with mai tais in hand. It could have been worse.
We also celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary (the actual reason for the trip) by enjoying a fabulous dinner at Maui’s finest restaurant, the Pineapple Grill at Kapalua. As you can see from the photos, we had a great time in Maui, as we always do on any of the islands of Hawaii. This winter would be a perfect time for YOU to visit these heavenly isles.
What do you think of Hawaii? Is it still paradise? Please feel free to add your thoughts by pressing the “comments” button below. Mahalo for your kokua.
Hi Eric & Nancy,
Looks like you stayed at the Napili Kai, from the look of the big putting green. My house is just south of Kapalua in Kahana. If you are planning on more recon of the Molokai cliffs, you are welcome to stay at my place next time you are going to Maui. Friends stay for a very low amount. I have several good recommendations for other hikes on the island, and some of my favorites spots are at the extreme north end, where the blow hole and olivine pools are located, along the way to Kahakaloa village and Elephant Mountain. I’ll send pics if you want. Chet
Hey Chet, it’s good to hear from you. Thanks for the compliment:) Also, thanks for the offer – we’ll probably take you up on it one of these days. We’re thinking of taking our daughter, son-in-law, new granddaughter, and son to Maui in a few years. Our granddaughter is less than a year old so we want to wait til she’s a little older, but your house could be a great place for a family vacay. I’d love to see pics. We love that side of Maui. It’s our favorite! And yes, we did stay at the Napili Kai. I went there for the first time in 1983 and we went there after Eric’s first 2 surgeries in Jan of 2004 to get him started on the recuperation process. When we first got there he could barely dog paddle. After 10 days, he was swimming Napili Bay in laps!
P.S.- Very cute picture of Nancy in the dress; you – not so much.
Aloha, Eric! Regarding the correct use of the angled SUP blade, from your description, it’s not clear if you were actually doing it correctly, or not (you tried it both ways), but the blade is designed to angle AWAY from the paddler during the forward stroke; the reason for the angle is to maximize the time the blade is in a vertical aspect during the power phase of the stroke. Got it? This type of angled canoe paddle has been used in canoe racing for decades; it was originally created by the late, great Jene Jensen of canoe racing fame (http://www.jensencanoes.com/Conversation.htm).
The first SUP paddles to be mass produced were made by Kialoa of Bend, Oregon (http://www.kialoa.com/about-us/kialoa-story.html); Laird Hamilton had a connection with them through his pal Gerry Lopez (who lives in Bend, and SUPs all over the world now). Due to Kialoa’s outrigger canoe roots, they adopted the racing canoe paddle with the bent shaft. Here is a short but informative video from Quickblade, they make excellent SUP paddles (founder Jim Terrell was an Olympic canoe sprinter): http://youtu.be/1ANelSnn0y8
All you need to know about SUP! (;-) And now for a confession. I became an ACA SUP Level II certfiied instructor last month. There is a lot to like about SUP, and one of the things I love about it is that it’s still very much evolving, and even the ACA recognizes that. Nothing is set in stone yet about it (other than basic safety issues). But, good technique is still good technique. One more thing: I really love surfing SUPs, more than paddling in flat water. These are surf boards, in essence, are they not? You will find it interesting to learn that I’m not crazy about the angled blade for surfing, and it’s funny to me that it has been adopted wholesale by the SUP industry. It turns out that for corrective strokes like cross draws, steering, and slicing strokes, the angle interferes with technique – which is why I never liked an angled canoe paddle when sitting in the back seat of a canoe. So, I just bought my first SUP paddle, a Werner Carve; the angle is minimal (less than 8%), it has a scoop shape to the blade, and it’s designed primarily for surfing.
Mahalo nui loa. -Kenny
Thanks for the SUP paddle clarification, Kenny. Were I to take up SUPing, I would probably opt for the scoop-shaped blade with the 8% angle. And congrats on your SUP certification.
Aloha Eric!
I sure had a great chuckle reading about your water experience and observations on Maui. Having grown up there (Oahu) from grade school to U. of Hawaii and then lots of months over the last 45 years (crikey I’m getting long in the tooth!), it was so funny to hear a malahini’s viewpoint!
For SUP paddling the guy was right–the blade angles to the nose of the board. I believe that bent style was developed by the Tahitians, who are masters at sprinting outrigger canoes, and they also changed the shape of the blade (not just angle) many decades ago. (Now, don’t ask me about the physics?!)
And about pfd’s….no way bruddah! There is a totally different and locally universal outlook from these warm water users (right or wrong), as compared to the east or west coast of the U.S. or Canada regarding flotation devices (or around much of the world)!! Even paddling across the Molokai Channel in the classic open water, inter-island surf ski race no one wore a pfd. I was the only one who even thought about it in 1990, and the most I did was to install shock cord onto the front deck of my ski for a pfd placement. However, my assist man–the guy who jumps off the escort boat and waits in the water with the change of water bottle–couldn’t be found for some minutes by my escort boat on the first change, I gave the pfd to him to wear, even though he had fins on! I won’t get into discussion if all the water users in Hawaii–beginner or expert–are right or wrong in this, but it is certainly universal there.
I carry a pfd when I’m kayaking there but only wear it if I’m surfing with the kayak. I’ve never worn a pfd board surfing (as no one does around the world), but on rare occasion I will wear a Gath helmet. Hope this doesn’t get too many folks all worked up?! Perspectives are often different from different paddling areas in the world.
Thanks Mark, for the info on SUP paddle angles.
As for wearing PFDs, it doesn’t matter to me, that’s for sure. I consider it a personal choice. I would add that it should be a considered choice and not done thoughtlessly. I know that most Hawaiian boaters and surfers are outstanding water wizards, and the water is warm there. I guess it’s the malahini I worry about. Many, especially on the SUPs, could barely propel themselves. I wonder, if the wind had its way with them and they ended up in the middle of the channel, if they would be up to the long swim.
What a wonderful way to celebrate 15 years of partnership…congrats to you and Nancy! I haven’t been to the islands in 20 years and I remember Maui as being very touristy, though fun. I much preferred Kauai and the stunning views and hikes. Thank you for reminding me of the importance of leaving home and going out to explore new digs!
Thank you, Stephanie. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our partnership.
As for Maui being very touristy, I would agree. I’ve found it to be about the same tourist-wise as Kauai, less so than Oahu, and way more than Molokai or the Big Island, once you leave Kona. What I’ve found on Maui and all the Hawaiian Islands, is that it doesn’t take much to get away from the crowds. For example, if you walk 1/2 mile up the creek in the Iao valley on Maui, there is no one; you have it all to yourself. When I hiked across Kilauea crater, I was alone. When Nancy and I went to the prehistoric bog on the top of Molokai, no one was there. Even on Oahu, you can find peace if you know where to go. Of course, once you are more than a hundred yards offshore anywhere in Hawaii, you will be far from the madding crowds.
I just have one thing to say about pfd’s – when I first started wearing one I found it made it a lot harder to get back in my SOT. It caught on the rail. I had to kick a lot harder, and it made me tired. On the other hand, it would have been good padding when I crashed into a cliff. Regardless, I can’t imagine wearing one in Hawaii – too hot!!! And whatever disasters occur with all the pfd-less tourists in the islands, I bet the majority of them won’t have anything to do with lack of a flotation device.
Enjoyed your article and photos, Eric and Nancy. You two look great and I know how much your stay there means to you both! Congratulations on your anniversary as well!
I love the waters of Maui and hope to go back soon – February?
Eric, sounds like you two had a great trip. I lived on Kaua’i from 1996 to 1999 and not a single day goes by that I don’t think of the island and miss it, from the warm waters to the lush forests to the orange hues of Waimea and Koke’e canyons.
I never wore a PFD when I lived on Kaua’i. However, a PFD can make the difference for visitor who might otherwise panic if they fell out of a boat. When I lived on Kaua’i, it seemed that most of the drownings were people who panicked.
Hi Eric,
Congrats to you and Nancy on your 15th anniversary. Gentility and ease are part of this time in life and you make it look so doable. Congrats also, on living so well frugally…aka screw those SUP and kayak entrepreneurs/fleecers. Next time properly announce your arrival: Surely, they will extend promotional rates for the TR Commander and his lady! Thanks for helping Saundra and I locate our next adventure. Neither of us have been to Hawaii, so our first time may well come early next year. Looking for deals now. Re: SUPs, we tried them out here in Colorado on flat water and while not having much trouble making the rigs go, I really started missing kayaking on the “wavy gravy” of the PNW. SUPs may be the big craze, but the masses rarely savor and appreciate the really fine things in life like paddling a narrow sea kayak….while wearing all the protective gear. Avoid the crowds! Thanks for the great post!
Cheers, Dale
Thanks, Dale. If you decide to go to Kauai, be sure to look up Micco and Chino Godinez, who own Kayak Kauai. Tell em’ I sent you and they’ll give you the best deal they can on kayaking equipment. They also do kayaking tours, including the Napali Coast!
Just so you know, each island has its own special charms. So do your homework first to see which would be best for you. And, if you are smart and end up with a place with a kitchen, that will save you mucho $. We always try to get a studio; it’s cheaper by far. Of course, camping is the cheapest!
Eric, congratulations to you and Nancy on your 15th anniversary; that’s a wonderful milestone and worthy of great celebration. Looks like you did a great job of it on Maui. In fact, such a great job that I was thinking of suggesting that you continue the celebration now that you’re back stateside. Then I realized that would be a silly suggestion because your lives together are a daily celebration of your love for each other. Two peas in a pod. Gives me hope.
As Kenny pointed out, a bent blade allows the power face to remain in a vertical orientation for a longer period of time when doing a forward stroke. The way I was taught to visualize the advantage it gave the paddler was that by remaining vertical, it improved the efficiency of the stroke because the paddle blade was not “lifting water” and pulling the canoe downwards in the water towards the end of each stroke, as is the case with a traditional paddle. When that SUP paddle you were holding was oriented with the blade tip facing towards you, it was much less efficient that using a straight blade because it reduced the amount of time that the blade was vertical. If you think about it in terms of the scooped paw (or clawpaw in Andy’s case) used by swimmers, the crawl stroke initially provides zero forward momentum but gains in efficiency as it progresses from horizontal to vertical.
The whole PFD question is very, very interesting. I’m hard line on PFDs, but Mark Hutson’s comments caused me to belatedly focus on the fact that no surfer would ever be caught dead or alive wearing a PFD. I chuckle ever time I try to visualize it. Obscures the upper part of a bikini, makes it a bitch to lie prone on the board, harder to go under waves, to swim etc. Of course, surfers are, by definition, very comfortable swimming in surf. If the touron can swim back to shore, no problem. Ditto the sea kayaker. If a swimmer becomes exhausted, however, a PFD permits that person to rest a bit without drowning. The Molokai Channel race? If I had an escort boat close at hand, I might be fairly comfortable without my PFD. But with no escort, no way. There’s obviously a no-PFD tradition in Hawaii, and it probably had its sensible genesis in surfing; whether it was a good idea to extend it to all watersports there is debatable.
Moulton…you know I had never even considered the problem of the upper part of a woman’s bikini being obscured by a pfd. Hmmm….maybe that could be a problem for some of us guys? (Do I need to be ducking…anyone starting to throw tomatoes at me?)
Anyway, regarding the Molokai channel race; yes, each and every surf ski paddler had to have his own escort boat. I wouldn’t have been out there if that wasn’t the case! Plus, I had a leg leash to my surf ski. I did not want to ever be separated from it if I came off….escort boat or not (conditions were on average 6-10 ft quartering swells and 25+ knot winds–so lots of surfing with the ski–such an outstanding experience!). If I ever did it again–not likely since I’m in my 60’s–I would likely wear an inflatable pfd just for extra insurance if things went truly wrong, and hell, I’d probably be ridiculous and stash a PLB on me!
Regarding folks using rentals in Hawaii, (not anything I’d be interested in doing so this is only theoretical thinking as my sea kayak business in New Zealand is only guided multi-day tours), but if I was renting out SUPs and sit on tops, I would supply and insist on renters wearing pfds. I think it’s a whole different issue with tourons renting gear, compared to genuinely experienced paddlers, SUP users, etc. when it comes to using the pfd. As Eric mentioned earlier, he felt it should be a personal choice and I completely agree. For paddling in easy conditions and in warm water I likely will not wear it, but I always have it easily available on the front deck of my kayak under bungee cords. With a SUP, the fact that one uses a leg leash, to me suffices for flotation as one presumably won’t get separated from the board (same with board surfing–although I do have a friend from high school days on Oahu who goes “old style” and doesn’t wear a leg leash, and yes he can swim like a dolphin and rarely ever looses his board, as he never quit surfing from 50 years ago–da bruddah is in shape!).
Hey Moulton, I was just chatting with Tsunami Ranger John Dixon about angled canoe paddles and he said he could make me blade with an adjustable angle! So, when I want the more efficent angle for a powerful forward stroke, I push a button on the shaft, and BOOM – it goes from straight to 10% angle! And when I want to go back to straight for corrective/steering only strokes, push the button again and Bob’s Your Uncle!
So, guess what: some big wave surfers wear life jackets. It increases their buoyancy during life-threatening hold-downs. Look at videos of guys doing tow-in at Jaws in Maui and you’ll see why a PFD would be your best friend. The reasons why surfers DON’T wear life vests except in extreme situations is: 1) it inhibits duck-diving under the wave – a necessary technique for getting out through shore break. 2) it inhibits good paddling technique, no matter how minimal or comfortable the fit. 3) they don’t have to – federal law in the US doesn’t require life vests in the surf zone. Surfers are classified as “bathers”, and bathers don’t need to wear life vests. Once you transit out of the surf zone, a life vest is required. I think persons 14 years and under must wear the life vest in most cases. Local ordinances may vary.
In Hawaii, paddlers on SUPs or kayaks or canoes that do not have a Coast Guard approved floatation device are in violation of federal law. You don’t have to wear it, but it has to be on board. Whatever.
The Coast Guard grants us an exemption for having a floatation device on board our canoes and surfskis during the Molokai Solo race if we have an escort boat.
You have to give credit to rowers for convincing the Coast Guard some years ago that the oar is a Type III floatation device. Rowers have good lawyers!
Aloha,
-Kenny
Mahalo to Moulton, Mark and Kenny for such thoughtful insight re paddle blades and PFDs in Hawaii. I was wondering if a long, straight shaft and blade in a Greenland or Aleut-style single blade would work well on an SUP. Anyone know?
As for the SUP providing its own flotation (it seemed they all had ankle leashes), I would say that makes sense. I wore a leash when I paddled the SUP. The problem would arise in surf. You go head over heels and your leashed SUP whacks you in the nose as you come to the surface. Ouch. Or, in surf, you mess up and your leash entangles around your throat. I don’t know; maybe I’m wrong. Anyone know?
Eric,
Regarding leashes…of course anything can be remotely possible, but surfers don’t worry about leash/neck entanglement, and I’ve never heard of that happening (I’m not saying it hasn’t but I’d say it’s remote enough that it’s just not factored in). It’s probably one of those “1 in 2 million” things?
Leashes are the accepted norm for both surfboards and SUPs. Now about the board coming at you due to your leash rebounding the board….unfortunately yes, that can and does happen, but infrequently. All board surfers protect face and head when coming to the surface after a wipeout–or should if they’re not. It’s more or less an accepted part of the risk, I would say.
However, to make a comparison…I never, ever wear my paddle leash on a kayak when kayak surfing (I rarely use it anyway, but I do in “kick ass” open water conditions only). So, somehow, the dynamics seem different and therefore a different approach is required for safety for those separate activities–even though they are in the same environment. I would comment that novice logic won’t necessarily lead one to the correct conclusion?!
Dr. Soares,
I think a long, narrow traditional kayak blade shape would work well as a SUP paddle (single blade). The word among the paddle manufacturers is that the narrower SUP paddles allow a higher cadence stroke – which is what I like for catching waves. Some SUP racers prefer the narrow blades, too. We’re going to see a lot of innovation in everything about SUP in the coming years, it’s really just getting started.
Surf boards in the surf can be hazardous to the surfer, no doubt about it! Every surfer has a story of an injury, or a close encounter with razor sharp glass fins slicing an appendage, or the nose of the board nearly taking an eye out as the leash causes it to recoil into your face. I had a buddy in high school that nearly died when his board recoiled on the stretched-out leash and slammed into his arm, openeing up an artery. It’s a bloody shop of horrors out there! I am amazed more accidents don’t happen at every surf break every day. I tried to make August wear a Gath surf helmet when he joined the Half Moon Bay middle school surf team, but he claimed it interfered with his surfing, and it made him feel like a total kook. No kids wear helmets in the surf, and never will unless forced to by some kook organization. Surfers will risk being maimed and drowned before they are made to look un-cool.
The leash is a sometimes controversial piece of equipment, but most surfers couldn’t live without it – me included. I’ve been experimenting with a coiled leash designed for SUPs, but I’ve come to like it less and less in the surf, and have been tangled up in awkward ways in the whitewater. Surfers typically use a non-coiled leash which is not too elastic, and I think it’s less likely to tangle around body parts.
Since almost every ride ends in a wipeout more or less, where you either fall off the board or have to jump off, soft-boards present an enticing alternative to hard epoxy boards. I know I avoided a lot of bruising and battering by learning to surf on a soft-top SUP, and as soon as I “upgraded” to an epoxy board, I nearly broke my hand in a small wipeout. The key is to always fall AWAY from the board…Nothing to it, right?
-Kenny
Howdy Kenny (maybe we’ll meet one day?)…
Anyway, I’ve been using a coiled leash on my SUP (in Australia), and I’m coming to the conclusion that I don’t like it, so I think your instinct on that minute point is correct. I consider myself a novice SUPer (maybe 30 or so times on flat water with or without wind, and 15 or so times out in the surf), so I’m still on a big learning curve. And, I think your also right that it will be evolving big time in the next years to come. By crikey, it’s a demanding activity that takes heaps of concentration in side winds or in the surf, but then that is probably it’s reward! I hope to get more time in on it (although I’m in New Zealand for the summer and without a SUP), as it’s great for the core muscles, which at 61, I need it!
Well, Mark, I see no shame in admiring the beauty of the female form; if we get tomato-splattered for it, so be it. Come to think of it, you yourself publicly confessed, in an earlier post, to gleefully participating in topless rescues during some phase of your feckless youth. Every young, male lifeguard’s dream, no doubt. Thousands aspire, but Fortuna grants few such blessings. A cautionary note to everyone on leg leashes: a cold water surfski fatality occurred in early October on Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota when a well-known paddler’s leg leash broke and his boat blew away. He was actually wearing a 3mm Farmer John and a PFD, but that wasn’t enough. He needed a VHF and a light, preferably a strobe. Your buddah is a good example of swimmer first, surfer second. Hard to say enough good things about physical fitness and stamina in these outdoor sports.
Kenny, you are an amazing font of knowledge. I’d never noticed those PFDs on the surfers at Jaws, but I tend to put my hands over my eyes during the scary parts and Jaws is wicked scary. Everyone draws the line somewhere. For me, it’s domestic: I never wear my PFD in the shower. On the novel concept of oar as PFD: That exemption has “ain’t gonna happen to me” written all over it. I don’t wince anymore when I see the large multi-person shells sans PFD, but I do when I see a solo rower on cold water. We lose one on the Potomac every once in a while. It’s not that they’re blissfully unaware that the water is cold; they already know that. I think it’s that they “aren’t planning on capsizing” and also no clue what will actually happen should they fall in. Most people don’t. I co-authored a cold water safety article way back in 1985 that appeared in Rowing USA magazine. In retrospect, I’m surprised they published it. If they aren’t gonna wear PFDs, no way in hell are they gonna wear a wetsuits or drysuits. Takes a major wake-up call like half a dozen deaths in a single incident & subsequent lawsuits to change attitudes like that.
By the way, what’s up with sea kayakers wearing paddle leashes but not boat tethers? Hell, most folks have got a spare paddle, but nobody’s got a spare boat… I had mine blow away in gnarly conditions once and that was more than enough for me.
Moulton,
We could stand together on any of the tomatoeing we are at risk of…good on ya mate! Anyway, regarding paddle leashes…my thought has always been that it’s primary function is to keep control of my boat should I become a swimmer out in open water (never use them in the surf!). It’s also useful secondarily to keep the paddle managed when fishing or photographing and one is not holding onto it. But my main safety thought for using one was to keep my boat from getting away if I “come a cropper” (wet exit) because I somehow failed my brace, then failed my roll, then additionally failed to hang onto the boat as I wet exited, and then (for god sake) didn’t react quick enough to grab it. This unfortunate sequence (very possible for a scared novice) would be unlikely for me given my background (hope this doesn’t sound like being a “so and so”?!), but I feel better–more prepared if you will–if I know that I have some backup system/gear to augment (not replace) my skills. I guess underneath it all I realize that one day I may end up in a situation where, for some reason. all skills fail me, and I end up paying the big price if I haven’t got some other methods to help me (paddle leash, paddle float, appropriate clothing for immersion, waterproof radio, etc., etc.).
Yes, tow in surfers often wear specially designed pfds for that kind of surfing. But, one has to remember that they are not duck diving through the sets to get out!! There is a huge difference with “paddle in” surfing vs “tow in” surfing and with what each activities priorities are.
Another case in point on leashes that let their owners down…the honorable Kiwi expedition paddler Paul Caffyn recently told me that he had a bad swim while out wave skiing in his normal surf spot. It came down to the fact that his leash broke, so his conclusion (because we were talking about leashes and pfds for SUPs) was that SUP paddlers in the surf should possibly also have pfds as back up to their leash. He said he wished he had been wearing more floatation because his wetsuit was not giving him what he needed. His point was that perhaps SUP paddlers should also have pfds in case their leash broke and were faced with a dangerous swim. My thought was simply that the real problem was that his leash–and he admitted this–was old and probably UV damaged, and that it should have long before been replaced. So, in my opinion, it was really a matter of gear maintenance, rather than coming to the conclusion to use additional safety systems.
Now I gotta say that for wave ski or kayak surfing, I’m in favour of both pfds and helmets but only leashes and no pfds for SUP surfing or surfboards (helmet optional). And, oddly enough, leashes for wave skis but not for sit in (cockpitted) kayaks. And I couldn’t give anyone a totally convincing argument on this…it’s more my gut feeling?!
Given a choice between paddle leash and boat leash, Mark, I’d pick boat leash every time. I agree with you about old gear. The Michigan report was a little vague, but it seems that the velcro failed, whatever that means. It broke or was not securely closed, I guess.
We did some pretty pushy stuff back in the day before cell phones and VHFs, but I’m no Luddite. First new item of gear I purchased was a VHF. It works a lot better than my tweety whistle. Prior to that I had a waterproof housing for my cell phone and the Baltimore Sector Coast Guard emergency number programmed for 1 push. I have to admit, though, that carting around all this safety gear takes a bit of getting used to. Radios, knives, PFDs, cold water gear, hoods, gloves, tethers, floats, tow rigs, stirrups, flares, strobes, and more besides. Crikey, you’d think we were going on an expedition! Still, I’d rather have it than wish I’d had it…
I don’t know how this little post on Maui morphed into this huge discussion on blades, PFDs, leashes, and safety equipment, but it’s very interesting. Mahalo.
I’m hep on all the new-fangled equipment (SUPs, for instance, even though Hawaiians used them centuries ago), but every piece of equipment must work when needed. If the velcro comes loose or the leash is UV-damaged or the coiled leash whiplashes or the VHF gets corroded inside and doesn’t work, etc., that is bad. Part of the equation is equipment testing and maintenance, but the other part is the likelihood of Murphy sneaking in there and making things break out of the blue. That’s why I lean toward simplicity. Ancient Hawaiians stood on a log and used a stick for a paddle. Russian river rafters lash boards and inner tubes together and go down class 5 rapids. Keep it simple and fewer things can go wrong. I hope.
Speaking of equipment, for everyone following this thread, next Monday I will post an essay on sea kayaking armor. Yes, ARMOR. So stay tuned.
Hey Eric & Nancy, sounds like you had a great trip! Especially the part about just hanging around and relaxing. I’ve only been to Hawaii once, many years ago. I went to Kauai and hiked the Na Pali coast trail, then the big Island. It was definitely a paradise.
Funny how these discussions morph into different topics. Since leashes came up, I’ll give my two cents. In general it makes total sense for surfers to use them. But I would never have one on a kayak in the surf. The difference is a kayak is much heavier (especially if swamped) than a surf board and you don’t want to be tangled in a leash tied to the kayak when tumbling around in the surf zone. In fact, it’s best to get away from the kayak when swimming in the surf, just the opposite of what you want to do in open water, which is hang onto the kayak!
In open water I’ll sometimes use a paddle leash in strong wind. By paddle leash, I mean having the paddle leashed to the boat, not my wrist. That way I can’t lose the paddle and if I do capsize, miss my roll, and exit the kayak, I can hang onto either the boat or the paddle and not lose either. Speaking of hanging on to the boat, here’s a little-know fact: When exiting a closed-deck kayak (‘m speaking of open water, not being ripped out of the boat in surf), there is no reason whatsoever to let go of the boat. You simply hang onto the cockpit rim with one hand, as you release the sprayskirt and calmly exit. And yes, even in the most powerful wind storm, you can do this easily. I realize a total novice will not do it, though. So you have to practice it a few times and always INTEND to hang on. As usual, panic is the enemy. With a sit-on-top kayak it’s a bit more difficult because there isn’t a cockpit to hang onto. So a paddle leash is perhaps more important with a sit-on-top.
Mark & Mouton, what exactly do you mean by paddle leash vs boat leash? As I said, I like a leash, one of those springy coiled leashes (like an old fashioned phone cord), that connects the paddle to the boat. I would never want to leash my body to a kayak.
Granted, no leash in surf. My experience: Tide race. February, mouth of Delaware Bay. I was hanging on to my cockpit coaming with both hands and was maybe 1/3 back in on a reenter & roll when the boat was knocked out of my paws by a wave that hit from behind. Boat blew away. Water temp mid 30’s F. Long swim, bad scene. Thankful, very thankful, for drysuit. For me, being attached to the boat with a short, stout tether (leash, whatever) is a much higher priority than being attached to the paddle. I have a spare paddle on deck, but not a spare boat.
Eric, it morphs because we’re all SK junkies, like to share info, & your blogge is just too much fun; way too many nice mates. Happy Thanksgiving.
Okay, I’m intrigued by John’s question about the leash/tether topic. So Moulton, are you saying that you attach YOURSELF to your boat with a tether of some sort? How? If so, do you attach the tether to the back of your PFD or what? Is it quick release? Does the tether interfere with paddling? I’m trying to envision the scene. Would you tether yourself to the boat in surf, where you are likely to get separated from your kayak? How long would the tether be? How do you deal with entanglement issues?
If this is not what you are talking about, just ignore all these dumb questions. Mahalo.
Um, yeah, Eric. Even though seeing “yourself” above in all caps makes me a wee bit nervous, I publicly confess that I do indeed attach myself to my kayak. And yeah, I also attach my paddle to my wrist. Both leashes are quite short, quick-release, don’t interfere with paddling, and I’ve never had any problems with entanglement.
The “would I tether in surf” question is a little bit harder for me to answer. All of my kayak surfing has been on East Coast beaches, with some tide races, inlets and offshore shoals thrown in for good measure. I never used the boat tether when surfing breaks close to the beach, but I’d want to be attached in any situation in which losing my boat would be problematic. The recent Lumpy Waters symposium incident comes to mind. It was pretty epic, and revolved around a paddler sans boat in the surf-zone on an ebb tide.
Getting back into SK after a long leave of absence, there’s a lot of new gear that I have no experience using, so I can’t really speak to how it works under field conditions. That said, the length of the phone cord type leashes makes me nervous. I also have no experience paddling ocean rock gardens. For those, I’d use whatever you do and paddle with good, reliable mates.
I suspect that most of the safety systems that we now use have their genesis in real-life situations. My boat tether is no different. I’ve never experienced a more unsettling situation in SK than watching my boat blow away, It took a long time to swim to shore, compounded by an ebb tide and the fact that the backstroke was the only one I was able to use in very cold water and rough conditions. Although I was toasty warm when I finally made shore, it was a pretty nasty swim that I have no intention of ever repeating. However, if I felt I was going to get really thrashed staying clipped into my boat, I’d unclip.
For anyone in need of a good soporific, details of both leashes are below:
The boat leash (I call it a tether, can’t remember why) is one that I made using a 40 inch length of 9 mm marine-grade elastic, the kind sold at marine shops. It has a closed loop at one end and a carabiner-type brass clip on the other. I attach the loop-end to a tightening strap on the right side of my PFD by threading the clip through the loop. The other end clips into a solid stainless-steel ring that can move freely back and forth across the foredeck because it’s threaded on a length of 9 mm climbing rope attached to my deck lines. When attached, the length overall is 30 inches, and will stretch an additional 2.5 inches. It doesn’t interfere with a reenter and roll, but it’s too short for a boat-to-boat rescue, so in that instance, I would have to unclip and then possibly re-clip into a deck line, depending on conditions. I think a better design would have clips on both ends.
My paddle leash, designed back in the day by my clever old paddling partner Brian Price, is made from 6 mm elastic, with a 3 inch diameter loop on one end (for me wrist) and a loop and toggle attachment -that I can’t describe in under 4 pages- on the other. The distance from shaft to wrist is 12 inches. When it’s attached to the paddle shaft, it’s snug but can be moved along the shaft to accommodate hand position. If I want to “park” it, I clip the wrist loop into a small biner on a deck line. It takes a bit of getting used to, but in short order, like a PFD, it becomes familiar and disappears.
Thanks for the good description, Moulton. Having had to rescue people who have lost their boats, I know I have wished they would not have let them blow away. A leash would have been good.
If I were far out at sea, (say midway to Hawaii with Ed Gillet) I might tether my paddle to my boat and possibly myself to my boat (as you described). In surf, even if I had come out of my boat in a place such as the Lumpy Waters scenario with waves and current, I would not tether myself to boat or paddle, nor would I tether my paddle to my boat or me. One can get out of current such as rip tides and river mouths by swimming perpendicular to the current until you are out. It can be a difficult swim, but it is preferable to possible entanglement in surf AND outgoing current.
To me, and this is just me, my fear of entanglement outweighs any benefits of attachment, such as saving your boat. But as always, it’s a personal choice. It sounds like you have thought yours through, and that is good.
For long open water crossings and such things as solo storm paddling where offshore winds would be catastrophic if there were a boat separation, tethering has some advantages as a redundancy to correct, proficient boat exiting (per John’s note). I typically rely on my paddle leash which keeps me connected to my kayak even if I bail and my grip on the cockpit fails, etc., as long as I’m holding onto the paddle shaft. I’ve had my kayak blow away in Force 8/9 seas – it evades grasp within micro-seconds and required a long, cold swim back to shore. I did lose my paddle once for a few moments on a rafted-up break in gale conditions off the Storm Islands a few years back: the Velcro on the shaft attachment pulled free while the paddle lay parallel beside me while attending to hydration needs and an incapacitated mate. I was really shocked, realizing how prone relied-upon gear can fail at critical moments. I was able to dog paddle over, grab the paddle, and right myself again – but have practiced that skill for decades.
I seem to remember a failed re-enter and roll off Trial Island decades ago with a shaft breakage event. I was tethered boat-to-person in the tidal/storm conflict and eventually re-entered just prior to the CG showing up (I did not call them) interfering with my measured self-reliance outcome. I think Chris at SK Magazine consulted with you on the article I wrote as the story seemed a bit outlandish at first blush (you had bailed from an Iceflow decked kayak in San Fran Bay, so were aware of the dynamics). In fact, there was an entanglement as well as difficulty forward swimming once underway as the connection point was amidships, making the kayak a fractioned, perpendicular drag. I’ve since configured my body leash to connect to the bow of the kayak, allowing for better forward swimming while the decked kayak is in tow. I wrote an article for SK on the merits and demerits of tethering. These days I just stay in the kayak. For heavy offshore rock gardening I still tether. For closer, tighter inshore work and surf, never. Ranger equipment recovery and rescues are based on differing set of values, swimming skills, body protection, and tighter buddy system. I use a differing back-up system. No warm-water dolphins over here to get a ride home from…
Interesting discussion. I agree that it’s a personal choice and this is somewhat of a gray area. I do know that Bonnie Brill would have been in serious trouble if she had been tethered to her Tsunami X-1 when she capsized in surf at the mouth of a river on an ebb tide. The X-1 was dashed repeatedly against the rock cliff when it was cycled back and forth between the outgoing current and the incoming breakers. By the time we finally rescued the kayak, after I gave Bonnie a ride in on my rear deck, the kevlar boat was broken in HALF, only held together by the rudder cables. Bonnie was in trouble anyway, because the current was carrying her out to sea. If she had known to swim perpendicular to the current, she could have done that and then body surfed in, but it would have been quite a swim. Still better than being entangled with that boat.
I often paddle on the open sea in areas where swimming to shore is not an option (like outside the Golden Gate on an ebb tide, for one example). I rarely use any kind of leash, but as I said I’ve learned to hang on to the boat if I ever have to exit. I don’t find that at all difficult, even in difficult conditions. It’s actually easy to exit and keep one leg in the cockpit if you want to. I do like a paddle leash (paddle leashed to the boat) when fishing or when paddling in very strong wind.
You have to do what you know works for you. The important thing is to understand the importance of NOT losing contact with your kayak when out at sea, under any circumstances.
And there lies the rub…paddlers invoking equipment solutions like tethers in lieu of proficiency skills and practice in actual conditions.
http://www.seakayakermag.com/Resources/Feb00_Lloyd_Tethers.pdf
Doug Lloyd
Thanks for the article Doug! I remember reading it when that came out, and thinking, “This guy has really come untethered”. Just kidding! Seriously, it’s the definitive article on kayak tethers. I’m going to print it for my files since the magazine issue blew out to see long ago…
-Kenny
Yes, and there lies the rub. I opt for the proficiency skills and practice in actual conditions over equipment solutions, but proper equipment is essential. I mean, we wouldn’t be kayaking if we didn’t have a paddle and boat. But how much more do we need? That is the eternal question….
At the risk of going off on a tangent (I guess we’ve already done that), safety equipment can be a sort of two-edged sword. When you’ve tested it and know how to use it and have it as a backup to ‘first line of defense’ skills, then it’s fine. And I’m quite sure that’s how Moulton and the rest of us in this discussion use, or don’t use, a paddle leash.
But all too many paddlers go out and buy the latest or the most well-known pieces of safety equipment (leashes, radios, paddle floats, flares, you name it), stash them in the boat, never really test them out, often don’t really know how to use the item(s), and then simply assume they can rely on this equipment for their safety. “Hey, if I get in trouble, I’ll just pull out that marine radio and call the Coast Guard!”
I may be overstating this a bit, but it’s something to consider whenever adding a piece of safety equipment to your kit. Be sure you know how to use it and it’s limitations. End of lecture. 🙂
I firmly believe there’s no substitute for skills honed by lots of practice in real-world conditions. A lot of good and interesting points have been made in this discussion, and in the end it really does boil down to a personal decision. As for me, I stand with Doug Lloyd on tethers.
My incident happened in the mid 90’s, when I had a very solid reenter and roll and used a nylon skirt so that I could wet-exit through the tube and leave the skirt on the boat. My reenter and roll was under 20 seconds from start to finish and I never had more than an inch or so of water in the cockpit when I rolled up, an amount that was easily pumped out, if I wanted to bother taking the time, using the deck-mounted chimp pump just aft of the cockpit.
Despite our best efforts, practice, and skill, however, unanticipated stuff sometimes happens. I had a firm, two handed grasp on the cockpit coaming and thought I was going to be back in the saddle and on my way in 10 seconds, not swimming my guts out for a long time in nasty conditions, so I was really, really stunned when that boat was forcefully knocked from my grasp. Watching it blow away left me with a sick and creepy feeling that I can’t even begin to put into words, and as you mates know, I’m very seldom at a loss for words…
Eric, congratulations on your mission to Hawaii and your 15th anniversary – nice photo of you and Nancy. It has been about 17 years since I was there and still remember snorkeling in the blue and warm water cinema like is was yesterday, and I am looking forward to Molokai next year. Not much to say about SUP’s and leashes cuss I don’t use them… watching football tonight with Mark, Patty and John! Aloha.
Hey Jim, I’m looking forward to hearing about your “mission” to New York City to “observe” the Rockettes in action.
BTW, click on the link below to read my new essay on armor. You’re in it.
Hi Eric and Nancy, Congratulations on 15 years of marriage! You two must make a good team.That is a very good picture of both of you. Thanks for sharing your vacation with me. As for the SUP, that seems a step back in water sports. Why standup when you can sit down.(guess I’m getting old and lazy). The paddle design could be to stabilize the SUP if you only paddle from one side. At the end of the stroke, it could cause the SUP to turn in the direction of the side being paddled from.
I heard about the chopper crash over there. That would have been a fun ride. When I went up in one, I was scared at frist, but it turn out to be more fun than a fixedwing aircraft. Have you tried Google Earth to get a look at the area you want to go into? When I’m going into a new place sometimes Google Earth helps alot.
I’d like to say a few words about PFDs. It is a personal choice. I wear one because…I CAN’T SWIM!!! In your next book, please tell the world that I learned to swim…kinda. : ) In Alaska the Coast Guard wanted everyone to wear a PFD so they could find your body.
One last thing…tourons. I really like that word. In Ketchikan,AK. we called them “road hazards”. We had crossing guards at every corner. We had people in bright orange outfits to help the tourons to the crossing guards so they could cross the street in safe groups. But the tourons still dart out in the street to get a picture or whatever. They are like squirrels!!!
Well…have a great holiday season, and I can’t wait to meet you Nancy.
Your friend, Tippy Top Terry
Thank you, Tippy Top Terry. In my CONFESSIONS OF A WAVE WARRIOR book, Terry figures prominently in stories about my youth. He was my best friend when I was a young kid. At the time, he couldn’t swim, yet he jumped in a swirling, fast-moving, storm-swollen creek to save me. This is one of my favorite stories from my youth. Without Tippy Top Terry, I’d a been a goner.
Your mention of the Coast Guard wanting folks to wear PFDs so they could find the bodies rings true, for sure. Re the chopper that crashed, I didn’t mention it in the essay above, but everyone aboard perished. RIP.
Terry–I’m really looking forward to seeing you again after all these years. We’ll make it happen!
Tippy Top Terry!!! Dude, I have read Eric’s account in “Confessions of a Wave Warrior” of your adventure with him in the go cart to my kids and their friends – it is a thrilling tale of a tragedy narrowly-averted. We laughed, we cried, we howled with delight. It is fantastic that you are alive today, and that you and Eric are still friends – right? You both saved each other from certain death and destruction during numerous youthful actions.
This made my day, to see both your posts.
Live long and prosper.
-Kenny
Kenny, WOW! That is so cool that you and your kids liked the stories of Eric’s and my youth. After Eric and I get together, in a few months, he’ll have some new youth stories he did’nt mention in his book. YES, Eric and I are still friends. When I talked to him awhile ago, (afher 40 years) he still had the same enthusiasm for life and adventure as he did when we met 53 years ago! And yes,…I’m alive!!! I’ve gone over a cliff, fell out of a float plane, got attacked by a bear, just to mention a few, and I’m still here. Eric will have those stories and more in the near future. Have a happy holiday season.
Live long and prosper,…and don’t do what I’ve done. Terry
After Terry and I get together and compare our old youth stories, I may have to publish another book on “Tippy Top Terry and Other Tall Tales from My Misspent Youth”, where stories such as “Big Billy” and “The Time Terry Knocked out Larry Ford” will be featured. These tales are too good not to be published.
Well, I always figured that Terry probably led an adventurous adult life, and I can’t wait to hear his stories about the cliff, the bear, and the float plane.
Eric, You Do remember “Larry” and “Big Billy”. Let’s get together after the holidays. I have so many questions about your life that you probable couldn’t put in the book. lol !!! I’ll be calling you soon.
Your Old Friend, Tippy Top Terry
Great shots, stories, experiences and congratulations! So good that you share them. It’s cool to eaves drop on old friends conversations like Jim and Terry’s. Hope to see you soon here on the mainland. This FB stuff is new to me, but very fun, so bear with me.
Tye
Thanks for dropping in Tye! There are lots of good conversations on the blog post, including some with my oldest friend Terry and of course Jim Kakuk. You know, when I moved to the Bay Area in San Francisco in 1983 I had no friends there. By good fortune Jim Kakuk (who taught me how to downhill ski when I was in high school, and then later taught me how to river kayak) had also moved there. Naturally, we got together, started kayaking out on the ocean, and then the Tsunami Rangers were created.
The point is, old friends keep looping back into one’s life, and I for one am glad of it. So, good to hear from you old friend!
BTW, later this afternoon I will post a new essay on “How to teach a beginner,” so check out https://www.tsunamirangers.com for that.
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