Surfski Knowledge Base

Nate's big ordeal
allipp@aol.com
Feb 21 #35112

Worth the watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwaUadm3mVs

Reivers Dustin Feb 21 #35113

Great share Alan. Thx.

zach
Feb 22 #35116

OMG that was lucky! I try to convince other paddlers to invest in a PLB but my sales pitch must need tweaking as I have yet to convince anybody. I think when it comes down to it those that think a PLB makes sense have already bought one, and those that think they don’t need one will double down on their convictions when some know-it-all suggests they get one.

zach
Feb 22 #35117

I watched the video and read the articles I could find. No mention of why the leash failed. I wonder if it was a quick release problem.

Reivers Dustin
Feb 22 #35118

Early versions were probably light duty. Most times there isn't huge force on the leash. But in/out of beach break, or coming off the boat in big waves can set up really high “impact loading” type of force. Also, some versions of the plastic is susceptible to UV degradation. You might see that as hairline cracking in sharp bends or at stress points.

This is one big reason I use a stern leash. In most scenarios this will present the boat's lowest aspect ratio to wind or wave forces. The boat will weather-vane so it doesn't act like a big sail. I've dumped in the bigs with a mid-point leash and that damn thing went tight as a fiddle-string. In those winds that boat would have tumbled off faster than any paddler.

Still. Leash is one of your “rings of safety”. A huge one. I remember early days of the Gorge, JD personally inspected everyone's leash. I have the honor of being kicked out of the race once. You wouldn't know it these days cause he's such a mush puppy. But as a younger man, he could be a hard boy. Hat's off to you brother.

Paul Reavley
Feb 22 #35119

“And then something bumped my leg, and I thought…then here comes another deep sorrow feeling…” uh huh, oh @#$%

I haven't heard a full explanation either - when he is describing it he says the leash either broke or the “knot slipped out”???

Toward the end of the video Nate talks about adding a zip tie in addition to the “rope” he uses. Possibly he had a cord loop from the boat leash anchor point that he attached his leash to??

I don't know if that was the problem but that is also a part (if used in one's leash system as many of us do) that has to be checked regularly and replaced periodically or immediately if worn or damaged.

allipp@aol.com
Feb 22 #35120

If either were the case, wouldn't he still be at least attached to the remaining part of the leash that was left? I'm guessing it's more likely that the Velcro failed.

zach
Feb 22 #35124

I was discussing the zip tie with a friend who paddles OC. He thought maybe the zip tie idea indicated that it was that loop of rope that is used as the anchor point in the ozone boats that failed. The rope is probably strong but I have seen it tied with very janky knots before - square knots and worse. I imagine the factory knot is good but knots end up untied and then it is hard to retie them as well. When I had my vega the factory installed loop gave me a funny feeling so I replaced it with cord i trusted and a knot I trusted (double fisherman's knot).

zach
Feb 22 #35125

This was just sent by a hawaii paddler. Not the boat involved in the incident, but this certainly could have been how the leash failed. I blacked out the name cause I don’t know the guy to ask if he wants is shared. But this seems too important to not share. No pun intended.

allipp@aol.com
Feb 23 #35127

What's that joke with the punchline “I'm a frayed knot”?