Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Gear Talk => Topic started by: linter on September 13, 2019, 10:52:46 AM
-
i can no longer sup due to an ms-like disease that's ruined my leg strength and balance, so i ride a waveski. been doing so with a leash attached to the paddle but the other day, twasn't even a big day, i found out that my hand grip strength is close to zero. a wave rolled me, i ejected from my waveski, thought i had a good grip on my paddle but the next wave ripped the board and paddle away from me and straight to shore. i was left bobbing in the water with zero arm strength left and leg strength that's close to zero, too. next stop? davey jones' locker. well, i finally sucked up the courage to ask a couple of nearby shortboarders for help, which they offered. i got in and sat there for the next 20 minutes contemplating how it would definitely have gone had i not had help. yikes! and the waves weren't even that big.
anyway, once again i've had to reconfigure my thinking about my disability and come to terms with new realities. ugh. just sucks.
meanwhile, i think a better leash option for me now would be one i can attach to a waist belt. any ideas about what's available, the pros and cons? thanks!
edit: i just saw that someone recently made a similar post. i'm going to leave mine anyway, in case any other thoughts pop to someone's mind.
-
First of all...... Scary moment. Nothing wrong with asking for help... ever. Are you wearing a life jacket? You sad you were bobbing around, so I'll guess yes. Definitely get a waist leash. Be safe out there, but stay with it. https://www.armstrongfoils.com/waist-leash/ Not a fan of coiled leashes in the surf. You could just get a belt with a plastic clip from a sporting good store. Like one that hold water bottles and wrap a standard ankle mount leash around it.
-
Hey Eric, West Coast Paddle Sports sells them. They're on Morena Bld on the way to Costco.
-
td: nope, not wearing a pfd yet. guess that'll be one of my next moves. and, thanks for the link to that belt. mucho expensive, tho.
tom: i'll give wcps a call and see what they've got. thanks for the tip!
-
Get an impact vest that feels comfortable, have someone who sews heavy stuff attach a loop to it or just mcGyver something on--I've done it with pop rivets but you need good backing. Built in waist leash with float.
-
good idea, bill, and that'll be my next go after i try out the leashlok i just got. need to find a vest that's short enough for me to use sitting down while still being able to do its job.
-
Vaikobi PFD or the Icon kite impact vest. the Icon zips to the waist but there's no padding to get in the way below your ribs. The Vaikobi is easy to add a leash connection to and it's the standard for sit down paddling.
-
thanks, bill, i appreciate your help.
-
sorry youre struggling, linter---get your gear optimized, and i bet youll be ok---good luck
-
Here's how I added a waist leash to a Vaikobi PFD. You can do it in a simpler way by just hooking the leash to the side straps, but this is totally out of the way. I use it with a quick release with a very short lanyard so it doesn't get accidentally popped.
I simply sewed loops into a length of webbing (yes, I sew and cook, I'll make someone a fine wife someday), used a soldering iron to make slots in the PFD, ran the webbing through, disconnected the belts, put the loops over the buckles, reconnected the belts and done. The Vaikobi is pretty handly for any kind of water sport. Good float, has a camelback pocket and two mesh pockets for powerbars, etc., and it doesn't get in the way, even while seated.
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/70277753_10156773567263668_3628613415062208512_o.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_oc=AQn7MaS0wl8vYOVeiH8jEn7vY8I6JubMZ6RsOY_fBEfOeaaisg3yZ20TWVkqIwTQU70&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=e6008e21069ae58d9f171546b9438785&oe=5E3B2253)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/70837766_10156773567323668_3992852338552340480_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_oc=AQkSPAnkU5yZ9Zy2Eo1sGCkVeM1nMAXk6RXMHk6PAymZzdRUECWgGuOyz3uQMyo5AdA&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=5630ea8314f040e83578cecfa5e83c49&oe=5E089984)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/70127937_10156773567233668_3284032715799658496_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_oc=AQnt1HqFm97kFCp3cepCBZwUJp-T-_97k0b2hNcYzP6SQhlEzGsNEpCmKwI3rvbJDb8&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=1499e4837ae0377dc23cd1494ec4165b&oe=5DF28B12)
-
okay, that looks like just the ticket, bill. now i've got to find me one of those vests. onward!
-
You might be able to find a rescue style kayaking pfd. I think some come with fittings like this built in.
-
right you are!
(https://dx0dyd9jru7i3.cloudfront.net/40030_02_Charcoal_Model_Back_071818_2000x2000.jpg)
-
When your leash is fixed to your pfd, how are you going to disconnect yourself from a leash that is attached behind you, in an emergency, without also losing your pfd at the same time?
-
When your leash is fixed to your pfd, how are you going to disconnect yourself from a leash that is attached behind you, in an emergency, without also losing your pfd at the same time?
You pull the quick release toggle that is located at the front of the vest on the belt.
-
When your leash is fixed to your pfd, how are you going to disconnect yourself from a leash that is attached behind you, in an emergency, without also losing your pfd at the same time?
It's not hard to get to the short lanyard I attached. I wouldn't do a belly release where I'd be likely to accidentally release it and find myself bobbing in the deep blue yet again. That's more for likely entanglement situations on narrow, turbulent water where the PFD is the first line of defense and you can reach the shore fairly easily.
This kind of rig isn't for the general public who need something that they can manage when they are freaked out and not thinking. It's for experienced people who don't panic easily. I don't pretend that there's a solution that's going to save someone in every situation. I've been in deep shit where just a bit of luck made the difference. But a waist leash has proven to be a great option in a lot of situations.
-
first time out with the waist belt and the first time i had to bail, i wound up with the leash around my neck. got it undone before the next pile of white water headed my way. now i've got to figure out how that happened and see what i can do to prevent it from happening again. i know folks don't like coiled leashes but perhaps that might be a better option or at least one i should try out.
-
Make it a short and stout one.
-
good suggestion. i'm on it ...