anyone tried?

[Brewman61]

Re: anyone tried?

I have a couple canoe padles in my 18' bowrider, "just in case", but danged if I even know how well they'd work.

At the very least you could fasten a brightly colored cloth to the paddle or oar and use it as a distress flag!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: anyone tried?

As most have noted, a paddle for any boat 18' or more is just silly. I have a better idea.

One day I broke down maybe 50 yards from my dock. My wife volunteered to tow us back by swimming. So I tied a rope around her and let her have a go at it. In a minute, I realized she had no chance of even getting us moving in the right direction, and she is a strong swimmer. So I grabbed the telescopic boat pole and pushed off the bottom. We easily made it back, and to this day she things she is Johnny Weismuller (Famous swimmer, played Tarzan).

 

[JimS123]

Re: anyone tried?

As most have noted, a paddle for any boat 18' or more is just silly. I have a better idea.

One day I broke down maybe 50 yards from my dock. My wife volunteered to tow us back by swimming. So I tied a rope around her and let her have a go at it. In a minute, I realized she had no chance of even getting us moving in the right direction, and she is a strong swimmer. So I grabbed the telescopic boat pole and pushed off the bottom. We easily made it back, and to this day she things she is Johnny Weismuller (Famous swimmer, played Tarzan).

In 1976, at age 62, to commemorate the Bicentennial, Jack Lalanne swam a mile across the Long Beach harbor towing 13 boats containing 76 people, with only using a rope clenched in his teeth. He was handcuffed and shackled. I was there and saw it and you wouldn't believe how fast he went!

Tarzan was a lightweight.

 

[JimS123]

Re: anyone tried?

A paddle and a bailing bucket REQUIRED! Where is that? I have NEVER heard of such a thing.

I don't know all the state laws, but a paddle and "bailing device" (could be a tin can for that matter) ARE required to pass the USCGA safety check and be awarded a certificate of compliance.

Some confusion here as to terminology. Oars come in pairs and are fitted to oarlocks. You sit in the middle of the boat and row. If your boat comes with oarlocks, IMHO oars are a necesary safety item.

Paddles are for canoes. On a larger boat they most definately have a purpose and they should be required. Even if you get towed in, you need the paddle to maneuver the last 20 feet to the dock. (naturally 30 foot cruisers are exempt for obvious reasons)

 

[dingbat]

Re: anyone tried?

I don't know all the state laws, but a paddle and "bailing device" (could be a tin can for that matter) ARE required to pass the USCGA safety check and be awarded a certificate of compliance

The USCGA does not mandate either item. I am inspected every year before the boat goes in the water in March. I don?t carry either utensil and always pass with flying colors.

Here is the list:
Boat registration Number
Personal Flotation Devices (PFD)
Visual Distress Signals
Fire Extinguishers
Ventilation
Backfire Flame Arrestor
Sound Producing Device
Navigation Lights (Boats 16ft+)
Pollution Placard (Boats 26ft+)
Marpol Trash Card (Boats 26ft+)
Marine Sanitation Device
Navigation Rules (Boats 39ft+)
State and Local Requirements
Overall Boat Condition


http://forms.cgaux.org/archive/a7012.pdf

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: anyone tried?

dingbat - you're right! I looked at my states equipment requirements and didn't see a paddle or bailing device on that list either. Wonder where the idea came from? Not that I think either is a bad idea, just wondering why so many of us thought they were actually required :redface:

 

[JimS123]

Re: anyone tried?

The USCGA does not mandate either item. I am inspected every year before the boat goes in the water in March. I don?t carry either utensil and always pass with flying colors.

Here is the list:
Boat registration Number
Personal Flotation Devices (PFD)
Visual Distress Signals
Fire Extinguishers
Ventilation
Backfire Flame Arrestor
Sound Producing Device
Navigation Lights (Boats 16ft+)
Pollution Placard (Boats 26ft+)
Marpol Trash Card (Boats 26ft+)
Marine Sanitation Device
Navigation Rules (Boats 39ft+)
State and Local Requirements
Overall Boat Condition


http://forms.cgaux.org/archive/a7012.pdf

Well, that's got me all cornfused, since they require those where I live. But, honestly, its been a few years since I went thru one so maybe they changed the regs.

 

[JimS123]

Re: anyone tried?

dingbat - you're right! I looked at my states equipment requirements and didn't see a paddle or bailing device on that list either. Wonder where the idea came from? Not that I think either is a bad idea, just wondering why so many of us thought they were actually required :redface:

We're not talking about a State requirement, or fed for that matter. The discussion is about the USCGA courtesy exam.

 

[Fisherball]

Re: anyone tried?

a70eliminator, In Ohio a paddle is required. If you have to propell your boat without a motor a good way is to tie a rope to a cooler, throw it out ahead of you & pull the rope in. Much more motion for the work than a paddle.

 

[JimS123]

Re: anyone tried?

a70eliminator, In Ohio a paddle is required. If you have to propell your boat without a motor a good way is to tie a rope to a cooler, throw it out ahead of you & pull the rope in. Much more motion for the work than a paddle.

No way would I ever do that. The beer would get too fizzed up.

 

[Fisherball]

Re: anyone tried?

No, the best part is you get to chug all the beer first! That way you don't mind being stranded.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: anyone tried?

you can also do this with an anchor. Makes for a long trip.

I see some people, obviously not boaters, in large high-sided boats with the teeny tiny short paddle in the ski locker or somewhere. Most good it would do is for a fan or fly swatter. Your paddle needs to reach the water!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: anyone tried?

I'm not paddling crap. Tow Boat U.S.

 

[ufm82]

There is nothing in Ohio law that says it's required

There is nothing in Ohio law that says it's required

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/watercraft/requiredequipment/power/tabid/2732/Default.aspx

Nowhere on that list is an "oar, paddle or other device" listed as required equipment. I do not carry one as it is useless on my boat for anything other than a "poker". I don't need the clutter.

UFM82

 

[Thad]

Re: anyone tried?

I have had to use my paddle once. It never even crossed my mind to try and "get home" with it. The current moved me down stream and the paddle helped me work my way toward shore. I think that may be the reason for having one, other than the afore stated, "pushing off an object or beating snakes".

On the pontoon boat, we carry two anchors. The only reason for this, prior to a month ago, was to hold the boat more securely as we often raft the bow rider to it. Now there is another reason.

The motor took a dump. Stranded, we threw both anchors in, pulled one slowly and then threw it back out, grabbing the other and repeating. It took a while but we got back to the dock a lot faster than that paddle would have.

 

[hostage]

Re: anyone tried?

I think a paddle should be required and as someone stated above it must reach the water.

I recently purchased a Aluminium and Plastic Paddle from Kmart for pretty cheap. The handle can be used like a grapple. I do have two stories how they are useful.

1) Was on a Catalina 22 Sailboat, wind died completely and we were 1/2 a mile from the dock, luckily we had 2 kayak paddles. It gave us a great work out. Then we cursed whoever stole our outboard.

2) Was trying to load my boat onto the trailer and the engine stalled while I was backing up. I almost hit another boat, but luckily I had a paddle and it helped me stop instead of slowly hitting another boat. I found out later that my boat stalled since it had a ski rope wrapped around its prop.

A paddle is cheap, serves many purposes, and you should be able to easily store it with the skis, why not have one?

 

[And-Con]

Re: anyone tried?

We have paddled in our skiff(19') as well as our 24 foot sloop, The sloop paddled well, tracked straight, but the skiff is a bear to row; all over the place. Of course i was a sculler in school, and have some skill rowing, but this bears no resemblance to the rowing i was used to.