Paddles

[Tideway]

Myself and a colleague used paddles in anger on a 5.5m Tornado when we ran out of fuel ( due to a dodgy cross-over fuel valve). You cannot punch the tide but you can use them to crab in to the river margins (this was on the Tidal Thames) and then get a line on somewhere.

I'd rather have them, than not, they stow on the tubes of most ribs quite neatly and are not particularly heavy.

t

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Tideway

.... due to a dodgy cross-over fuel valve....
t

I was gonna use that excuse .... but I fessed up... more dodgy operator, than equipment in my case..

[Tideway]

U got me.

There was a more than a bit of 'dodgy operator' in this instance as well! We used to run the tanks dry and then when the engines started to splutter, quickly switch onto the new tank. Worked ok most of the time but then a nice bit of crud blocked the valve and that was when we did our Hawaii Five O number with the paddles!

Not a practice that I would recommend!

t

[Milan]

Originally Posted by Jono

Two reasonably robust gentlemen can paddle a 7.0 metre RIB back quite a long way to the pontoon,.......when they switch over to the empty fuel tank instead of the full fuel tank on the changer-over valve…. because some idiot labelled the valve incorrectly ……apparently……..

Been there done that S**t myself wondering how I used 150 Ltrs. over a distance of 20 miles was almost on the phone ready to sell the boat as I thought theres no way I can afford to run this

[Mike B]

If I remember rightly the RNLI Seacheck specifies carrying an "alternative means of propulsion" so if you are planning to have this done (can highly recomend it) then you might as well get some.

Personally mine are carried on the tubes take up no space at all and luckily I've never had to use them.

My opinion is that should the worst ever happen I would hate to be critisised or blamed for any accident for not carrying them, they are a small outlay and easily stored and if/when I need them I'm sure I will be glad they are there.

In that respect I think they are similar to a radar reflector (although this is covered by SOLAS V) I carry one but I'm not sure of its usefulness on my boat but I wouldn't risk not carrying it.

Mike

[Ed the Duck]

I wouldn't go to sea without paddles. IMO It's not just to prevent the embarrassment of running out of fuel and being able to crawl to the beach undetected.

Consider the situation of coming off the back of a wave, landing very heavily, losing a crew member overboard and being unable to restart the engine. The RIB is drifting slowly with the wind and the MOB is drifting away with the tidal current. Being able to paddle towards the MOB may be the difference between life and death. Probably worth carrying a throw line as well- [URL=http://www.watersportswarehouse.co.uk/ishop/893/shopscr965.html]http://www.watersportswarehouse.co.uk/ishop/893/shopscr965.html[/URL

Paddles take no room and start every time you use them!

[Andy Moore]

Originally Posted by Ed the Duck

Consider the situation of coming off the back of a wave, landing very heavily, losing a crew member overboard and being unable to restart the engine. The RIB is drifting slowly with the wind and the MOB is drifting away with the tidal current.

It is just these conditions that paddles might be next to useless. Waves+wind+tidal set.

To reiterate my feelings, I think they might be useful for paddling off a beach into deep water. I don't really want them lying around loose and I don't want to fit them onto the tubes if they are never going to get used.

Thanks for all your replies though.

[Millermob]

If you don't want to put them on the tubes you could just get the teloscopic ones. They fit in a jockey seat easily, don't take up much space and are just as good as proper ones.

[Andy Moore]

Originally Posted by Millermob

If you don't want to put them on the tubes you could just get the teloscopic ones. They fit in a jockey seat easily, don't take up much space and are just as good as proper ones.

Hey, that sounds interesting. Do you have a link?

[Millermob]

We just got ours with our boat don't know wether you will get any?
But here's a link, it doesn't say they're telescopic but they look identical

http://www.seamarknunn.co.uk/catalog/items/item3295.htm

[roycruse]

paddles are great for manouvering in very tight spaces and shallow water and can be used to fend off of inhospitable objects.

in any kind of wind or tide they can only really be used to adjust your down wind/tide trajectory.

they are also usefull as weapons for defending against pirates!