Comments for Oscar's Long Swim at http://www.surfski.info , comment 0 to 16 out of 16 comments http://www.surfski.info Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:03:31 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_1542 Besides having the swage I silver solder all my cables ends. It gives an additional level of protection. I then use/have shackles as sort of a quick release. - David Tebera Sun, 30 Sep 2007 14:07:15 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_1481 I think ANY segment of the links that make up the "steering system" needs checking. If it's the connectors that need the attention then so be it. I have also been surprised at the seemingly "lightweight" parts used on some modern ski's steering systems. I don't think all paddlers are aware of the significant forces applied during steering a 6m surfski at 20 kph in the sea. Most of my cable connectors I replaced myself, oh and tightened them myself too! No one to blame then! - Graeme Trautmann Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:44:40 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_531 My previous ski - a brand new Fenn Millenium - had the rudder cable let go on it\'s maiden voyage. The rudder cable was connected around the rudder bar using brass screw-in cable crimps. These were never tightened properly and let go as soon as a load was applied. When I tightened the crimp properly it promptly broke into two pieces. I think Dale is correct most so called rudder cable breaks are in-fact not the cable at all, but connector failures. - Alain Jaques Tue, 06 Mar 2007 12:37:32 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_530 Apologies. A reread of my post reveals that I got my word order wrong. Aluminum swages are NOT good in a marines environment as they produce a strong galvanic reaction with stainless steel i.e. will corrode & disentigrate quite quickly. The best swages for a marine environment are zinc covered copper and stainless but the latter requires hydraulic tools. - dalemaxski Tue, 06 Mar 2007 10:05:17 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_529 The swage is the cable joint made at the ends of the cable where it connects at the rudder bar or near the foot pedal. It is made with a small tube (called a ferrule) which is crimped onto the cable with a special tool. There are 2 basic types (Talurit & Nicopress) and they are made out of copper, stainless steel, aluminum or zinc covered copper. The last 2 are best for a marine environment. Prperly done a swage is the strongest point in the cable. One can also get cheap swages and tools for electric terminations and I have seen these on surfskis. - dalemaxski Tue, 06 Mar 2007 08:54:58 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_528 What exactly is a swage? - garykroukamp Tue, 06 Mar 2007 06:32:03 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_527 Mark Lewin makes a few good points but I but I would like to tackle him on the point of rudder cables. I fully agree that stainless cables are stronger and more durable than dynema but the cable is only as strong as its weakest link which in most cases is the swaging. I had a swage pull loose on a Mark 1 a few years ago when the ski was less than 6 months old. Worse still the remaining swage came loose in my hands when I inspected it. I built hang gliders for many years so I can tell a good swage from a bad one and I have to say that I have yet to see a good swage on a domestic surfski. - dalemaxski Tue, 06 Mar 2007 05:32:14 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_523 Interesting and pertinent points. On a \"point of order\" though, I don\'t think Oscar\'s ski actually sank! As I understand it, it became waterlogged and he abandoned it because it would have taken hours to swim it in from 2km out. And then it would probably have been smashed by the surf - skis that are full of water are much more vulnerable to waves. I think most of us who have been paddling long enough have been victim of rudder line failure. I know I have - a few years ago. Arguably my own fault because I didn\'t check the crimps that attached the steel cables to the tiller bar. Mine failed in Hout Bay and I had a torrid time getting the ski back in. I think the point here is to assume that rudder lines can fail - you should service your ski regularly. Plus I carry a wedge of high density foam in my PFD pocket to jam the rudder straight should I have any rudder line/pedal problem. Rob - robin.mousley Mon, 26 Feb 2007 00:23:49 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_522 The rescue effort by Oscar and Bevan Manson of getting back to the beach off the KZN coast in a downwind after Oscars surfski had sank is commendable and good thinking on the part of both paddlers. I have read a good few of the comments regarding safety measures but the one question I have does not seem to have crossed anybodies mind. Why did the surfski sink? as a manufacturer I know that it is an unwritten rule that a surfski should have sufficient buoyancy to float, even if flooded, and still support the paddler. For example the fishing ski\'s we manufacture have to carry a buoyancy certificate confirming that the craft has 30% buoyancy, which is a SAMSA requirement (S.A. Maritime authority) similar to U.S. Coast Guard. Surfski\'s are not regulated by this authority yet in S.A. but SAMSA would like to. It appears that in an effort to make their surfski\'s as light as possible, certain manufacturers are leaving the bouyance out of their surfski\'s altogether. In an open Ocean racing surfski surely this is reckless. In 30 years of paddling I have been involved in a number of rescues and I have never seen a surfski sink. The flooded surfski in the water has usually been the only reason we have managed to find the paddler. (Your latest rescue in False Bay is an example). I have also read comments about \"rudder string\", and taking precautions in the event of the cord breaking. Why risk using dynema cord if there a chance of it breaking. Is the reduction in weight worth it if the rudder cord has a chance of breaking in extreme conditions. Where we paddle and launch, a failed rudder system would be catastrophic. (rock ledges reefs point breaks etc). Thankfully I have never broken a rudder \"cable\". Fastened around a thimble at each end I have never seen a cable break. There is fine line between the performance of a craft and its dependability. We paddle in extreme downwind conditions at every given opportunity in KZN. I am very competitive but certainly would not go offshore in extreme conditions in a surfski that has no bouyancy simply because the ski will be lighter or have to take prior precautions should my rudder system fail. One thing I also find fairly common amongst paddlers is that often a surfski comes into us for repair and we can see that in its 5 years of use, the rudder compartment at the back has never been opened. Paddlers often assume that there will be no wear and tear despite the exposure to salt, sand and sea. We service our cars regularly but take the moving parts on our surfskis for granted even though the craft is used in extreme conditions. Safety precautions should not start in the water. This is very much the case with double ski\'s which are often shared and are not paddled as often. I have not posted these comments to be controversial or get in the face of anybody else, but as a paddler these issues have in the past had an influence on the craft I paddle and build. I presume that these comments will invoke some discussion or reaction but I repeat are not meant to offend anybody. MARK LEWIN Custom Kayaks - Mark Lewin Sun, 25 Feb 2007 13:03:36 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_521 Yep, these things happen to the very best of us. I\'ve soo been there too. I can only add to these comments by saying - Swim! Do it often and become comfortable in the water. By all means wear a flotation vest and a leash. Have a cell phone or VHF. But if you panic in the water and can\'t self-rescue in a reasonable fashion then you\'ve got an even bigger problem. Very Glad these guys did well. Best Wishes, Mike. - falloff999 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:13:56 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_520 It was 500m actually, Dean - garykroukamp Fri, 23 Feb 2007 03:35:41 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_519 Gary Kroukamp swimming 150m that is. - deanjordaan Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:44:32 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_518 Oscar\'s Oscar, so this not about his ability - it\'s about how we all TALK about having proper safety gear, then head off on a wild run with nothing but boat, paddle, leash and water bottle. I had my carbon Portlock\'s bow implode while surfing, and 1M of the bow fold back alongside the hull 2 year ago. I was about a mile offshore and managed to (barely) paddle back with the floppy bow. Even after that experience, I find myself without the \'basic\' safety list SSI has recommended... Perhaps SEEING the top level paddlers taking things more seriously would get us off our ego trip and perhaps - just perhaps - save a life someday. Aloha and let\'s go paddling! (WITH a safety kit) Ken Moore Kaneohe, HI :roll - Kupuna Thu, 22 Feb 2007 12:25:40 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_516 Similar thing happened to me in Hermanus off Grotto Beach. My boat got washed away by 2 big waves which broke off a reef 500m off shore, despite me having a leash (paddle to boat- couldn\'t manage to hold on).What helped me get in through about 150m of breaking surf, was my life jacket, I think, kept me from getting too badly dumped. Was Oscar wearing one, would it have helped? Gary - garykroukamp Thu, 22 Feb 2007 08:31:02 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_515 Several people have asked what this is. It\'s a Chinese built boat, vacuum bagged glass layup using polyester resin with a Nomex Honeycomb stringer. - robin.mousley Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:49:26 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/363/154/#pc_514 What is a V10 \"economy\" ski - Chinese or local Kayak centre construction ? - Bolt Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:36:35 +0100