One of the first bit of advice a novice paddler gets when buying a new or secondhand kayak is to make sure that the end grabs on the bow and stern have toggles attached. Really good advice, as placing the hand into an open loop to recover the kayak in a capsize situation can be disasterous for the fingers and hand. Basically, the kayak can spin viciously in moving water thus trapping the fingers in an ever tightening thumbscrew situation. No need to talk about the consequences!

This information should be readily available to all who paddle and is not this week's handy hint. The toggles are fitted to kayaks to prevent the entrapment described above and NOT for transporting the kayak to and from the water!! They are usually attached with very narrow cord which can degrade and fail, and the stresses on the narrow hole through which the cord is inserted (especially if the kayak is fully laden) are immense and can therefore cause stress fractures in the kayak.

Sea kayaks are expensive and those built of glass fibre/carbon kevlar are easily damaged if dropped onto rocks or concrete. So don't do it. Carry the kayak by lifting the hull (placing the hands underneath) or even better, if possible, protect your back and use a trolley.

Chris Jones

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