Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 36

Propeller guard proponents try again
Any paddler who has participated in an open ocean
distance race involving crew changes knows the
feeling of vulnerability when it comes to being in
the water with nearby escort powerboats. Most boat
captains do their best when it comes to safety procedures, but accidents can happen especially with
rough conditions.
Fellow paddlers shudder to hear the details of what
happened to Kauaiʻs Luke Evslin when he was
inadvertently struck by his escort boat's propeller
when a wave pushed the boat over him after the first
change off La'au Point during the 2011 Molokaʻi
Hoe. Another life-threatening injury occurred last
year during the annual Pailolo Challenge in the
channel between Maui and Molokai. The focus here
is on paddling injuries but other individuals struck
in the water while swimming or diving have not
been as lucky.
Ron Mizutani covered the subject in his "Currents"
column in the February 15th edition of MidWeek.
Ron, an experienced and enthusiastic paddler,
predicted he would get a number of emails from
opponents of propeller guards, and sure enough,
that is exactly what has occurred. In his Midweek
piece, Ron pointed out again the sobering statistics,
i.e. "up to17 % of prop. injuries result in death and
a similar number result in amputations."

Hawaii lawmakers are considering again some kind
of legislation regarding propeller guards, but as in
the past, it appears the bills will not make the cut.
State legislators are notoriously resistant to change
even in the face of overwhelming evidence listening
instead to minority vocal special interest groups.
Issues from fluoridation to helmet laws go down
time and time again even while other states step
up to the plate and pass laws that have so many
common sense benefits that it is difficult to imagine
why they are dismissed here as being controversial
in the first place.
While it is true that there is a long-standing resistance by the boating industry in general to propeller

guards, nowadays the technology has improved and
the cost has come down. Opponents like the State
DLNR testimony this year bring up old arguments
like decreased boat performance and navigational
problems. Actually there are now companies like
Prop Guard with injected plastic molded cage products that are not only easy to install but also better
boats operation and increase propeller thrust.
Specifically what can be done to increase the
safety of paddlers participating in distance events
assuming there will be no legislation passed to
require boats to install propeller guards? Molokaʻi
Hoe race director Stan Dickson says that enforcement of such a requirement for escort boats would
be difficult and not really a consideration for
OHCRA unless it is a State law. Kauaiʻs Evslin
feels that there is no doubt in his mind that his
injuries would have been much less serious had
a propeller guard been in place. Significant blunt
injuries are certainly possible but nothing like the
horrific feeling experienced by Evslin, who thought
at first as though he was cut in half.

The race committees for both Molokaʻi Hoe and Na
Wahine O Ke Kai could require certification for all
escort boat drivers just as they do for other requirements for vessel length, radio and emergency equipment, and towing capability. Some boat captains
are very experienced while others with limited
race backgrounds even learn the technique required
during the race when it comes to dropping and
picking up paddlers. It certainly makes sense that
it be mandatory for any escort boat captain to be
certified by attending a course on safety procedures
before they can obtain a race ID number. In addition, the race directors have the option, depending
on conditions and number of crews, to extend the
time limit before the first change to at least 45
minutes. The initial crew change period has the
most risk with the chaos of escort boats descending
on the canoes from the outside trying to locate their
respective canoes. Some teams might even delay

Outrigger Canoe Club's 2016 Na Wahine O Ke Kai
"paddler pick up system"

the first change to be longer to allow more time for
the canoes to spread out as they pass Laʻau Point
and disperse out into the channel.
Paddlers always have to accept some risks in these
races, but at the same time everything possible
needs to be done to minimize the potential problems. The idea is to always look at ways to improve
our sport and not to take the easy way out and just
accept the status quo. Thanks to Ron Mizutani and
others who are looking for ways to make a difference!
Peter Caldwell

Some examples of Prop Guards on the market

New V6 racing canoe is here
Pacific Paddler is excited to introduce the Vantage6 from IHE Canoe
and Designs. It is a computer generated and drag tested legal spec canoe.
A new ama has also been created.
The designer is Steve Blyth of his old
company, Wilder Canoe.
The Vantage 6 has been put through
a head to head comparison water test,
in 2-to-3-foot max conditions. She
came out on top. One comment was,
"She dropped in easier and carried
further." This is what he wanted to
hear. As this is the biggest characteristic you want improvement in as a
designer. Another comment was, "She

spun as well in the trough," which
tells people that the canoe is maneuverable.
Steve has great respect for all canoe
builders and designers. But of course
a designer enjoys the challenge of
creating something that performs at a
higher level. He said, "All designers
are trying to design the best all around
performer." So Steve wanted to design
this new 6 man to perform at a higher
level in the smaller conditions, 4-foot
and under. Steve believes he has done
this with the new Vantage 6.
There was also a need for another legal
spec canoe with Karel Tresnak retiring.

PACiFiC PADDLER JUNE 2017

The Vantage 6, V6, will be produced
in Hilo by Frank Haug. He was with
Force Marine for 25 years and built
the 20 or so Patterson canoe. Frank
and Steve have gone over every
aspect of the building process and
have come up with some innovative
ideas with the build as well. We want
to build the most durable and stiffest
polyester/fiberglasscanoe possible.
So Steve is saying "you will see a
few different things on the Vantage 6"
that are new and innovative construction and design wise. Steve "wanted
the canoe to feel smaller and lighter"
for a 400lb canoe. He said "there are

things you can do to achieve this and
be at the same weight".

Blyth has done well in the past with the
WaveBlade/Polaris hull, WaveBlade
2 and the Vantage one man. Of course
he hopes the Vantage 6 will perform
at a high level and add to the fun of
outrigger canoe racing.

Steve wants to say mahalo to his great
naval architect, investors, builder and
friends that helped to get this project to
fruition. And of course the Creator!
See the IHE Canoe & Designs ad on
page 9 or call (808) 987-5680.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Paddler June 2017