Paddle leash?

[Denise]

How do you leash the paddle? Do you do it to your body or to the kayak?

[failghe]

I used to leash my paddle to the kayak using something like a bungee cord. I didn't have it leashed while paddling, only while drifting. But I was always in calm waters.

[Newanderthal]

I've never leashed a paddle but then again I've never seen the need to. In calm waters I'm not afraid of losing the paddle. In rough waters, I don't want to be tethered to something that might catch a limb.

I saw a youtube video where a guy was kayaking some class IV rapids and something in te water snagged his paddle and ripped it right out of his hands, then the tether yanked him halfway out of the boat.

[Alexa Shuman]

Paddle leash should never be used for whitewater kayaking - it's purpose is for recreational or touring paddling!

[Alexis]

That makes sense. In a scenario like whitewater rafting I could see the danger in having something attached to you. That could make a bad situation a lot worse.

[flylady]

I have never even thought about leashing the paddle. Although I probably should have the time I lost my paddle in a swift current. I wasn't in dangerous waters the river was just running faster than normal do to some recent rains.