Poll: Paddle leashes ?

Outfitting two kayaks for newbies (me and Mrs. P) and she's asking about paddle leashes.

I haven't gotten any yet. Having heard that every extra strap, rope, or loop is a potential entanglement that is unsafe, but also not wanting to lose a paddle and have to swim it home...I'm torn.

Please, Internet. Tell me what I should think !

It is the only thing I DO leash. (see reason #1)

You can also make your own also. I don't personally use one (Dumbass I know) but I have them on my rods go figure.I use old car chargers for your cell.they always seem to crap out and as expensive as they can be why not repurpose them. Just go to the hardware store and get some double hole aluminum cable ferrels and crimp.now put one on both ends make a loop and crimp it.use a good snap on one and a Velcro cable tie(the one with the hole in it to pass through itself) on the other.goodwill also usually has a box of obsolete car chargers for a buck or 2 apiece. So for 10-15 bucks you can make several.

Must admit I'd not started using one until recently.  My paddles float, but still I'd rather have the paddle attached to the boat if (when) it flips.

Small retractable dog leash clipped to the boat works great going on a year and still functioning

I always have my paddle leashed except in the surf zone.

Only when I'm on the water, makes it nice to be able to drop it overboard at will and retrieve it when done dealing with fish

Line c_run, it's the only thing I leash though with a Hobie its not critical...until you need it.

OK, paddle leashes on order from Austin.

Thanks all !

I am not a leasher.

-Allen

The options "Nah" and "Nope" are pretty much the same. Maybe change one to "Sometimes"? Some people like GB2 aren't in the 100% or 0% crowd.

The options "Nah" and "Nope" are pretty much the same. Maybe change one to "Sometimes"? Some people like GB2 aren't in the 100% or 0% crowd.

That was actually by design. The reasoning was the real thing I was trying to collect. And anyway, mathematically, "sometimes" is the same as "yes", since you have to own one to use it part time.

I used to read all these posts and articles where leashes were recommended. In practice I found them to be problematic. First if you are in the surf zone and use any bungee style leash and you don't let go when you huli, there's a possibility that the wave takes the boat and extends the bungee out completely. Sometimes you might find that you can no longer hold that paddle and when you let go there is a fair chance the paddle can strike your kayak when the bungee retracts. If you have a plastic kayak then the force of the paddle can damage the kayak. It's happened to me when I first was starting to kayak fish, the blade hit at just the proper angle to do the damage. I'd recommend some 550 chord instead of bungee. Second, leashes in the fast water is when there are more consequences for having a leash such as getting tangled up and possible drowning (think river). Even in large surf up to 6-7 footers I don't use a leash. If you're a little careless in nature about your paddle and the water isn't very rough then a leash doesn't seem like a bad idea to me. If you're concerned with losing your paddle in the surf after crashing, that's a valid concern. You may consider spray painting the paddle blades a bright color (orange) so that it is easier to locate in the surf but what I usually do is let yaktrap retrieve my paddle in the surf zone. I'm happy to return the favor in the river. LOL.

... but what I usually do is let yaktrap retrieve my paddle in the surf zone. I'm happy to return the favor in the river. LOL.

I guess this is the one reason to fish with a 'go get my paddle' buddy. Oh, and another reason is that you're fishing buddy might have the right tools to cut the hook out of your finger.

... but what I usually do is let yaktrap retrieve my paddle in the surf zone. I'm happy to return the favor in the river. LOL.

I guess this is the one reason to fish with a 'go get my paddle' buddy. Oh, and another reason is that you're fishing buddy might have the right tools to cut the hook out of your finger.

Ooooh... yeah, that. Or a bilge pump or even the 'fix my rudder buddy'.
No, I'm not a leasher.