C-Forum

Finally got to test my Spanish Fly on the water. Craig, thanks for the help on outfitting.
My roll problem involves my left elbow hitting the bag cage/thwart (I'm a rightie) during the recovery.
Can't figure this one out; I've read all the recent posts on rolling, and am pretty bomb-proof in my Nitro.
Any advise on where I'm going wrong would be appreciated.
The water's still a little cold to be hanging upside down in a rapid trying to figure this out.
Geoff

I've had a similar problem on conversions with low seats. I'll sometimes hit either my left elbow or drag my knuckels accros the cockpit rim. You may want to keep your left elbow close to your belly. Also try setting up with the blade closer to the stern than 90 degrees from the boat. You could just raise the seat

I usually just dig my elbow into my stomach, keeps me nice and compressed.

My friends and I had the same problem with the CU FLY we all had great rolls in our bigger ocs and then we flailed in the cufly, we removed the hip blocks out of it and it enabled us to roll, i don't know if you have hip blocks but thats what worked for us. good luck

Thanks for the pointers. I'll keep my elbows in, and not put hip pads in yet.
Geoff

Funny though, if you search C-1 rolling advice on here, one of the first things people will tell you is to install hip pads.

I tried rolling my C-1 first w/o hip pads and struggled. Then I added hip pads and still struggled, but at least felt I was more connected to the boat. As I figure out how to work the small boat and my body positioning, I didi have trouble with the elbow of my top hand impeding the roll, but you'll just learn to keep it out of the way - I think I lift mine over the rim?

I don't think the hip pads affected the relationship between my elbow and my boat, but you never know.

P.

Maybe wear elbow pads??

j/k

Went to the river yesterday armed with everyone's advise (except for the elbow pads).
The roll seems to coming, but it looks like I have to raise the elbow on my grip hand and sweep it in front of the cockpit.
Is this a common move by people paddling a Spanish Fly or similar boat?
I'm getting up OK, just don't want to learn a bad technique.
Thanks again fro your assistance.
Geoff

Hi Geoff,

A couple of thoughts:

Try extending your paddle out from the side of the boat for the whole set up phase. This will mean you are not cramped and will give you more leverage. do this by projecting your T-Grip onto your forehead once you have switched to the back of the blade.

An open canoe (or for that matter a C1) roll is about getting the head into the right position to flatten the boat. Keep your head down on the T-Grip until the on-side gunwhale has come out of the water. At that moment begin driving your head across the boat to the off-side, keeping the head down (think-wipe the deck with your nose). Most paddlers will sweep the blade on the non-drive face towards the bow at this point; it does help orientate you, but it is the head movement that rolls the boat!!!!

Ken