For an alternate look at deck rigging, see Peter Carter's site (http://www.users.senet.com.au/~pcarter/index.html) and his Voyaguer kayak designs. BIG handles at the cockpit, 6mm decklines, cleats, alternate hatch sealing design, etc., all there for a purpose. Yes, the Voyaguer is a fiber-composite boat, but all the ideas can translate to wood(fiber)-composite.

He also has thought-provoking articles on pumps and kayak compartmentalization, especially the 'integrated cockpit' which seals the cockpit to the deck and minimizes its volume (approx. 40 liters with paddler aboard). Especially interesting was the test report comparing bulkheaded kayaks versus ones fitted with an integrated cockpit when the intentionally flooded. The 'I.C.' kayaks (without other bulkheads but with proper flotation) allowed the water in one flooded compartment to flow to the other compartment until the kayak was trimmed and controllable. The bulkhead-ed kayaks sank one end and became extremely difficult to control. While building my kayak in my mind, I am considering adding side bulkheads to minimize cockpit volume in addition to bulkhead footbraces and backrest (partially for the same reason). Having "communicating" main compartments is now added to the idea stew. One of these days I'll start building using a Arctic Tern or a SK plywood greenland design as the base.

: Deck lines are a stylistic choice, popularized by the British boaters. They
: become another "feature" to add to your boat.

Mosaic wood accent strips are a stylistic choice; deck lines are a safety choice, popularized by the British boaters (who are among the world leaders in developing sea kayak safety equipment and techniques). They
become basic safety feature to add to your boat.

: I don't use them on my boats. I think they sound good when you're sitting
: home digesting dinner, but in real conditions they could as easily snag on
: your PFD as you try to climb on your deck.

To snag your PFD, you have to have a boat to climb into. Having an easily grabbed 'handle' around the entire perimeter of your boat makes sense to me. Yes I understand that decklines detract from the workmanship and "pretties" that you and others are rightfully proud of, but I and many others consider lack of decklines a fundamental safety defect in any open water boat not subject to being pushed into snagging hazards by powerful currents (e.g. strainers and undercut rocks on whitewater rivers).

: Any of you really needed to grab your boat in REALLY rough conditions?

Yes.

: You're going to grab the cockpit or wrap your arms around the boat before
: your start plucking with your fingertips for a little piece of line, flat
: on a deck, god forbid you should have cold numb hands.

No, in a rescue class, I grabbed my wet slippery kayak by what I could - the deckline - before it blew away from me. The cockpit was not in reach, nor were the end grab loops. A kayak without deck lines is like a greased pig - you may have it kinda for a second, but without lots of good non-slip handles, you won't have it for long. . .

Cold numb hands are even worse when trying to "wrap your arms around the boat". Little line a problem? Use a bigger, fatter one 5mm or 6mm.

: Whitewater boats and native kayaks never had deck lines. Think they know
: something?

Speaking for WW kayakers, yes we know something. One thing we know is having perimeter decklines that can snag is such a severe safety liability in the whitewater river environment that the hazard far out-weighs the significant advantages. Everytime I chase/retrieve a swimmer's kayak I wish it had MORE TO GRAB ONTO. But with strainers (fallen trees with the river flowing through it) and undercut rocks (boulders and ledges with the river flowing under them) for the unfortunate paddler to get pushed into, the less there is to snag, the greater the chance the paddler will get free/flush through alive. In general, the basic WW paddler/swimmer rescue involves getting them to the shore (which is usually found close by, one on each side of the river) and into their boat there. Open water boating usually doesn't have a shore handy, so having extra 'handles' on the boat to make it easier to deal with makes sense to me.

Not being an Inuit, I can't speak for them. Based on a few books, articles, pictures and museum examples, I will observe that many of the open ocean hunting cultures had extensive deck rigging, all purpose-driven. If they had a use for perimeter deck rigging, they would have added it. We do have a use for it: swimming and not wanting our only safety blowing away or being pushed away by waves. This doesn't appear to be an issue for the Inuit - if they came out of their kayaks, they were dead from hypothermia in a very short amount of time. Re-entering their kayaks was not a practical possibility for them.

: So put them on if you feel the need, but those of you out there wondering
: about deck lines should know they are not the safety consensus.
: All the best,
: Rob Macks
: Laughing Loon CC&K

You need them; put them on. Especially if you don't have a good roll. Especially if you paddle where the nearest down-wind shore is more than 100 yards away. Maybe you don't plan to be out in 'bad' conditions, but sooner or later you will be. Decklines are as much a part of "the safety consensus" as a pfd is. Yes you can live your life without 'insurance', but why take the risk when it is cheap and useful???

Thanks to Mike Allen (in the earlier rudder discussion) for the notice/link to Peter Carter's interesting website.

With my 2 cents worth for the night, I bid all a good night.

Dave