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One
Star Theory
The
following contains typical questions which candidates for the BCU closed
cockpit kayak one star award might be asked at their assessment. The answers
are here as well. Candidates should not assume that this is all they have
to know - their assessor will probably use different questions all together,
but the subject matter of the questions could be similar. Read as much
as you can, and ask experienced paddlers for info. There are no typical
questions about access on these pages - access problems depend very much
on which country you are in - local knowledge is important.
- Toggles
at both ends.
- Footrests.
- Buoyancy
- either blocks of foam or air bags.
Why
are substantial footrests essential on a kayak which will be used on a
river ?
- If the
kayak hits a rock and stops suddenly, the paddler is liable to slide
down inside the kayak, and be trapped. Footrests stop this happening.
Why
are footrests desirable on a kayak used on flat water ?
- During
forward paddling. it is the feet pushing against the footrests which
drive the kayak forward.
How
long should your paddle be ?
- With
the paddle standing on end in front of you, your fingers should just
curl over the top.
What
should a spray deck always have ?
- A grab
handle to pull it of the kayak.
How
do you tell a left handed paddle from a right handed paddle ?
- Stand
the paddle on end in front of you, with the blade at the bottom acing
your feet. If the blade at the top faces left, it is a left handed
paddle. If the blade at the top faces right, it is a right handed
paddle.
Why
is a kayak for long distance touring much longer than a bat used in a
swimming pool ?
- A long
kayak will go much faster.
- A long
kayak is much easier to keep moving in a straight line.
- A short
kayak like a bat is very manoeuvrable in a small space.
What
are the main differences between a canoe and a kayak ?
- Canoes
are generally larger than kayaks.
- Canoes
will generally carry 2,3, or 4 people, whereas most kayaks are designed
for one person.
- Most
canoes are open, whereas kayaks have decks, with cockpits for the
paddler to sit in.
- The
canoe is usually paddled whilst kneeling, whereas the kayak is always
paddled whilst sitting down.
What
is the main difference between the paddle for a canoe and the paddle for
a kayak.
- The
paddle for a canoe has only one blade, whereas the paddle for a kayak
has two blades.
Who
are the famous users of kayaks for hunting ?
What
did Eskimos use to make kayaks ?
- The
frames were made of wood or bone, and they were covered with sealskins.
Where
did the open canoes orinally come from ?
- They
are from North America
How
were the original canoes made ?
- The
frames were made from wood, and they were covered with either buffalo
skins, or bark from birch trees.
Who
used the original open canoes ?
- The
North American Indians.
Why
is a waterproof cag essential ?
- Getting
splashed is inevitable, and wet clothing will rapidly make you feel
cold.
Why
is a padded anorak not suitable for paddling ?
- The
padding will absorb a lot of water, and become very heavy and cold
to wear.
How
do wet suits work ?
- They
allow a thin layer of water to flow between the wet suit and the
skin; this water gets trapped, the neoprene provides insulation,
and the water warms up.
What
are additional advantages of a wet suit when kayaking ?
- They
provide buoyancy when swimming.
- They
provide protection against rocks in the water.
Why
is a full body wet suit, by itself, not ideal clothing for kayaking
?
- They
restrict trunk rotation and arm movement.
- They
are not windproof - wind blows through the neoprene, and the body
will get cold.
What
could make a mild day seem cold to a kayaker ?
- Both
wind and wetness make you feel cold, and increase heat loss.
What
is the result of a combination of wind and water on the skin ?
- You
get a much higher rate of heat loss, and feel cold more quickly.
Why
are cotton jeans not good clothing for kayaking ?
- When
it gets wet, cotton tries to absorb heat from the body in order
to dry itself out - this makes it very cold to wear when it is wet.
Which
is more suitable for kayaking - a cotton sweat shirt, or a wollen pullover
?
- The
wollen pullover is much better, as wool provides insulation when
wet, but cotton when wet actually sucks heat out of the body, making
you cold much more quickly.
Describe
the best way to get out of a kayak under water.
- Pull
of the spray deck. Tuck your head forward onto the deck in front
of the cockpit. Place both hands on the the cockpit rim behind the
hips. Push your pelvis down out of the kayak, and do a forward somersault
out of the kayak.
what
is the most important thing to do once you are out ?
- Keep
hold of both the kayak and the paddle.
After
capsizing, you have let go of both the kayak and the paddle. Which do
you go for first ?
- The
kayak, since the wind can blow it away faster than you can swim.
It also provides support.
After
capsizing, you have kept hold of the kayak, but the paddle is floating
away. What do you do ?
- Swim
with the kayak to the paddle - do not let go of the kayak.
After
capsizing, why might you slap the bottom of the boat three or four times
before you come out of the boat ?
- It
attracts attention. It tells people that you are not panicking and
are alright. It encourages someone to rescue you before you come
out of your boat.
You
have capsized in a river, and come out of your boat. Someone in their
kayak is coming to tow you to the bank - where would you hold on to
your kayak ?
- At
one of the ends, holding on to the toggle.
When
should you wear a helmet ?
- If
there is any risk of capsizing and hitting your head on the bottom,
or on rocks - particularily on rivers.
What
is the difference between a buoyancy aid and a life jacket ?
- A
buoyancy aid will give support to a conscious swimmer.
- A
life jacket is designed to keep an unconscious body floating in
such a way that the head is out of the water, and breathing is not
affected by the water.
You
are going on a trip by kayak which will involve a lunch break. How would
you pack your lunch ?
- Use
a guaranteed waterproof container - preferably with a screw-on lid.
What
is the best way to provide yourself with a hot drink for your lunch
break ?
- Use
an all stainless steel unbreakable thermos flask.
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