> For years I have been teaching paddlers how to re-enter a kayak without >sponsons or paddle float. I find that the majority of paddlers can, with a >little practice and the right technique, climb back into their kayaks quickly >with a fair amount of ease. Onced learned I have had my students successfully >manage to climb back into their boats in the surf zone between waves. This is >the technique I use for jumping in and out of my boat for spearfishing, and I >paddle a boat with a 22.5" beam. Of course this implies learning and >practicing a new skill, which at least for myself I find much more enjoyable >and handy then loading my boat down with a bunch of safety equipment (which >incidentally also requires learning and practicing how to use properly). > >Scott >So.Cal. Scott, so what's your technique ? Although I have only tried this in a protected harbor, I found that I could quite easily climb back into my 22" beam boat without any aides other than paddle. My technique was basically to put the paddle across the righted boat, holding paddle and decklines on each side of the boat behind the cockpit. With the (feathered) paddle aligned with the blade on my side in a low brace position, I ducked under the water and with the assist of wetsuit/pfd buoyancy and a leg kick quickly pull my body onto the rear deck, facing forward, with one leg over each side. With legs in the water this is surprisingly stable even with an empty boat, and the paddle is in your hands ready to brace or sweep. I can then pull myself forward until I can slide down to sit into the cockpit, feet still in the water. I have a boat with a large key hole cockpit, and I can then bring my feet in from this position. I'm not pushing this method for self rescue .... infact I've only done it twice in flatish water - but it really was quite simple, and worked with an unladen boat the first time I tried it. In rough water, with waves breaking into the open cockpit .... Playing about getting in/out/on boats is fun, but if I was out for a paddle at sea I would rather concentrate on : not falling over if I fall over, not coming out of my boat :-) I have generally enjoyed these discussions, but does anyone else wonder why we can spend such a disproportionate amount of time pondering self rescue methods, to the actual amount of time that they are required ? Climbers who spend all their time talking about rope work and protection are generally novices - after a while they either stop climbing or are more interested in talking about climbs, moves, trips etc. If you are a novice paddler likely to fall out of your boat in conditions where paddle float/sponson/device X rescues are feasible, and being a novice you are foolish enough to choose to go out alone in conditions where you are likely to fall over, then OK I can see the mileage in discussing solo ways to get back in. However, the recent survey on wave~length demonstrated that for paddlers with a bit of experience falling out of your boat in strait forward conditions isn't terribly important and I guess that many would agree that conditions which actually threatened most paddlers with ejection from the boat would: - ideally be solved by a very speedy re-entry to regain control of the boat - probably prevent self rescue by any method other than re-entry and roll - alternatively be solved with assistance by rescue from a companion or tow to better conditions. For me it follows then that there is simple hierarchy of successful responses which solve the dilemma of being upside down: 1 roll back up 2 wet exit, re-enter and roll back up 3 recruit companion for assisted rescue If you can perform the first two options then fine, no problem, hey you'r sea kayaking ... having fun! If you can't perform 1 or 2 then your friendly paddling companions can assist you with 3. Oh! you forgot your companions ? Hmm, after exhausting the possibilities with the inflatable bags you have a wee while in the water to ponder the error of your ways .... What was it Arthur Ransome wrote in the classic 'Swallows and Amazons' ... something like 'Better drowned than duffers, If not duffers wont drown' ? Cheers Colin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
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