RE: [Paddlewise] Advanced Rescue Clinic

From: R. Walker <rww_at_mailbox.neosoft.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 08:37:52 +0000
> Any thoughts on how to pump water out of the cockpit in rough
> seas by yourself?    I finally got to see the end of the Eco-Challenge
> with the Seals swamped out and waves breaking over the boat which
> brought the problem back to mind.

Cheater way: electrically powered bilge pump with float
trip switch.  Possible with careful insulation I think.

More practical way, have lots of sealed floatation bags
or foam, and stuff the handpump between your skirt's
waistband and your stomach.

They also supposedly make foot driven pumps, but I've
never found one for sale.

> I have one of those grey and red pumps (I dis-remember the
> brand) and don't think it's long enough to fit down through the waist of
> my spray skirt and operate it with the spray skirt attached.

Push the waistband down some.  You aren't trying to get dry,
you are trying to get 80% of the water out so that you can
recover some secondary stability.

Dowd's kayaking book also suggests the possibility of having
a skirt with a zipper in it, when you don't mind having wet
pants but want to be able to pump easily with the skirt on...
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************
Received on Mon Apr 27 1998 - 06:38:13 PDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:29:56 PDT