Re: [Paddlewise] Pumping more water

Clyde;
There are several points that you might want to consider as you plan
your self rescue techniques.  The first one is to keep it simple.  Your
idea of trying to empty your boat before you get back in (by partially
climbing on top of it or by positioning yourself downwind) will indeed
force you to spend an inordinate amount of time in the water.  The
purpose of a self rescue is to get out of the water as fast as
possible.  If your system does not allow for that then you might want to
consider modifying your system.  Trying to remain on, but not in, your
kayak while emptying would be exhausting in itself, not even factoring
in hypothermia.  Another point to consider is that, whatever system you
finally adopt, you should never depend on opening your bow or stern
hatch in order to implement it.  To remove your hatches is to compromise
your boats flotation and such a move should be avoided at almost all
costs.  (Remember, it is much easier to see a boat from the air or sea
than it is to see a swimmer in the water.)
If you can't roll then you will need some method to stabalize your kayak
in order to get back in.  Practice using your sponsons or learn how to
use a paddlefloat.  Both of these methods can be used to stablize your
boat as you empty it.

John Winskill


Sisler, Clyde wrote:
> 
> I'm still thinking about pumping water in rough seas by myself with a
> hand pump, although I will be on the lookout for a foot pump (or some
> sort of substitute) at a reasonable price ($175US is not reasonable).
> 
> A general rule of survival is to try to think of all the things that can
> go wrong and then have some sort of plan in case one of those unhappy
> circumstances occur.  That's all I'm trying to do here.
> 
> My thinking now says, if I'm in the water, by myself, in rough seas with
> a cockpit full of water that I can't empty by lifting the kayak up and
> flipping it, to not bother with a self rescue at that point because I
> won't be able to stay upright long enough to pump the water out anyway.
> Instead, I'd attempt to pump the water out before getting in.  Can I do
> that?
> 
> I'm on the Maine USA coast so the water is pretty cold.  The wind is
> heavy, the swells are large and frequent or the waves are big and
> choppy.  I'm not in a surf zone so are the waves breaking over me
> frequently?
> 
> If they are, can I get down wind of the kayak, roll it halfway or three
> quarters of the way towards me, let the waves break on the bottom while
> I pump water?
> 
> Or can I get up wind of the kayak, leap up and cover the cockpit with my
> torso, let the waves break over me, and try to pump that way?
> 
> Or can I take off my spray skirt, attach it to the cockpit and pump the
> water out through it?
> 
> If I can do any of these things, will I be hypothermic by the time I'm
> done or still have the strength to try to do a self rescue?  What if I
> can't?
> 
> I have those little floaty, yellow things (dare I say the "S" word?)
> that attach to the sides of a kayak.  I will have (soon) floatation bags
> for bow and stern.  If I'm on a camping trip, they'll probably just be
> rolled up near the hatch.  If I'm on a day trip, they'll be at least
> partially inflated and in place.  Maybe I can make a little raft to help
> keep the old bod out of the water.
> 
> The floatation bags (will) have grommets on the wide end but nothing on
> the skinny end.  Maybe I'd have a pre-attached line going through the
> grommets, that can go over the body, wrap around the skinny end and tie
> back up around the grommets.  That should help keep the torso out of the
> water.  The yellow floaty things could be used in a similar manner to
> help keep the legs out of the water.
> 
> I would have to take the hatch covers off to get at the floatation bags.
> If they're just rolled up and near the hatch, I should be able to
> partially lift the hatch and cover to get them out.  If they're
> inflated, I'd have to cover the hatch with my torso or spray skirt
> (assuming it would fit) while I worked to deflate them.
> 
> If I was camping and the hatches were full, it would be my
> responsibility to ensure the floatation bags were the last things loaded
> so they would be readily available or maybe keep them in the cockpit as
> part of the emergency equipment.  I have a cockpit cover that I would
> start carrying, to keep water out of the cockpit.
> 
> I don't plan on putting myself in a position where any of this will be
> needed but s**t happens and if it does, I want to come out of it
> smelling like a rose :-).
> 
> BTW, the floatation bags I'm looking at are only 42".  I figure that
> will be adequate since I don't really want to fill the hatches up
> completely.  I'll always have extra clothes, porta-pottie stuff, first
> aid stuff, etc tucked away.
>
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