hi all, I have 2 questions for anyone who has 2 cents worth of input. 1. i am paddling an 18 ft x 21" hard chined greenland sea kayak and havent been able to purchase a sprayskirt yet (college budget), so due to my low initial stabillity i am trying to develop the perfect self rescue. so far i have been toying with what i believe is the "cowboy method" which is to straddle the stern with the kayak upside down and submerge it to drain the cockpit. i have had mixed success especially in rougher conditions and am wondering if anyone can suggest a better way. my cockpit is very small so my re-entry is basically to face the stern from my stomach, slide my feet in and try to brace. Re-entry works fairly well. any ideas? 2. my stern hatch leaks around the lining which is 1/4 " neoprene sponge epoxied (probably not the smartest thing i ever did) to the underside rim. i read something about inflatable lining on a message earlier, anyone know more about it????? or can someone suggest a more appropriate material to use? i also tried rubber weatherstripping that was self adhesive but repeatedly came off. HELP... thanks, robin. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Robin, If you are looking for a reliable self rescue in rough conditions, only one works --reentry and roll. You may use a paddlefloat to aid in your rolling if you still do not have a reliable roll, or you are very tired. As for emptying the water out of the kayak, my best advice in rough conditions is to refrain from attempting it until you get to calmer water or can raft with a partner. However, if you have an electric bilge pump, or foot pump, you may pump the water as you go with your spray skirt on. Read Parker's page (John Winters has a link his homepage) to get the idea. All spray skirts leak; some do more than others. But you should not worry to much about it and get used to carry a small amount of water in your bilge. Your time is better employed paddling than pumping water. For a Greenland small cockpit I recommend the neoprene spray skirt that is made for the Valley skerray or pintail. It is worth the expense. Happy paddling, - Julio > > hi all, > I have 2 questions for anyone who has 2 cents worth of input. > 1. i am paddling an 18 ft x 21" hard chined greenland sea kayak and havent > been able to purchase a sprayskirt yet (college budget), so due to my low > initial stabillity i am trying to develop the perfect self rescue. so far i > have been toying with what i believe is the "cowboy method" which is to > straddle the stern with the kayak upside down and submerge it to drain the > cockpit. i have had mixed success especially in rougher conditions and am > wondering if anyone can suggest a better way. my cockpit is very small so my > re-entry is basically to face the stern from my stomach, slide my feet in and > try to brace. Re-entry works fairly well. any ideas? > 2. my stern hatch leaks around the lining which is 1/4 " neoprene sponge > epoxied (probably not the smartest thing i ever did) to the underside rim. i > read something about inflatable lining on a message earlier, anyone know more > about it????? or can someone suggest a more appropriate material to use? i > also tried rubber weatherstripping that was self adhesive but repeatedly came > off. HELP... > thanks, > robin. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
On Mon, 28 Sep 1998, Julio MacWilliams wrote: > Robin, > > If you are looking for a reliable self rescue in rough conditions, only one > works --reentry and roll. You may use a paddlefloat to aid in your rolling if > you still do not have a reliable roll, or you are very tired. > > As for emptying the water out of the kayak, my best advice in rough conditions > is to refrain from attempting it until you get to calmer water or can > raft with a partner. However, if you have an electric bilge pump, or foot > pump, you may pump the water as you go with your spray skirt on. Robin's original email suggested that s/he didn't want to buy a sprayskirt yet: > > 1. i am paddling an 18 ft x 21" hard chined greenland sea kayak and havent > > been able to purchase a sprayskirt yet (college budget), so due to my low > > initial stabillity i am trying to develop the perfect self rescue. so far i Julio's suggestions say "with your spray skirt on!" They're not an alternative to buying a spray skirt. If you're out in rough water, you need the good roll and reentry, but you also need a spray skirt. You can pump till you're blue in the face, but if you don't have a spray skirt you boat will fill up again. Joy Hecht Arlington VA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> Robin, I used to have a Nordkapp. Once you are out of the cockpit (and therefore in the water!) I only found one method that reliably worked getting back in Nordkapps with the small cockpit (as opposed to the keyhole boats). I would slip a paddle float over the end of my paddle. Next, I would enter the boat upside down under water. Next I would grab the cockpit rim with both hands and throw my feet over my head into the boat - kind of like a gymnist on the rings. Next, I would leverage myself back rightside up with the paddle float. Sounds like alot of work? Then stay in the cockpit and roll, or use the paddle float while still in the boat. Honestly, I never saw someone who was able to reliably climp on top of a Nordkapp and wiggle into that little cockpit - the boat is just too tippy. Now I have an Artic Hawk - is is more stable and has a keyhole cockpit. The keyhole makes it much easier to climp into the boat rightside up. - Scott > > > > hi all, > > I have 2 questions for anyone who has 2 cents worth of input. > > 1. i am paddling an 18 ft x 21" hard chined greenland sea kayak and havent > > been able to purchase a sprayskirt yet (college budget), so due to my low > > initial stabillity i am trying to develop the perfect self rescue. so far i > > have been toying with what i believe is the "cowboy method" which is to > > straddle the stern with the kayak upside down and submerge it to drain the > > cockpit. i have had mixed success especially in rougher conditions and am > > wondering if anyone can suggest a better way. my cockpit is very small so my > > re-entry is basically to face the stern from my stomach, slide my feet in and > > try to brace. Re-entry works fairly well. any ideas? > > 2. my stern hatch leaks around the lining which is 1/4 " neoprene sponge > > epoxied (probably not the smartest thing i ever did) to the underside rim. i > > read something about inflatable lining on a message earlier, anyone know more > > about it????? or can someone suggest a more appropriate material to use? i > > also tried rubber weatherstripping that was self adhesive but repeatedly came > > off. HELP... > > thanks, > > robin. > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 01:36 PM 9/28/98 EDT, Gratytshrk_at_aol.com wrote: >hi all, >I have 2 questions for anyone who has 2 cents worth of input. >1. i am paddling an 18 ft x 21" hard chined greenland sea kayak and havent >been able to purchase a sprayskirt yet (college budget), so due to my low >initial stabillity i am trying to develop the perfect self rescue. The perfect self rescue would probably be a roll and I would strongly recommend making a sprayskirt if you can't afford to buy one. Even denim or canvas with bungy cord sewn in works pretty good and you could make one for under $20 (it's much cheaper than being rescued or paying for a casket - or even buying another boat, if yours sinks). The basic issue is that if the conditions are rough enough to capsize you, it's hard to keep water out without a sprayskirt. >2. my stern hatch leaks around the lining which is 1/4 " neoprene sponge >epoxied (probably not the smartest thing i ever did) to the underside rim. i >read something about inflatable lining on a message earlier, anyone know more >about it????? or can someone suggest a more appropriate material to use? i >also tried rubber weatherstripping that was self adhesive but repeatedly came >off. HELP... How is the hatch held on? How is pressure applied to the seal? You can sand or grind off the epoxy if you need to. Neoprene can work fine if the surfaces are close enough to each other to give a good mating surface - i.e they're both flat or curved to match each other, and you apply enough pressure or stretch to get a good seal. You could make an inflatable lining or you could put cam type latches or cam type straps on your cover. It's usually pretty easy as long as the surfaces themselves are in pretty good shape. Good Luck - Saul Saul Kinderis saul_at_isomedia.com tel:(425)402-3426 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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