RE: [Paddlewise] How many backups?

I don't understand this talk of rigging an outrigger for solo rentry
techniques.  If you depend on a particular rigging on a kayak, what happens
when you switch to a different boat?  In short, if you depend on a boat
being setup to support your outrigger, you are screwed when you switch
boats.

This situation bit me once.  I was paddling in a boat that had a rounded
deck behind the cockpit.  I was practicing solo rentry techniques and
couldn't stabilize "the outrigger".  As hard as I tried, I couldn't get into
my boat. Finally, I had to resort to an assisted rentry.

The solution?  A paddlefloat re-entry roll.  This works even if you can't
roll.  The key is to practice getting into the boat upside down and then
easilly rolling back up.  The technique is much easier then the
"traditional" paddlefloat re-entry techniques.  It has the further advantage
of working in realy rough water --- something I question for the
traditional, outrigger technique.   

In fact, The re-entry roll is so much more dependable than the traditional
"outrigger technique" that I think it is irresponsible to teach the
outrigger technique.   I can think of no situation -- even with complete
beginners -- where the outrigger paddlefloat re-entry is preferable to the
re-entry roll.  

So my advice is skip all this worry about how to rig a kayak to support the
outrigger.  The re-entry roll feels weird at first, but once you practice
entering the boat upside down a couple times, the re-entry roll will work
every time.  

--Tim 

-----Original Message-----
From: R. Walker
To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Sent: 10/23/98 10:13 AM
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] How many backups?

> The reason I ask about this is that the techniques seem that they
would
> have  a low probability of success in rough conditions due to the very
> tippy behavior of the kayaks when you're up on the rear deck without
extra
> "outrigger" bouyancy.  Are these useful in real conditions?

You might consider how to rig a more reliable outrigger system for 
precisely this purpose.  In fact, tomorrow, I intend to spend some 
time practicing precisely this in relatively open water, though 
probably rather light winds.  Seeing as one of the things I want to 
do from my kayak is open water diving, I think I need to get some 
open water practice.   I have an outrigger system for my 'yak; but 
its never been tested.   I'll certainly be bringing tools tomorrow!!

I *THINK* the cowboy reentry with outrigger should be the easiest, 
but I'll know by tomorrow evening.  This isn't a paddlefloat outrigger, 
thats for emergencies; but rather a fixed mount with a 4' poll and 
solid foam float on a single side.  The idea being to stay low and 
lean over to the side with the float...



Richard Walker
Houston, TX
http://www.neosoft.com/~rww/kayak_log.html
************************************************************************
***
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/
***************************************************************************