RE: [Paddlewise] Re enrty/roll

At 08:59 AM 1/29/99 -0800, you wrote:
>
>I consider the re-entry roll without a paddle float, in rough conditions to
>be little more than a trick.  It would get you up, but unless you have an
>electric pump, you'd most likely capsize as you tried to pump out the boat.
>
>When you use a paddle float, though, the re-entry roll is a great self
>rescue technique --- even in horrible conditions.  In rough water, its much
>easier than the paddlefloat outrigger rescue.   And once you're up, the
>paddlefloat at the end of the paddle keeps you up while you pump out the
>cockpit. 

Tim, I'm asking this seriously in the hope of learning something, not
flippantly (so to speak). How do you work the pump down the sprayskirt
tunnel and operate it with one hand while bracing on the paddle with the
other. Or were you assuming use of a footpump or electric pump?

 
>
>If John Dowd doesn't like the method, that's his problem.  He knows a lot
>about kayaking, but he's just plain wrong when it comes to the Paddle-float
>re-entry and roll.  Try it sometimes and you'll see what I mean.
>
>>P.S. I've never met John Dowd so I need to emphasize that I am not calling
>him arrogant.  I find the tone of his books a bit arrogant, but that could
>very well just be his writting style, not his personnel style.    

I have had the pleasure of meeting John Dowd in person a few times, and he
certainly doesn't come on at all "big time" In fact, he's retiring to the
point of diffidence. And he's big enough to admit in print that he doesn't
know it all, and that his views reflect the limitations of his (rather
considerable) experience. For example, more recent editions of his "Sea
Kayaking - A Manual for Long Distance Touring" acknowledge the limitations
of rescues such as the "X" and "H" rescues that he taught for years. So, I
imagine he's open to changing his mind if you could make a solid case to
him that this rescue is really viable for some people, and has some
advantages over other techniques.

Cheers  
Philip T.
N49°16' W123°08' 
"The opinions expressed in this posting are not necessarily those of my
employer, or indeed, of any sentient being."
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