Re: [Paddlewise] Exiting a kayak

Woody - I'll post this to the list too, and probably get criticised for it.
It's not a technique which is acceptable to all paddlers, but if properly
done, it's simple, easy, and safe for both boat and paddle: 

This will work with a larger cockpit or with a keyhole cockpit, but (for me,
anyway) not with the smaller "ocean" cockpits. 

In a 12-18 inches of water, use the paddle as a brace. Place it across your
rear deck, about 4 inches behind the cockpit, **non-power** face upward. Do
not sit on the paddle!! Do not let the blade touch the bottom. With your
weight right in the center of the boat, one arm supporting your weight on the
cockpit rim and one arm supporting your weight on the paddle shaft jright at
the sheerline of the boat, slide your butt back, lift one lower extremity (the
one on the side where the paddle blade is in the water) out of the cockpit
leaving the other leg and thigh in the cockpit. The extremity should come of
the boat, into the water, and onto the bottom in one smooth motion. 

If necessary, let your weight shift very slightly toward the outboard end of
the paddle. Lift out the other extremity, turning sideways. Bend your knees
acutely, lean forward, and take your weight onto your legs as you come up out
of the boat.

If you do this right, you'll usually not need to touch the paddle blade to the
bottom, but it's there if you need a couple of pounds of bracing for balance
control. It is a balance exercise, like much of good paddling technique, and
it gets much easier with practice.

Here's why some people hate this technique: there are too many folks who
actually sit on the paddle as they get out of the boat. That's a wonderful way
to wreck a paddle.

Does this technique always work, for me? Weeeell......99% of the time... But
as others have written, it has failed me when the most important people were
watching. One memorable day last summer, a woman I really  know well allowed
me to borrow her brand-new Surge (a beautiful sporty light-layup kayak, very
pricey). "Just don't scratch my kayak" she said as I hopped in. I paddled it
for 30 minutes or so, impressed with the boat. As she watched from a dock in
the middle distance, I exited the boat - and flipped into the water as I did.
Arggggh!!! Ignominy! Embarrassment! Shame! (But I didn't scratch the boat). -
Bill Hansen
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