Re: [Paddlewise] Exiting a kayak

Bob, I think you'll find that the trick is finding exactly where to put the
hand that balances on the rear of the coaming when you're getting out.  You
generally want to keep the weight over the midline of the kayak.  The
problem is that the balance shifts as you move your legs out of the boat.
The process is akin to the one the waitress goes through as she removes all
those beer bottles (or coffee cups, take your pick), one by one, from her
tray.  ;->

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Woodard <woodardr_at_tidalwave.net>
To: Paddlewise <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Date: Monday, February 08, 1999 10:08 PM
Subject: [Paddlewise] Exiting a kayak


>
>This may sound nutty, but is there an easy way...no scratch that... Is
there
>a "graceful" way to exit a kayak in water a foot deep or so?
>
>I find if I exit next to a sandy bank, where the kayak is parallel to the
>shore and actually rests on the bottom or withing an inch or so, no problem
>at all. On the other hand, some of the places I've gone only have a boat
>ramp to access the water (rocky, no shoreline access). In an attempt to
save
>my kayak from the harsh treatment of the concrete boat ramp, I'll enter and
>exit in about a foot of water, parallel to the ramp. Getting in is easy
>enough. Getting out, especially after a long paddle is really quite
>embassasing.
>
>Any tips out there that can save me the embarrasment of getting dunked at
>the take out?
>
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Woody
>
>P.S. I guess I should describe how I do it now:
>I lift myself up with my arms onto the rear deck, then I *attempt* to get
my
>feet out and into the water before I flip over on the side. The boat ramps
>are usually pretty steep so it seem very awkward to hold the paddle to the
>rear deck and against the ramp while getting out.
>
>Score:
> Me 1 (barely)
> boat 1 (in front a a crowd no less)
>
>
>***************************************************************************
>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/
***************************************************************************