Re: [Paddlewise] bouncing boats

In our club we have done at least one T-rescue with a fully loaded boat.  The
paddler was a fairly experienced paddler who just wasn't paying attention when
he got knocked over, and the conditons were moderate.  I like the idea of
shoving the boat down to get some bounce from the bouancy, put setting that tip
aside the key is either to get the swimmer to swim and kick while putting his
weight on the stern to lighten the bow, or to drag the kayak rather than lifting
it.  The BCU currently favors dragging the boat onto your deck with the keel
down (this makes it easier to get it started if you have one of those nifty
looking upswept brit-boat bows), and then turning it to empty it once you have
it pretty well out of the water.

I agree it is a pain with a loaded boat, and since my spray skirt already
consists of 50% Aquaseal and patches the idea of dragging a loaded boat across
it has little appeal.  If it is really rough or the paddler who capsized is not
someone you trust to be calm and helpful in a T-rescue rafting up is the way to
go.  I had a guy in 3-5 foot seas who came out of his boat 4 times before I
finally put paddle float training wheels on him and towed him.  I did not even
consider doing a T-rescue with him in an unloaded boat, because if we had
problems with the rescue with even one failed attempt I was afraid he might
panic.

One trick on the rafting up rescue- Rather than draping your body across the
other boat and grabbing an outside deck line, grab the inside cockpit coaming
near the front on each side with your hands with your elbows to the outside
before laying down on their deck.  With boats facing each other (the kiss
position) this takes all the wiggle out of the raft and even the most terrified
beginner could get up on the boat and do handsprings without that disconcerting
roll and wiggle.  With the boats rock steady and you facing the swimmer as they
get in this is good way to deal with a nervous victum who needs moral support as
well as a hand getting back in his/her kayak.

HTERVORT_at_aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 6/24/99 4:14:35 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> nicholas.gill_at_adfa.edu.au writes:
>
> << as a relatively slight individual I always thought rescues involving
>  lifting boats had whiskers on it for many paddlers. Another reason for
>  pumps. Just flip, climb in and pump. did just such a rescue with a loaded
>  boat on the weekend after a capsize in the ocean. >>
>
> Right, Mate-
>
> Works O.K. if you've got the time and the energy, but dumping the boat is
> sooo much faster and sooo much easier, that pumping makes no sense with an
> unladen craft.  With a loaded boat, I only consider lifting if I need to bug
> out real quickly, such as doing a rescue at the edge of a surf zone or near
> rocks, etc.  Off course, if you have qualified help, you could anchor the
> rescue raft with a capable kayaker at the working end of a towline and then
> take all the time you like to pump out (provided your helper has a sense of
> humor).
>
> Harold.
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