>> Could someone who has successfully done a T-rescue with a fully loaded sea kayak please advise me just how it is accomplished. I have been unable to lift the bow out of the water at all from a kayak. Does the victim push the stern down? Do two people lift the bow between them? Matt Broze >> When I first started kayaking, I read all the books I could on the subject. I think all that showed how to empty a kayak using a T, X, or HI rescue cautioned that it could be difficult if not hazardous with a loaded kayak, and that a loaded kayak could also damage the paddles used in an HI rescue. Therefore, my practice with a loaded kayak has always been to get the paddler back into the kayak first, and then pump it out. BTW, the BCU now teaches that you should turn a capsized kayak upright before you pull it up on your kayak to empty it. This makes it possible to get the kayak up over your deck (or lap) by pulling rather than lifting. You then turn the kayak over to drain the water out. I have never attempted a T-rescue on a loaded kayak, but during a class several years ago I attempted one on a Chinook that lacked a forward bulkhead. Even though there was a flotation bag in the bow of the kayak (mine, since the owner did not provide one), the weight of the water in the bow made it impossible for me to lift it. That was before I learned the new BCU method. A few weeks ago while practicing rescues, I had no trouble doing a T-rescue on another kayak that had a flotation bag but no forward bulkhead, but this time I used the BCU method to get it up on my kayak. Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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