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From: Alex Ferguson <a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] successful (stirrup) re-entry
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 1999 09:11:35 +1200
>David Seng wrote:
>
>>  I assume that most people are aware of the technique but you can
>>  also get a piece of rope about 15' long and tie the ends to form
>>  a loop.  Lay the paddle across the deck and through the loop......

>A variation on this theme if you are rescueing another boat: Bring your boat 
>parallel to the righted victim's boat. Being careful not to get your hands 
>pinched, lower a paddle (preferably the rescuee's) between the boats,.....
>........
>Disadvantages: theroretical possilbility of breaking paddleshaft with a very 
>heavy victim (but you're both carrying spares, right?)

Now has anyone actually done this when it is blowing a gale and all the
waves are breaking and everything is trying to fall apart? Personally I
haven't and wouldn't even consider it - takes too long, too prone to fail
in those conditions and yes, I've done rescues in those conditions.

The rescuer should be leaning with all their upper body weight on the
fore-deck of the other kayak, arms locked under the decklines (there are
decklines?). The boats are now stable and locked together. It is possible
to unlock the rescuees-side arm, reach a hand out and grasp the back of the
other person's PFD and assist them in over the side of their kayak. 

Better, if you haven't got the strength to rescue yourself, you should have
your own loop to wrap round your cockpit rim and use as a stirrup - no
tying, no placing of paddles, complete simplicity. An alternative, a loop
with a carabiner and reach across and attach it to the far side deck line
just aft of the cockpit. NOTE - proper deck lines, not bungies.

As a guide with beginners, you carry the loop already to a suitable length.

A short length of rope, tied or hooked to a deckline, and a velco strap cut
off a pair of old Teva type sandles makes a good paddle park.

Alex
Alex (Sandy) Ferguson
Chemistry Department
University of Canterbury
New Zealand
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From: Elaine Harmon <eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] successful (stirrup) re-entry
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 1999 18:59:08 -0400 (EDT)
On Tue, 6 Jul 1999, Alex Ferguson wrote:

> The rescuer should be leaning with all their upper body weight on the
> fore-deck of the other kayak, arms locked under the decklines (there are
> decklines?). The boats are now stable and locked together. It is possible
> to unlock the rescuees-side arm, reach a hand out and grasp the back of the
> other person's PFD and assist them in over the side of their kayak. 

Actually, I don't know if I'd rescue anyone who carried a side-arm in his
kayak.... ;-)..... eh


Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu

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From: <wanewman_at_uswest.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] successful (stirrup) re-entry
Date: Thu, 08 Jul 1999 22:25:11 -0500
All this fussing with long loops of rope and paddles sounds a bit tricky in rough
conditions.  My parents are both in their 70s and although they can get back into
their double kayak without stirrups it is difficult and they usually get lots of
bruises (I think their friends suspect spousal abuse on both sides after they
have practiced rescues).  They came up with a system where they use loops of one
inch nylon webbing already attached inside the boat behind their seats.  The
webbing is secured under an elastic behind them so there is no risk of
entanglement.  They just have one steady the boat while the other pops out a
sling and climbs in, and then the second climbs in on their sling while the first
steadys the boat with a sculling brace.  Very slick rig!  Quick and easy entry
without the bruises.

Alex Ferguson wrote:

> >David Seng wrote:
> >
> >>  I assume that most people are aware of the technique but you can
> >>  also get a piece of rope about 15' long and tie the ends to form
> >>  a loop.  Lay the paddle across the deck and through the loop......
>
> >A variation on this theme if you are rescueing another boat: Bring your boat
> >parallel to the righted victim's boat. Being careful not to get your hands
> >pinched, lower a paddle (preferably the rescuee's) between the boats,.....
> >........
> >Disadvantages: theroretical possilbility of breaking paddleshaft with a very
> >heavy victim (but you're both carrying spares, right?)
>
> Now has anyone actually done this when it is blowing a gale and all the
> waves are breaking and everything is trying to fall apart? Personally I
> haven't and wouldn't even consider it - takes too long, too prone to fail
> in those conditions and yes, I've done rescues in those conditions.
>
> The rescuer should be leaning with all their upper body weight on the
> fore-deck of the other kayak, arms locked under the decklines (there are
> decklines?). The boats are now stable and locked together. It is possible
> to unlock the rescuees-side arm, reach a hand out and grasp the back of the
> other person's PFD and assist them in over the side of their kayak.
>
> Better, if you haven't got the strength to rescue yourself, you should have
> your own loop to wrap round your cockpit rim and use as a stirrup - no
> tying, no placing of paddles, complete simplicity. An alternative, a loop
> with a carabiner and reach across and attach it to the far side deck line
> just aft of the cockpit. NOTE - proper deck lines, not bungies.
>
> As a guide with beginners, you carry the loop already to a suitable length.
>
> A short length of rope, tied or hooked to a deckline, and a velco strap cut
> off a pair of old Teva type sandles makes a good paddle park.
>
> Alex
> Alex (Sandy) Ferguson
> Chemistry Department
> University of Canterbury
> New Zealand
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