> From: John Bartlett [mailto:bartlett_at_camosun.bc.ca] snip > > On capsizing: > 1. grab paddle and painter Good idea - the two things you never ever want to let go of. > 2. secure paddle under bungee or strap behind seat I prefer to hang onto my paddle - especially in rough water. Securing the paddle (and having it stay secure) can waste time that could be better spent getting out of the water immediately. > 3. take an orange garbage bag from pfd, inflate by waving in wind Here's where you lost me. The question that came to my mind is why? If inflating a paddle float that will fit tightly on the paddle blade is too difficult, why not use a foam float? Or partially inflate the paddlefloat while on shore before departing so that it only takes a few puffs to finish it off. > 4. allow a few litres of water to enter bag (for ballast) and > tie bag's > neck around paddle Seems like a lot of work to get this bag secured. I don't think you'll really need water in the bag as ballast. You'll be putting plenty of weight on it when you get up on it. > 5. slide aboard and lean on bag side of boat for stability > while bailing > or pumping This works. The whole thing could probably work, I'd just advise trying it out several times before you place any confidence in it (that goes for any self rescue technique!). Do it first in calm conditions and work up to conditions that might really cause you to flip that folbot. Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Okay, let me add my two cents on this one. And it comes from a geographic bias - Australia - albeit I am living in the States for a short while. One method that is used reasonably extensively is to re-enter and roll, attach the spray skirt and use an electric pump to extract the water. Advantages: hands free, so you can paddle away from the conditions that tipped you in the first place; very quick and you don't need a whole lot of expensive products requiring storage and time to set/blow up. To answer Doug's question about a paddle leash: I use one. When I am upside down having pulled myself into the cockpit (two hands required, I can lean forward and grab the leash, pull the paddle to me, set up and roll up. My thoughts are not to rush it. I use an Attwood battery operated pump (3 x D cells) which I secure behind my seat. One push of the button and the pump starts, thread the hose up through the sprayskirt and out the water goes. I also use the pump to extract the water out of our kids wading pool. It has proved itself on numerous occasions. You can look at Laurie Ford's web page for a detailed description of a fixed electric pump (http://www.tassie.net.au/~lford/index.htm#links <http://www.tassie.net.au/~lford/index.htm#links> ). For a detailed look at the problem of getting water out of a flooded cockpit, take a gander at the article by Andrew Eddy on the NSW SKC web page at http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/mag/35/pumps1.html <http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/mag/35/pumps1.html> and the one other one is about the use of foot pumps described by Norm Sanders at http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/mag/35/pumps2.html <http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/mag/35/pumps2.html> The essence of this method is the strong emphasis on paddling skills and the ability to re-enter and roll. This ability is often the focus of club paddles and training days. But then our water is (generally) so much warmer..... Regards, Damon Howes Yorktown, VA *************************************************************************** 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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