Re: [Paddlewise] Ripped Out of the Cockpit?

In a message dated 1/11/00 8:12:16 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
Strosaker_at_aol.com writes:

> I occasionally read stories about kayakers being ripped, sucked, yanked or 
>  whatever out of the cockpit when they are thrashed by some big wave in the 
>  surf.

Been there, done that.  I paddle lots of boats that are mostly stock, and I 
am rather on the short side (my height, darn it).  I've been both partially 
and totally pulled out of boats during thrashings and I know people who are 
younger, taller and stronger than myself who also have been.  

I attribute these embarrassing and sometimes dangerous events to a number of 
things:

1.   Boat Fit.  Others have mentioned this.  Many manufacturers in recent 
years have come out with much-improved thigh braces, which make many stock 
boats easier to hold onto than they used to be.  However, for complete 
security, most usually need some additional padding.  I've had problems with 
boats that otherwise fit OK solely due to the lack of hip padding.  We use 
Velcro-attached hips in our WW and surf class boats to outfit for various 
paddlers, and I have trouble staying in them if I forget to snap in some pads.

2.   Slippage.  I have had problems with seating surfaces which were too 
slippery (an outfitting problem), but also when wearing multiple layers of 
clothing -- due to slippage between adjacent layers.  During warm-water / 
cool weather paddles, I sometimes wear lightweight goretex pants over poly 
long johns  These slippery fabrics have made bracing and rolling precarious 
for me on occasion.  Again, this is more likely when paddling a boat which is 
not optimally fitted out for me.

3.   Impact.  I have a friend who is an accomplished Class-5 WW boater, 
squirt-boater and experienced sea kayak guide who had never wet-exited 
outside of demos and practice in his entire paddling career.  Then he was 
caught inside of an 8 to 10-foot sneaker wave, went over the falls 
(backwards) and landed upside down.  He doesn't even remember being blasted 
out of the boat upon impact.  Boat fit may not help here.

4.   Surprise.  I have capsized on waves suddenly and been surprised by the 
unexpected force of that particular wave.  I have come close to being plucked 
from boats this way, needing to grab the coaming and pull myself back in 
place before I could effectively roll.  Shouldn't happen, but sometime you 
just might not be focused.  Here, optimal boat fitting will help, but is no 
guarantee.

5.   Foot Slippage.  Nick Gill mentioned the footbraces in his Skerray RM.  
In fact, the footpegs supplied with our VCP boats are Yakimas, which are as 
good or better than the Keepers which are so common on US boats.  But I, too 
have had problems in big water when my foot has slipped off various footpegs, 
loosening my knee-grip on one side and forcing me to hold onto the boat in 
ways the human body is not designed for.  Boat fit helps here, but can be 
negated by slippery pegs or soles.  Cleaning the soles of your shoes every 
time you enter the boat is a good policy.

6.   Wrong place / wrong time.  No matter how bad and mean you may be, 
there's bound to be a wave out there that's badder and meaner.  Not being 
there is sometimes the only thing that can save you.

9.   Wimp Factor.  Maybe I just didn't eat my Wheaties.


Keep getting trashed on a regular basis and it just might happen to you, too 
Duane.  But my advise is to take your legs with you :^). 


Happy paddling 

Harold




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