Re: [Paddlewise] self rescue techniques

You can attach a loop directly to the paddleshaft which is quick and easy, but the
loop can slide out from the boat and if you rig under the kayak on both sides of
the shaft it gets to be a lot of fussing about.  Around the cockpit is an Ok way to
go, but even then if you have a person who is overweight or has not mastered
swimming up onto the kayak they will fail using this.  It takes almost no upper
body strength to get up on a kayak once you master the technique.

If I have a student who is having trouble getting in during a rafting up rescue
they often don't do much better with a sling, and I hate all the fuss of rigging
one.  A little coaching on good swimming onto the deck technique and a good tug on
the shoulder strap of their PFD is usually more effective for an assited rescue.

As for self rescue solo with slings my parents have adopted a method in their
double where they have one inch nylon webbing slings attached behind their seats
and kept safe from becoming an entanglement hazard by being under elastic bungie
cords when not in use.  They can get in without the slings, but both are in their
70s and it is hard for them to get onto the high deck of a double without lots of
bruises.  I think prior to getting the slings their neighbors around the lake
suspected them of spousal abuse from all the bruises!

Dave Kruger wrote:

> Allison Corning wrote:
>
> > I was watching a video of rescue techniques the other day and saw mostly the
> > usual stuff, paddlefloats, t rescues etc. and then the hosts did a
> > modification on their paddle float rescue where they attached nylon webbing
> > to the paddle shaft and made a stirrup-the person then stepped into the
> > stirrup and was given a "boost" back into the kayak. I'm looking at this
> > tape and thinking to myself "you've got to be kidding me".
>
> Less cumbersome and quicker is to carry a loop of webbing which will fit around
> the cockpit and hang down in the water so the paddler can get her/his foot into
> it to help him/her back into the cockpit.  Some forethought is necessary:  put
> a carabiner (or similar) on the loop so it will slide to the low point of the
> end of the loop in the water, and also attach a float so the whole thing will
> not disappear into the briny deep.
>
> My experience is that with folks who are heavier than average and/or do not
> have good upper body strength, the loop is necessary to re-enter the cockpit.
> For the fitter crowd, it just makes mounting the deck easier, and less
> fatiguing.  Takes less than 15 seconds to deploy, and the entrapment hazard is
> minimal, because the loop is not firmly attached to the yak.
>
> BTW, I thought T-rescues were disfavored because in the conditions where you
> would need a T-rescue, most likely it would be so rough the T-rescue would be
> unworkable and/or hazardous to life and limb.  Could be I have confused the T
> with another rescue.  The version of the T I know is called "TX" in my 1988
> edition of Dowd's Sea Kayaking (page 123).
>
> --
> Dave Kruger
> Astoria, OR
> ***************************************************************************
> PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
> to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
> Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
> ***************************************************************************



***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************