Re: [Paddlewise] self rescue techniques

Bob & I each carry a "ladder" - i's basically a loop, but with two "steps
made by knotting the line and stringing it through 6" PVC pipe.  The loop
is large enough to go around the cockpit, and the steps make it even
easier to climb in.  It's pssible to just whip it out of the pocket, get
it around the cockpit and climb right in.  I don't have much upper body
strength and, while my ability to re-enter the kayak has improved
greatly, especially when I'm tired, it's very useful.

Joan

On Wed, 08 Mar 2000 11:12:06 -0500 Bill Leonhardt <WJLeonhardt_at_bnl.gov>
writes:
> At 07:36 AM 3/8/00 PST, "Allison Corning" <acorning_at_hotmail.com> 
> 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". I've 
> been 
> >religeously practicing my self rescues and am always looking for 
> good 
> >alternate ways, but even the hosts took quite a while to arrange 
> the 
> >stirrups just right-I get annoyed enough at the time it takes to 
> inflate the 
> >paddlefloat, I can't imagine that taking the time to attach stirrup 
> would be 
> >at all helpful. Has anyone ever actually done this?
> >
> 
> I've tried this when when it was demonstrated while taking a class 
> in an
> indoor pool.  The advantage is that you can help someone with low 
> upper
> body strength.  Naturally, you would take the time, before-hand, to
> construct a loop that is just right for you (or them).
> 
> I think that using this technique with a single kayak is very hard 
> to do in
> rough water.  With the boat pitching about, threading the loop 
> around would
> be hard.  In addition, when using your paddle to support the loop, 
> you
> don't get as much extention on the padddlefloat side, so there's 
> less
> support from the float.
> 
> I think this technique might have some merit for a two boat rescue.  
> With
> the two boats parallel and paddles between them, a stirrup could be 
> a help
> to a paddler in the water and would not require a paddlefloat.
> 
> Some have, in the past, suggested that you could make a loop to go 
> around
> the cockpit coaming to also act like a stirrup thus eliminating the 
> need to
> thread paddles.
> 
> I also am considering carrying a solid paddlefloat in the winter to
> minimize the "blow-up time".
> 
> Bill Leonhardt
>
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