There is a technique I learned for rescuing swamped boats with inadequate flotation (missing/lost flotation bags, blown bulkhead, whatever). The people who taught it to me called it "Cleopatra's Needle." Come alongside the swamped boat and SLOWLY pull it to a level position. Even if it is fully swamped, it can be moved through the water slowly although it is impossible to move quickly. When the boat is elevated to the surface and level, begin to rotate it and lift just a little to allow water to spill out of the cockpit. As water spills out, the boat will lighted and you'll be able to lift and rotate more effectively. Eventually, you'll get enough water out of the boat to provide essential stability. If the boat is not too heavy intrinsically, then a T-rescue will empty most of the rest of the water. Bob V *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Jan.. Hope you don't mind my posting this to the list instead of staying back-channel. The situation you describe is indeed difficult. With no one else around, I'd imagine that the best course would be as follows. Right the boat without trying to empty it, since it will be impossible to lift in this condition. With one swimmer (the one who paddles in front) holding on to one side of the boat to steady it, the rear-seat paddler climbs up and into the boat in the usual way. This might be a little easier than usual, since the boat will be very low in the water. Since you use the word family, I'll assume we have a child here in addition to two paddlers. Next, the child is helped aboard while the first paddler stabilizes from outside and the second paddler stabilizes with the paddle and/or helps to pull in the child. A paddle float will be VERY handy here! Next, the rear-seat paddler stabilizes the boat using the paddle (with float, hopefully) while the first paddler comes in. If there is bailing equipment on board, now's the time to use it. Take your time, avoid getting exhausted. You needn't bail the boat dry unless you all feel fit enough to continue and conditions are good. Otherwise, just bail enough for stability and get yourselves to shore for a warm-up and rest. If there is no bailing equipment (don't make that mistake again), the boat will be unstable, but you should be able to paddle it to shore with care. Bob >Hi Bob, >Thanks for sharing the information on the Cleopatra's Needle. I don't think >I was clear about the kind of situation that I was looking for help with. >The Cleopatra's Needle technique involves at least one other kayak. What >about if this family is in the Old Town Loon and capsizes with out anyone >else being around? This is the situation that has stumped me. How can anyone >rescue an Old Town Loon double when they are on their own. >Jan > > There is a technique I learned for rescuing swamped boats with > inadequate flotation (missing/lost flotation bags, blown bulkhead, whatever). The > people who taught it to me called it "Cleopatra's Needle." > > Come alongside the swamped boat and SLOWLY pull it to a level position. > Even if it is fully swamped, it can be moved through the water slowly > although it is impossible to move quickly. When the boat is elevated to > the surface and level, begin to rotate it and lift just a little to allow > water to spill out of the cockpit. As water spills out, the boat will lighten > and you'll be able to lift and rotate more effectively. Eventually, you'll > get enough water out of the boat to provide essential stability. If the > boat is not too heavy intrinsically, then a T-rescue will empty most of the rest > of the water. > > Bob V *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Bob Volin wrote: > > Hi Jan.. > Hope you don't mind my posting this to the list instead of staying > back-channel. > > The situation you describe is indeed difficult. With no one else around, > I'd imagine that the best course would be as follows. > > Right the boat without trying to empty it, since it will be impossible to > lift in this condition. There was an earlier postiong that had some outfitter saying to someone that you cannot self-rescue in a double. I was meaning to answer that one and perhaps can do so via comments on this post. First, of all doubles are not difficult to self-rescue in. It has been done for 50 years in double Kleppers with excellent results if the paddlers know how. I would differ with the point about not trying to empty out first. You can get an amazing amount of water out of a swamped double. Leave it upside down, and have the heaviest of the two paddlers crawl up on the stern. This will raise the bow and water will come pouring out. Another routine is to go under the upside down boat (this is something that Bill Lozano was big on when Atlantic Kayak Tours was strictly folding kayaks, mainly doubles). It is a routine borrowed from righting canoes. The two paddlers get underneath and almost invariably they will find an air pocket there to breath and relax a few seconds in the relative quiet (it is called the zone of silence among canoeists). Get themselves composed and agreed on which way to turn the double right side up, they first rock it a bit to break some of the water's adhesion to the inside walls of the kayak, then flip the boat. It will then be rightside up and largely emptied. So do try to empty it first. Another trick that works for a quick partial emptying out, but only in a folding kayak is to take advantage of the bouyancy of the air sponsons. If you can get the boat up on its side (this works better in an assisted rescue but doable in a solo rescue), do so. The boat will rise quite a bit on the lowest sponson and water will come cascading out of the cockpit. > With one swimmer (the one who paddles in front) > holding on to one side of the boat to steady it, the rear-seat paddler > climbs up and into the boat in the usual way. This might be a little easier > than usual, since the boat will be very low in the water. Since you use the > word family, I'll assume we have a child here in addition to two paddlers. > Next, the child is helped aboard while the first paddler stabilizes from > outside and the second paddler stabilizes with the paddle and/or helps to > pull in the child. A paddle float will be VERY handy here! Next, the > rear-seat paddler stabilizes the boat using the paddle (with float, > hopefully) while the first paddler comes in. Generally in a rescue of a double, you want to get the rear person in first as Bob suggests as they then are in a position to control the rudder (most doubles are ruddered). This is handy for keeping the boat pointed into any seas or wind while getting in the second person in. You can come in from one side as Bob explains while the other person holds the other side. Or the boat can be held surprisingly steady with one person hugging the bow, albeit this latter works better in a folding kayak. The second person can come in the way Bob suggests or crawl in from the front bow, a longish trip but easier on the rear person's bracing skills. When crawling along the bow, keep both feet in the wate as this will act as virtual outriggers. > If there is bailing equipment on board, now's the time to use it. Bailing out a fully swamped double boat, even one with sizable flotation bags in the bow and stern, is a difficult task. Try some of the quick emptying tactics mentioned earlier in this post as it will get rid of at least a third if not most of the water. None of this double kayak rescue stuff is new. I did a whole chapter on it in the FK book specifically because most folding kayaks tend to be doubles. I have not seen much in other sea kayak manuals about doubles. They are the threadbare stepchild of the glamourous world of sea kayaking where people prefer singles and frown on doubles. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Ralph wrote: BIG snip >Generally in a rescue of a double, you want to get the rear person >in first as Bob suggests as they then are in a position to control >the rudder (most doubles are ruddered). This is handy for keeping >the boat pointed into any seas or wind while getting in the second >person in. BIG snip In my eyes that -the rudder control- isn't the reason why the person in the rear should reenter first. From my experience rudders on kayaks work only if the boat moves actively against a water current or faster than a current with it. You need water current to hit the rudder to turn the boat into a direction. I agree that the first should enter onto the rear position. That's were he/she is able to see what #2 is doing and can react (bracing, sculling, give a helping hand..) without twisting the head to see what is going on with #2 when #1 would enter into the front position first. My 2 Cents Ulli Ulli Hoeger Dept. Physiology and Biophysics Dalhousie University Halifax, B3H4H7, Nova Scotia Canada Phone I : 902-494-2673 Fax: 902-494-1685 Phone II :902-488-6796 http://is.dal.ca/~uhoeger *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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