Just want to clarify Joan's description of the slings we carry. The sling is made of 1/8"nylon line, which doesn't stretch and which is thin enough to coil into a compact bundle that fits into a PFD pocket. The main loop is long enough to fit around the cockpit coaming and drape down to about six inches below the hull. I just measured it at 92 linear inches, not counting the length of line needed to make the knot (the closed looped, stretched straight, measured 46"). The upper step, made of a 5" (not 6", as I guessed late last night) length of 1/2-inch PVC pipe, is threaded into this upper loop. The lower loop is 30" of line, again not counting the knot. A second 5" length of 1/2" pipe is threaded into this loop, which is also threaded through the first step to join the two loops into a ladder. Deploying the sling is quick and easy. The primary concern is preparatory: coil it so that the line won't tangle. This generally entails taking the sling out of the PFD pocket every once in a while and recoiling it to recover from disruptions that might result from moving other objects in and out of the same pocket. So....assuming the swimmer's boat is right side up and cleared of water, uncoil the sling and drape it around the cockpit with the ladder hanging down the outside of the swimmer's boat. Now take the swimmer's paddle, stabilize his/her boat, and you're good to go. From the swimmer's point of view, using the step may be tricky, so the rescuer should be prepared to coach the swimmer. Tell the swimmer to put one foot in the lower ladder and then, holding on to the boat, push that leg out away from the boat. When the leg is extended, then step up smartly while using the arms to pull into the boat. The rescuer should be prepared to grab the swimmer's PFD for additional lift and stabilization. The first step is enough to get most of the swimmer's mass onto his boat, but if the swimmer is tired, it may not be enough. If this is the case, have the swimmer rest a short while, and then use the second step to come up the rest of the way. As he comes up, he should be directed to turn his body toward the stern, and to lie on the stern as in the standard T-rescue in preparation for sliding back into the cockpit and getting seated again. The sling can stay on the swimmer's boat until everything else has been accomplished: settling the swimmer securely in his seat, bailing, attaching the spray skirt. To remove the sling, simply lift it over the ex-swimmer. If conditions are too rough to do this securely, leave it in place until a more opportune time. >Bob & I each carry a "ladder" - it'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 possible 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 >> >religiously 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 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 extension on the paddlefloat 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 *************************************************************************** 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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