Re: [Paddlewise] (paddlewise) supplies

    Matt Broze wrote:

    >>Unfortunately, this is also how the ACA teaches it. To all the people
who
    don't fasten the paddle to the deck I ask: how did you get the water out
of
    the kayak? Nobody ever seems to talk about what is often the most
difficult
    part of this rescue, which is pumping the kayak out after getting back
in
    with all the free water destabilizing you and increasing the odds of a
    recapsize. Do you have an electric pump? Can you empty the kayak before
    getting in? With a gear load? Or didn't you bother practicing that part
in
    rough water? Many people never do finish the rescue because pumping out
a
    lot of water is hard work even on calm water.<<

    To answer the question, "How do you get the water out of the kayak?"
    We use a hand held bilge pump.


But I think you were really asking about
paddle management. What do you do with the paddle while you are pumping?

We advocate that people finish the paddlefloat rescue
with their paddleshaft across their laps, pinning the paddleshaft against
the cockpit coaming with your elbows or try using the bottom of your PFD or
rib cage or stomach by hunching over a little. To get the paddle into this
position,
lift the side of the paddle without the paddlefloat on it over your head
quickly. Using the paddlefloat for support while you do this, you will be a
little like the hinge on a kickstand. Some people like having their paddle
where they can pick it up and use it.

We've tried it both ways. Even with
specially designed quick release straps for the paddlefloat rescue, we find
it more difficult to maintain the outrigger position of the paddlefloat
while climbing back in and challenging to get the paddle out of the
straps while seated, facing forward and away from the hardware, especially
in rough water. Not using straps or bungies saves a step and so is more
efficient it is also more
universal for paddlers who might not have their own kayak and paddle yet.
Not all kayaks, especially rentals, are equipped with rear deck bungies.
Some
of the bungie set ups have narrow configurations that won't work with
paddles with
wide blades.

If the rigging does accommodate wide blades, it is often too loose on narrow
touring paddles.

We do have people practice this method of grasping their paddle shaft firmly
against the cockpit coaming, in flatwater to start, in the tidal
rips off Yellow Bluff in San Francisco Bay, and on the open coast of the
Pacific, throughout our series of classes over the past 10 years. Hundreds
have made it work. We
use
the Mariner paddlefloats and in the beginning classes, explain that they are
the best on the market because they are sturdy and have plenty of
floatation. With this gear and the technique we teach, we have found that
using deck rigging is a superfluous extra step for the majority of our
students.

    We empathize with anyone who has had a negative personal experience with
any part of the ACA program or individuals involved. We have been very lucky
that this has not been our experience over the past 7 years that we have
been involved in California. Yesterday we had a great time running
the first ACA Eskimo Rolling Endorsement Workshop in California. 7
experienced instructors got together to share their expertise about spotting
techniques, progression, assessment, and other tools for teaching. It was
very positive and productive.

    The next ACA Instructor Development Workshop will be April 21-23
followed by the Instructor Certification Exam April 28-30, both will be
based in the Santa Cruz area with one day in San Francisco Bay.

We have heard a lot of rumors and seen much misinformation posted about the
program, but none of it has seemed to have been from recent reports of local
trainers.

We  invite
anyone who is interested in learning first hand about recent "West Coast"
style ACA programs and refreshing
their hard skills and teaching methods by spending 3 days sharing ideas with
other experienced instructors to join us.


    Roger Schumann & Jan Shriner
    ESKAPE Sea Kayaking
    (831) 427-2297.  Web Page: http://www.eskapekayak.com
    authors of Guide to Sea Kayaking Central and Northern California














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