RE: [Paddlewise] Paddlesports show at UNH

Matt wrote some interesting stuff about construction and weight of GRP kayaks. I
completely agree with matt that the lighter the better, while maintaining
acceptable rigidity and strength. I can see no justification in a heavy boat for
the sake of having a heavy boat. However when commenting on rigid decks and extra
lay ups Matt commented:

> can't do).  The other major justification for heavyweight kayaks
> is the strength and rigidity to withstand boat over boat rescues
> which don't work with gear laden kayaks anyway.
>

I agree that X rescues etc as Derek describes in his book are not ideal in real
conditions with laden kayaks, but I would also argue that there is a rescue which
works with gear laden boats, which uses the fact that even a narrow boat can lift
a swamped boats cockpit clear of the water to drain without any rocking X rescue
manoeuvres if the rescuing boat is on its edge rather on its keel - and in so
doing uses the inertia of the swamped boat to advantage requiring no lifting
effort. Its a very simple elegant rescue, easy to learn and perform, but requiring
some confidence. Here is a repost of the description I've posted to the list a
couple of times,  last time in July:

*******

It is possible to perform rescues without any lifting effort, 'bouncing', or great
strength. Works best if the boat you are rescuing has a w greenland type shape of
bow (knorkdapp is good for this), bow toggles (preferably at the bow!!! not half
way back the foredeck - IMHO it's irresponsible to design boats without toggles
**at** the bow!!!) and bulkheads (preferably sloping and close to the cockpit) or
floatation bags. I can put a swimmer back in their empty boat in under a minute
with this technique (try that with a flip and pump rescue - my electric pump takes
about four minutes to empty my boat). I posted this procedure to Paddlewise a year
ago, but here it is again:

The rescue is basically a T rescue, deviating from standard at points 4-7:

1. Get the victim holding on to your bow toggle. Hold onto their boat and secure
your paddle in a park.
2. Right the victims boat but do not attempt to drain it at this stage.
3. Hold the swamped boat's bow toggle and manoeuvre the boat 90º to your own.

4. ***This is the clever bit*** If the victims boat is on your right, hold the bow
toggle firmly in your left hand. Now simply capsize away from the swamped
boat,holding its bow toggle by your chest, until you are lying horizontally on the
surface of the water and your boat is ***completely*** on edge - the momentum of
your body leaning to the water, your boat's hull rotation, and the shape of the
swamped boats bow lifts the victims boat's boat so that it slides effortlessly up
and over your kayak, finishing with the swamped boats bow by your head and over
your boats right hand freeboard (or vice versa if you are performing the rescue on
your left). The more confidently you throw yourself over, the less effort is
involved - the swamped boat provides tremendous stability - a 17ft outrigger.

5. With your free right hand rotate the victims boat towards you - The victim's
boat does not have to be very far over your own because rolling on your side
increases your freeboard and lifts the victims cockpit clear of the surface and
drains it completely.

6. Rotate the now empty boat to upright, you are still lying on the water.

7. Hip snap up/push the victims bow back to the water. Again this is effortless,
as the victims boat sliding off does most of the work.

8. Swing the victims stern to your bow, raft up and return the victim to their
boat.

In practice 4-7 becomes one fluid movement taking about ten seconds as opposed to
5 - 10 minutes unable to paddle with a hand pump. As I see it the advantages with
this rescue are:

You do not need any assistance from the victim, who is always visible to you
It is blisteringly quick
It is almost effortless
It is very stable
The victims boat does not interfere with any deck mounted equipment you may have
You do not interfere with any deck mounted equipment the victim may have
Very simple to learn and perform

Hope this is of interest/understandable - If you haven't tried this rescue I
cannot recommend it more highly.

Cheers

Colin Calder
57º19'N  2º10'W

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