RE: [Paddlewise] Of Clothing and Equipment...

On Mon, 29 May 2000, Joe Brzoza wrote:
> 
> Recently during a local club rescue session there was a S.O.T. rep
> present who was being rather arrogant regarding how superior his boat was to
> the traditional kayak, especially when it comes to self-rescues.  When he
> went to give a demonstration he found that he could not lift himself back
> onto his S.O.T..  It seems that he had inadvertently left his drysuit
> unzipped which then quickly filled with water.  While weightless (and cold!)
> in the water, the water-filled legs of his suit were so heavy he required
> assistance getting back onto his kayak.  
> 

On the subject of easily re-entered SOTs and footgear, I recently had a
student show up with a SOT. She told me--not at all arrogantly, I hasten
to state-- that she could easily re-enter from the water. Except when we
started working on rescues in the class, she struggled mightily and needed
an assist to re-enter the first time. Had she exaggerated her abilities? 
Not really. Turns out that every previous time she had reentered the boat,
it was after a dive session, and she had been wearing flippers. 

Steve Cramer                     


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