Ulli wrote: << A paddle float assisted roll isn't a problem at all, as long as you are somewhere, smoehow in the boat. That's the great thing about it. If you can get back under water and reenter your boat I think it is likely faster and more stable than an outrigger paddlefloat rescue. OK there is more water in the cockpit, so get a good, handfree pump.>> The "outrigger" in the name outrigger paddlefloat rescue implies that the paddle is firmly fastened to the deck of the kayak. How is a reenter and roll going to be more stable during the pumping process than an outrigger paddlefloat rescue? Not everyone is going to stick their head back under waters that already gave them an ice-cream headache when they capsized either. Peter Osman <rebyl_kayak_at_hotmail.com> wrote: >>But I was curious whether a "roll" or "reentry and roll" in the hands of an expert represented the ultimate self rescue method, beyond which nothing else could work. it sounds as though the answer is yes. Have to say that when practicing paddle float and cowboy rescues the cowboy method seemed easiest, provided the boat had a wide cockpit. The question regarding wide and narrow cockpit boats was because I've just bought a narrow cockpit boat to encourage rolling practice and better paddling technique. It would have been disconcerting to construe that even in the hands of an expert it would be less safe than a wide cockpit boat. << Yes to the "roll", no to "re-enter and roll". I would say that the hand roll (or other no paddle roll) is probably the ultimate self-rescue. You don't even need a paddle. The roll is next best and if you still have your paddle in hand why not use it (unless there is a good risk of breaking it--more likely with weak or ultra light paddles and non-expert rollers). Unless you had a good tether you wouldn't want to risk letting go of your paddle either even if you could do a hand roll. But even if you break your paddle doing a roll, the hand roll (or a float roll) might still be accomplished without exiting the kayak first. IMHO, next best after the Eskimo roll is the float roll. You don't need a paddle but do need a float handy that you can get to and hold out to the side quickly. No pumping required afterward (given a reasonable kayak and spraydeck anyhow). (I thought Rob Cookson did a good job of elaborating on float rolls, earlier.) Anything else that gets you upright and keeps you in the kayak the whole time I'd put in this first group. Eskimo bow and side rescues might be included here (in a non-solo category) but unless the victim and rescuer are well practiced at this and can signal to each other when to attempt this rescue (so as not to interfere with rolling attempts) these rescues to are more likely to be relegated to the next class down (in the re-enter and... and non-solo categories). In this next class down are solo rescues initiated after you have already bailed out of the kayak. These are a major step down because in addition to getting upright you must also get back in the kayak and usually the water must be gotten out of the kayak as well. With these rescues the majority if not all of your body will spend more time in the (likely) very cold water. As a self-rescue the cowboy rescue doesn't require putting the head back underwater as the re-enter and roll does but it does require a longer (not necessarily wider) cockpit so that the butt can enter first and the legs can easily follow. If the legs have to go in first the cowboy is unlikely to succeed because of the high center of gravity and the free water in the kayak destabilizing it. Re-entering and rolling still can work with a short cockpit (provided you have a reliable roll and something hasn't happened that prevents rolling--the question is: "Why did your roll fail a few seconds ago when it should have been much easier than it will be now that you have to hold your breath during the time you get in the kayak and set up before even starting to roll"). Both re-enter and roll and cowboy rescues require good balance, practice and skill (and maybe an electric or foot pump) in anything but calm water. The outrigger paddlefloat requires an extra piece of equipment (the float) and a place to fasten the paddle to the deck. If those are present it is easier to learn and do than the cowboy or re-enter and roll. Your head can stay out of the water and it is much less likely to end up in a recapsize once back upright. The pumping period, which to my mind, is the major obstacle to overcome after getting back in and upright, is much easier when the kayak is stabilized by the outrigger (except in breakers). Unlike the cowboy rescue it can also be done into any cockpit you can get yourself into from a dock. Even if the fastening points are missing it is still superior to the others because it still requires less skill to succeed and the float on the paddle (rather than constant sculling braces) can be used to help stabilize the kayak during the pumping process. Of course using a paddlefloat will also improve the reliability of a re-enter and roll and the cowboy rescue too, but fastening the paddle as an outrigger allows much more freedom of motion, dexterity and security during the bailing process. I have real trouble seeing how anyone decides to forgo carrying some kind of float when having one might make living (as opposed to dying) so much easier. The argument that re-entering and rolling is a better rescue seems absurd here, even if it were true. Why not also have a back-up to your re-enter and roll. Shoulder dislocations are not unheard of events during a roll. What are you going to do if that happens while solo. Whatever it is, it will likely be with one arm and one hand. I'll bet if you are reasonably capable, and had to, you could still pull off a re-enter and float roll or an outrigger paddlefloat rescue. It might hurt a lot more than death by hypothermia though. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue May 30 2000 - 20:34:45 PDT
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:26 PDT