RE: [Paddlewise] Cowboy Rescues

At 09:57 PM 9/6/00 -0500, Robert Cline wrote:
>"Cowboy Rescue" is a self rescue without a paddlefloat or roll.
>
>After a wet exit, "belly hop" onto the stern, or pull yourself up on the
>stern of your boat with a frog-kick as you would in a standard rescue; turn
>your head and body towards the bow and grab the rear coaming of your
>cockpit, then the more forward part of the cockpit coaming and pull youself
>into a position with legs straddled on either side of your boat, with butt
>into the cockpit ASAP.  Then, while straddled, work one leg, then the other
>into your cockpit.
>
>Oila'  You've done the Cowboy [self] Rescue.
>

I don't know why anyone teaches the Cowboy rescue.  First of all, if you've got
a boat with a small cockpit, it's physically impossible to get your legs under
the deck if you're already seated in the cockpit.   Next time you try a cowboy
rescue try putting your feet in while sitting on the back deck.   You might be
able to do it with a wide stable boat, but why teach a rescue technique that
can only be performed if you've got a stable boat with a large cockpit?  

Secondly, a cowboy rescue in rough conditions is *extremely* difficult, which
means the chance that you're nearly going to get back in, then fall back in the
water and have to start over, is high.  After two or three failed attempts,
it's going to become more and more difficult.  In very cold water,  you may
only get one or two chances to get back in your boat before hypothermia begins
to effect you and you start to lose strength and balance control.  

I think a cowboy rescue is a good balance trick but I wouldn't rely on it to
save my life after a capsize in deep, rough water.

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