[Paddlewise] Impossible Cowboy Rescues

Not to question the experts . . . but it is not impossible to perform a
cowboy self rescue with an ocean cockpit boat, it is just kind of tricky.  I
have done it (and flubbed it) several times in my Guillemot Coastal.  I
taught myself before reading on this list that it was impossible.

When it works, it requires you to drop your legs into the cockpit first with
your butt still balanced on the rear deck.  Use a paddle brace while
dropping your legs in place.  Then slide your butt forward while performing
a one-armed reverse sweeping  brace with your paddle for balance.  Its the
same motion as entering the boat from a dock, but using the brace for
support instead of the dock.

If it works, your butt plops down into the seat just right, before you reach
the end of your sweep.  IF it doesnt work, you end up capsized again and
start all over.

I agree that this is not much to rely on in rough water (though if you time
your sliding butt drop sweep to the waves just right it might work in a
moderate sea).  But the cowboy rescue does come in handy when you are
practising and testing the limits of your rolls and have to do a wet exit in
calm conditions.  Saves the trouble of mounting the paddle float and stowing
it again.

--Karl Coplan
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