<< Have you also been successful in teaching people to doing a paddlefloat rescue in surf? One BCU coach I know is so adamantly opposed to the paddlefloat, he refused to acknowledge that using a paddlefloat in surf is even possible. Paddlefloat is worthless except in flat water, he reasoned. >> When I teach the surf zones class I discourage my students from taking anything out in the water with them such as paddlefloats, pumps or even bailing sponges. The purpose of the class is to work on how to successfully negotiate launching and landing through the surf (although a fair amount of actual surfing also usually takes place toward the end of the class, which is ok by me as it instills reflexive skills, not to mention it's a whole lot of fun). If they took such equipment out in the surf with them, the odds are it would probably just get lost. I also discourage assisted rescues in the surf zone. The instructors will occasionally perform them, because we know what we're doing. However, the students are free to attempt solo rescues if they are of a mind to. So in answer to your question, no, I have not ever attempted to teach the paddlefloat rescue in the surf. Frankly, while I think the paddlefloat rescue is a fine technique (and I do teach it also), I do not consider the paddlefloat rescue to be practical in the surf zone. It just requires too much time to deploy, and the paddlefloat itself could prove to be a hazard in the waves. While I'm sure it can be done, there are too many other better alternatives for surf zone rescue, including simply swimming your boat into shore. Scott So.Cal. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Scott wrote: > there are too many other better > alternatives for surf zone rescue, including simply swimming your boat into > > shore. Scott, What are the other alternatives? I'd like to learn them. Jack Fu 47°38'N 122°08'W *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Well OK, let’s review the various rescues applicable to the surf zone. 1. The Eskimo roll including the re-enter and roll. 2. Simply climb back into the boat. This can be done with the cowboy rescue, or any of the other variants (such as climbing directly into the cockpit) that have been practiced and learned. 3. Swimming the boat back to shore. 4. Swimming the boat out beyond the surf zone and then performing a paddlefloat or assisted rescue. 5. An assisted rescue. Although I do not recommend this unless the rescuer has some experience performing assisted rescues in the surf. Otherwise you could very easily end up with two people in the water, or worst, one or both people injured and in the water. Can anybody think of any I missed? Scott So.Cal. << Scott wrote: > there are too many other better > alternatives for surf zone rescue, including simply swimming your boat into > > shore. Scott, What are the other alternatives? I'd like to learn them. Jack Fu 47°38'N 122°08'W >> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 09:39 AM 9/10/2000 -0400, KiAyker_at_aol.com wrote: > Well OK, let’s review the various rescues applicable to the surf zone. > >1. The Eskimo roll including the re-enter and roll. >2. Simply climb back into the boat. This can be done with the cowboy rescue, >or any of the other variants (such as climbing directly into the cockpit) >that have been practiced and learned. >3. Swimming the boat back to shore. >4. Swimming the boat out beyond the surf zone and then performing a >paddlefloat or assisted rescue. >5. An assisted rescue. Although I do not recommend this unless the rescuer >has some experience performing assisted rescues in the surf. Otherwise you >could very easily end up with two people in the water, or worst, one or both >people injured and in the water. > > Can anybody think of any I missed? > >Scott >So.Cal. Scott I've been late on catching this thread but here it goes.... There is another possibility but I've only taught it in relatively small surf of up to 3-4ft. Once out of your boat set up your paddle float however you normally would, then hand walk to the bow of your boat. While at the bow wait as the wave sets pass you, when a wave passes and is lifting the stern of your boat lift the bow and allow the water to drain, (the cockpit is over the trough of the wave). Now the fun part. Get to the side of your boat, lay the paddle across the coaming, on the coaming. Hold the paddle down across the coaming with your bow side hand under the coaming and with your elbow on top to lock it in. Now with your stern side leg, hook the stern and push up on to the back deck kicking yourself on up into the cowboy position. It is very important at this point to have both hands holding the paddle down against the flat coaming extended out for support. Scoot yourself forward to the cockpit moving the paddle forward as you go. Swing your feet in or butt in and switch the paddle to a brace position. At this point I'll have my students lay the paddle across the front deck and criss-cross the cross deck rigging over in order to buy time to put on their spray skirts. Then its deflate the paddle float and stuff inside of their PFD's and off they go. This system works best for those who have practiced in flat water first. It's sort of a cowboy-paddle float rescue. Brgds, Jeff *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:17 PDT