Re: [Paddlewise] Really Dumb Question

Wayne,
One thing that may help you with making getting out of the boat easier is 
to use your paddle, basically as an outrigger.  What I normally do is bring 
my kayak parallel to the shore and move my paddle so it is behind me, 
directly behind the combing of the cockpit.  With the hand opposite from 
shore I hold the paddle against the combing, while with the hand closes to 
shore I gently lean on the paddle, making sure the blade is securely placed 
on the shore.  Basically what's happening is I'm using the paddle to 
stabilize myself against the shore.  This will greatly increase the 
stability of the kayak, allowing you to slide back and out of the cockpit.

I have done this with all kinds of different paddles, including all 
carbon-fiber, and have had no problems with breakage.  Certainly the more 
weight you place on the paddle, the more opportunity there is for breakage, 
so be sure to not sit on the paddle between your boat and the blade which 
is on the shore.

Hopefully you'll find this helps your exiting of the boat.  Good luck and 
happy paddling!

Mark Mastalski

At 07:33 AM 1/9/01 , Wayne Smith wrote:
>Really Dumb Question:
>
>How do you get out of a kayak??
>
>I have a Nechi Telqwa Kayak - When I get in, I straddle the boat, sit on the
>back of the boat, dangle my feet in the water (To get rid of the sand and
>mud),  Then slide my feet into the cockpit while lowering myself into the
>seat.  Attach the skirt and off I go.  This kayak is extremely stable on the
>water...
>
>When I get to the shore, I cannot figure how to land the damn thing without
>dumping it, generally near the shore in 6" of water.
>
>What I try to do is:  Pop the skirt, feet out and overboard, when I get to
>shore, Lift myself out of the boat (Triceps Exercise) or sit on the back of
>the boat - Invariably, the boat on land is more unstable than in the water.
>When the boat touches land, I get top heavy and over I go.
>
>OK - WHat is the way you all get out of your kayaks ??
>
>Wayne
>

___________________________________
Mark Mastalski, Assistant Director
Cooperative Education & Internship Program
University of Wisconsin - Madison
1415 Engineering Drive, Room 1150
Madison, WI  53706-1619
(608) 262-7504
www.engr.wisc.edu/services/ecs


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