RE: [Paddlewise] Bow Lift Rescue

At 08:50 AM 3/23/01 +1100, Peter Treby wrote:
>John wrote:
>"You're making the assumption that someone that has capsized knows how to
>do a re-enter and roll.  I would be willing to bet that a pretty high
>percentage of sea kayakers have never even tried a re-enter and roll.
> >I suppose if you don't have a hands-free pump, you have to think of
>emptying
> >the bulk of the flooded boat some other way. Hand pumps, emptying the boat
> >from the water, and boat over boat stuff just seem low priority choices to
> >me.
>They might to you, but you've got the skills to do a re-enter and roll.  The
>vast majority of beginners do not."



>You're right, I was assuming other skills were available.
>A beginner, by definition, doesn't know how to do any rescue at all.

Not by my definition.  I help teach an introductory/beginner class with
a friend of mine that runs the local kayak shop.  After a brief
introduction to  forward, reverse, and sweep strokes, the next thing
we do is have them do a wet exit, followed by a rescue.  First an
assisted rescue (usually a T-X), followed by a self rescue with a
paddlefloat.  I'm not saying that they have solid re-entry skills
after that first lesson but at least they've had formal instruction.
It's up to them to practice those skills so that they become solid.

>What is
>the first rescue to try and learn, for a beginner? I suggest that trying to
>empty the boat from the water, before acquiring solid re-entry skills, is
>futile.

I suggest that both skills can be taught at the same time.

>Have a read of "Deep Trouble".

Yes, I have.

>There is at least one example of a
>paddler without solid rescue skills trying to invent a rescue on the spot,
>trying, and failing, to bail the boat from the water. I think a beginner
>should have a rescue-worthy boat, and learn to re-enter a.s.a.p.

So do I.  I see trying to empty as much water from the boat as possible
as part of the process of a re-entry.  I also recognize that the conditions
in which a capsize has occurred may dictate just how one performs a rescue.
Obviously if someone capsizes in 40 degree water, getting back in the
boat as soon as possible is of upmost importance.


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