In a message dated 9/17/01 12:07:57 PM, wdctr_at_hotmail.com writes: <<I have little experience with 'off the shelf' spray skirts, having made my own. My thought is that if a spray skirt needs to be released then perhaps it is not appropriate. If I try to get out without releasing my skirt at the front, then the back will pull free. There is a bit more resistance, but it is by no means enough to stop anyone. (My skirt is nylon with a bungee around the edge)>> I'd bet that this panicked paddler didn't even try to release the skirt. A lot of skirts will come off if you just raise your legs against it. Panic means one isn't thinking logically. Air was all they wanted and upside down is very disorienting. A sprayskirt has to stay well on or will not provide the function it must perform. Nylon skirts intended to keep paddle drip out of your lap is one thing but the basic idea of a real skirt is that if you get a dumping wave that your skirt will NOT pop off and allow the boat to fill with water. The other is if you do fall over you can roll up without filling the boat with water. Practice, practice, practice is necessary for most people to handle a dunking. You learn how to get out safely and you then practice it until it is as mindless as putting on your pfd. You just do it. Being upside down in the water becomes as natural as being right side up with practice. Wet exits are the first thing taught in most kayaking classes. This is why. << The other thought is on paddling around. A fast exit into the water, then using your buoyancy, and that of your PDF could give enough support to get the victims head above water, give a breath and reduce the panic. I believe this would be quicker than paddling around. >> Do not, under most circumstances, come out of your boat. You can very easily become the second victim. The panicked paddler will try to climb up YOU and your pfd will not hold you up. What you need to do is just what he did if you are on that side. If you are on the other side you can do a trapped paddler r escue by reaching across the upturned boat. You have to be pretty good at it as I'd think the paddler would not be in the best position as you turn the boat. My partner tried to help a trapped paddler last spring doing exactly what was suggested, coming out of her boat. The paddler then tried to climb up her, she lost her prescription glasses, hat, and I forget what got pulled off her pfd but she was not able to actually help because she had no leverage. A PFD is just not enough. It only has a few pounds of flotation, certainly not enough to help someone who is frightened and fighting to get air. Someone came over and did a trapped paddler rescue to save the trapped person. Joan *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Sep 17 2001 - 14:48:33 PDT
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