Re: [Paddlewise] wet exits/entrapment

In our Boeing club/Washington Kayak Club Basic Kayaking classes, we never omit
the wet exit practice, in the cold water of Puget Sound, no matter what the
conditions.  When the students are comfortable with that, we start immediately
with  deep water assisted rescue instruction and practice, even before we
introduce strokes.  By the time we're done with that, students are comfortable
getting wet and doing wet exits.  We find that the remainder of the two classes
is not only safer, but more productive since students are over their fear of
getting wet.

Dave Carlson

Bob Volin wrote:

> I agree this is a good policy, Chuck.   Another approach is to issue loosely
> fitting spray skirts so that (a) removal in the prescribed way is easy, and
> (2) the skirt will fall off the cockpit in a capsize.
>
>     Bob V
>
> <snip> It is my policy, wether teaching novices or taking "guests" out for a
> > first paddle, to NEVER allow them to use a spray skirt without first
> > demonstrating command and comfort in executing wet exits first
> > without and then with spray skirts. These exercises are done in a
> > situation where an instructor is standing nearby the the student in
> > position to assist the student if they panic or fail for any reason
> > to exit the boat.
> >
> > If conditions are such that we can not initially do such wet exit
> > training but must paddle to work on strokes and rescues--- THEN THE
> > STUDENTS PADDLE without spray skirts. We never break this rule.
> > Students always wear PFDs, of course.
> >
> > Demonstrations of wet exits on land are not, in my opinion, ever
> > sufficient to allow students to skip the capsize drills in the water.
> <snip>>
> > Am I the only instructor following this practice?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Chuck Sutherland
> >
> >
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