[Paddlewise] Emptying swamped boat, alone

Peter O writes, RE: emptying a boat of water unassistedbefore doing a 
paddle float self-rescue:
	<< do you or anyone else know of better ways to empty a boat unassisted 
before self rescuing? >>

Some months ago there was a little bit in Sea Kayaker about using the 
inflated paddle float itself as an aid to emptying water from a swamped 
boat. The idea was to have the inflated paddle float under your armpits and 
then lift the boat up, etc. I've tried it in calm conditions, with very 
imperfect success. It works a little better if the inflated paddle float is 
already on the paddle, the paddle and float held crosswise under the 
armpits, the float itself tucked into one armpit. The paddle float must be 
fully inflated, in my small experience - and I'll bet this won't work too 
well unless one has a really large paddle float, larger than either of the 
two I have. Still, some folks might want to try this - it may work better 
for some than for others.

Bill Hansen

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