Re: [Paddlewise] paddle float self rescue

I can do it, but I also have 38" arms.  My head usually goes under
water, or at least up to my nose in the drink, so I keep my noseplugs
on or exhale.

Position yourself at the bow with one hand on the point of the bow, and
the other on a comfortable spot on the keel where you can get a good
enough grip to rotate the boat.  I lift straight up on the boat (which
forces my torso/head/PFD underwater.  With the buoyancy now pushing me
toward the surface, I break the suction at the cockpit.  Augment the
buoyancy with a good scissor kick, I lift the boat free of the water as
 I "broach", and flip the boat fully upright before it and I come back
into the water.  I hang onto the bow so I don't submerge a second time.

I can empty the boat with the scissor kick/head "dunk" and get back in
with a cowboy scramble in 1' chop.  Haven't tried any bigger conditions
yet.  Yes, I can do it.  Is it my first line of defense? Of course
not...rolling is.  And bracing is the line of defense before even the
roll is needed. I sort of think of it as a "circus trick", but one I
wouldn't be afraid to employ in real life if needed.  I always do this
boat flip before doing paddlefloat re-entries, unless I'm really really
tired.  I just hate pumping.

I've used it during "all in" rescue practices on benign water, and was
the very first person back in my boat, and was able to quickly get to
others to do T-rescues.

It takes a bit of coordination to break the suction and set the boat
upright on the water before filling the cockpit again.  No, I can't
teach it to beginners, and I don't advocate it as a 'standard' rescue
for everyone, but it works for me.

Shawn

"Matt Broze" <mkayaks_at_oz.net> wrote:
>I question if anyone can pick up  the front (and break the suction at 
> the cockpit) of even and empty (swamped) sea kayak using merely a 
>scissors kick to do so. ..Now, this belief of mine may just be because

>I have used bad technique when trying to do it. If so, please instruct

>me in how it is done.

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