Alluding to the discussion by Shawn and others, I would add my 0.02c worth to the argument that you need to practice your rescue technique in REALISTIC conditions. My friend Dr Spock reminds me of the logic that I am likely to need rescue techniques when the weather and sea conditions are ROUGH, not swimming pool smooth. Fellow Klepper owner Peter Osman and I have practiced our rescue techniques, including towing, at sea, in admittedly only mildly rough conditions. But oh, what a difference a wave makes! Clambering back into a pitching and rolling kayak, even a Klepper, is a whole different ball game. I learned [ before I really needed it ] that after about five or six cowboy recoveries [ the only practicable technique for large cockpit boats like Kleppers ] I was beat. And seasick. So I know my limits. This was in water which was mild [ probably 18 degrees C ] , little wind, and a sea-state probably three. A salutary lesson. We had a friend standing by in a runabout as a backup. Extending Dr Spock's logic, you don't have a bombproof roll until you can roll in conditions which put you over in the first place. Cheers, PeterR *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Peter Rattenbury wrote: - >Fellow Klepper owner Peter Osman and I have >practiced our rescue techniques, including towing, >at sea, in admittedly only mildly rough conditions. >But oh, what a difference a wave makes! Clambering >back into a pitching and rolling kayak, even a >Klepper, is a whole different ball game. I learned >[before I really needed it] that after about five >or six cowboy recoveries [the only practicable technique >for large cockpit boats like Kleppers] I was beat. >And seasick. G'Day Peter (Rattenbury) and Paddlewise, Do you remember how much easier it was to do the cowboy rescues with the velcro wraparound spray deck compared to the tuckunder version. Bigger opening to enter into the cockpit! Also that as the Kleppers took on water they seemed to get more stable because of the internal flotation tubes. Makes me wonder how Lindemann and Romer managed because they wouldn't have had the velcro version spray deck? Do you remember how seasick the fellow in the runabout got!! When it comes to doing a cowboy rescue in my beautiful fiberglass Pittarak in roughish conditions - forget it, I'm just glad it has a small cockpit volume so the water doesn't destabilise it too much. All the best Paddlewise, See you Saturday Peter, PeterO (The Klepper is beautiful too:~) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 08:32 a.m. 31/07/02 +1000, PJ Rattenbury wrote: >My friend Dr Spock reminds me of the logic that I am likely to need rescue >techniques when the weather and sea conditions are ROUGH, not swimming pool >smooth. >Fellow Klepper owner Peter Osman and I have practiced our rescue techniques, >including towing, at sea, in admittedly only mildly rough conditions. >But oh, what a difference a wave makes! Clambering back into a pitching and >rolling kayak, even a Klepper, is a whole different ball game. >I learned [ before I really needed it ] that after about five or six cowboy >recoveries [ the only practicable technique for large cockpit boats like >Kleppers ] I was beat. And seasick. Hi Peter, I think I would like to put again on the table my finding in that respect, and what I would definitely do when in trouble. To me the easiest way to reenter a kayak in rough conditions, (once you missed the roll) or the one that has worked best for me, is that one that allows me to be more or less stable once I am seating upwards, and that occurs when I am seating holding my paddle with my paddle float well extended to one side of the kayak. That way I can recover my breath, turn the bow to the waves, or even pump water out with almost both hands. And what is the easiest and fastest way to reach that situation? Paddlefloat reentry and roll. It is by far better than the traditional paddle float rescue. I can not do 15 self rescues in choppy waters, climbing on the boat with the paddle float technique without ending up exhausted, specially in my unstable boat, but I can make 30 or 40 or 50 reentries and rolls with the paddle float, with very little fatigue. And if worse comes to worse, I can do it with an extended paddle, which will put you up even if your hip snap is weak, and you rest completely on your arms, and almost everything against you. You must work very hard to miss an extended paddle paddlefloat-reentry-and-roll. When water is choppy climbing up on a swamped boat with the paddle placed perpendicular to it without painting the "paddlefloat rainbow" and falling on the other side is very difficult. Doing a cowboy reentry is impossible for me. So here it is what I do. After capsize and wet exit I let the boat upside down because it is full with air; and I donīt want to lean it and let air out and water in. I place my legs inside the cockpit (underwater of course) and place my feet behind the knee brace. That will hold the boat, while I float on my back on the PFD. It is very relaxing even when waves are moving the kayak up and down. I can use both hands to place the paddle float and inflate it (if not styrofoam paddlefloat) very quickly. I place the paddlefloat and paddle in position. I take a deep breath and get under water to seat upside down placing the right knee under the knee brace, keeping my paddle in place for a C to C roll. I donīt bother to place the feet in the foot braces or the left knee in the left knee brace. I donīt want to waste time, specially in cold water. I roll up and I can lean on the paddle to take any coming wave. It makes it very easy to brace. I am up in about 30 to 40 seconds after capsize, and with little water in the boat. Once up, I place the left paddle blade under the knee brace and push against it with my left leg, with the right paddle way out giving me balance, and use both hands to pump out. If waves are coming in and swamping my boat, then I try to paddle out of the hard zone with the paddle float in place. (There is no bag on the power side of the blade in the paddlefloat model I use). I can raft up with a friend or paddle to shore to pump out or go out of the breakers and pump out with the sprayskirt half placed. Even if another big wave comes and turns me over, I can hold the paddle in an extended brace and roll back up or keep myself inclined almost 90 degrees and coming back up. Many people can do that without paddle float but I canīt. So I imagine that there is a large population of kayakers out there that would love to be sure that they can rescue themselves anytime even if they miss a roll, in hard conditions. This is to me the best approach. That is why I have dared to go out alone when wind is blowing and bad weather is announced (not too bad). I am sure I can get back up any time and stay up for a long time until conditions improve or until I am drifted to shore or until I pump out and continue going. Best Regards, Rafael Mier-Maza el cayuco chief *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:30 PDT