RE: [Paddlewise] Pumping Out/Paddlefloat rescues

"Peter Treby" <ptreby_at_ozemail.com.au> wrote:
>>>>>>I can't help weighing in and recommending a minimum volume cockpit, so
the
boat can be paddled while flooded, and a hands-free pump, notwithstanding
that some list subscribers may immediately fall asleep at the mere mention.
People usually prefer to have the same old problems, rather than cope with
the change required for a new solution.<<<<<

A minimum volume cockpit is nice in theory and for those who get their
kayaks custom made for them so the front bulkhead can be their footbraces
and pump mount that is fine and good. most folks in the U.S. don't by a
custom kayak from the builder they by one that has the versatility to fit a
wider variation in paddler size which also seriously compromises the options
for a handy foot pump. Most who don't have a day hatch want to be able to
carry water, extra clothing, rain hat and other items they want handy
somewhere in the cockpit and are frustrated by cockpit pods and minimum
volume cockpits.

"All I can figure is that few people ever practice pumping the kayak dry
after reentering it." What do they do, paddle around in a cold bath after
re-entry?

I suspect they go to shore and dump out and practice another reentry method.
If you pumped out once you know it is a lot of effort and dumping out can be
justified by how many more rescues you can practice.

>>>>>"If more did practice this, there would be an even stronger argument
for
hands-free pumping systems.  (Or dry boat re-entry techniques)" Exactly
right, IMHO. I find it nothing short of amazing that Matt, having come up
with a cutting edge hull shape, avoids bulkheads in preference for bags and
sea socks. Bulkheads allow both minimizing the cockpit volume, and fixing a
foot-pump on the forward bulkhead, or an electric on the rear. The stress
riser argument against bulkheads doesn't hold if the bulkhead is relatively
thin and slightly less than tight fit. Matt, have you ever had a boat with a
good foot pump? All this clowning around with a fixed outrigger and hand
pumping can be avoided.<<<<<<

I agree, I'm for doing what ever works best for the situation. No, I have
never tried a "good" foot pump and all the ones I have tried were slow,
awkward with my size 12's and resulted in my foot or legs cramping before I
got the boat pumped out. Does no one else have these problems with this
system?  Please tell me where I can buy "good" foot pumps that don't have
these problems and can that empty the cockpit as fast as a stout hand pump.
and do this easily while I also concentrate on paddling and bracing with
water sloshing side to side in the cockpit. Sea socks minimize the cockpit
volume more than most bulkheads. With them I don't need no stinking leaky
hatches filling up the kayak with water where I can't get to it behind the
bulkhead. I don't have a bow hatch spraying water into my glasses with every
wave when beating into steep head sea either. Please read the Flotation
manual on our website for examples of paddlers who got into trouble with
various flotation systems. I'm not a big advocate of the stress riser
argument but unless the bulkhead is very flexible it does exist and can
occasionally cause problems as I believe Doug recently attested to.
personally, I find it a lot more convenient to load a few big buoyant dry
bags through the cockpit than a lot of smaller bags through a hatch
(especially through the usually smaller bow hatches). I used to try to sell
electric pumps. Both failed, one for the customer and one shorted out to the
case in the showroom. I fastened them to the seat rather than a rear
bulkhead. They were relatively expensive and few in Seattle bought them. it
doesn't take long to set up a fixed outrigger and get back in the kayak
(unless you want to clown around rotating around like a spider (or dog)
before settling down into the cockpit). The outrigger stabilizes you at a
time when you have been shaken by a capsize and may capsize again while
paddling and bracing with a cockpit full of water while you take your knees
off the knee braces to foot pump out the kayak and deal with any cramps or
Charlie-horses that result.


>>>>>>>I should add that I usually take a paddlefloat, for the certainty of
a
paddlefloat re-enter and roll. But I'd try everything else before resorting
to it. And hand pumping is a joke in rough conditions that have caused a
capsize. Far better to paddle away while pumping.
A good near-death experience from time to time might lead to a re-evaluation
of the false comfort of carrying a paddlefloat and a hand-pump.
Reading this over, it sounds a little strident, but so does Matt.
Cheers, PT.<<<<<<

Certainly nothing beats not capsizing in the first place and the Eskimo roll
is so far ahead of whatever is in third place that is where I'd advise one
concentrate their efforts if they want to paddle rough and challenging
conditions. I wonder if you have ever tried using a fixed outrigger paddle
float in rough conditions? your comments would lead me to believe you have
tried hand pumping in rough conditions without a fixed outrigger. I would
agree that is a joke and is likely to look like a comedy of errors (if it
wasn't such a serious situation) Regarding suitability in rough water, Steve
seems to also be disagreeing with you when he recently wrote on Paddlewise:
"Although I don't do it exactly as you developed it (I use the "CA way" of
starting behind the paddle shaft), I have found this re-entry works
extremely well. I have done a lot of practice with it, and had the
"opportunity" to use it in 25 knots with 11 foot breaking swells. A standard
assisted T was almost impossible, until we incorporated the paddlefloat
re-entry with it. Everything worked well then and what could have been a
tragedy bacame nothing more than a story to share."

Fixing the paddle to the deck is the key that makes attaching the spraydeck
and hand pumping easier in rough water. Obviously, fixing the paddle to the
deck wouldn't be the best technique in most surf.  I recommend other
reentries then. Once in the surf pumping or dumping out the kayak is
probably unnecessary it the shore is nearby. Depending on what that shore
looked like you would either paddle in to it or paddle out beyond the surf
zone before worrying about the water in your kayak. The "Rescue Float"
manual on our website goes into detail on how and when I recommend using a
paddlefloat as an aid.


Matt Broze
www.marinerkayaks.com

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