Re: [Paddlewise] Pumping Out/Paddlefloat rescues

   I have been teaching sea kayaking, and the paddlefloat rescue, for over 
ten years. In the beginning I taught the paddlefloat rescue pretty much as per 
the instructions with the Mariner paddle float. As the years went by my fellow 
instructors and myself have attempted to refine the technique, as well as our 
methods to teach it, so as to convey the virtues of the paddlefloat rescue to 
the masses in the best, simplest, and most productive manner. The result has 
been what Mr. Broze has described as the "California Method."
   But it has been a number of years since I have actually taught the fixed 
paddle method as the primary technique. No doubt my understanding of the 
technique, as well as my teaching skills, have improved over the years. So with this 
latest discussion of Paddlewise about the two apparently opposing techniques 
I decided to retreat to my laboratory and conduct some experiments. Saturday I 
had two classes, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, in which I 
would be teaching groups of novices the paddlefloat rescue. I decided rather then 
teach the rescue in the benign conditions of the harbor, I would instead take 
each group out into the ocean beyond the protective breakwaters. As luck would 
have it there was a good wind blowing and things were fairly bumpy in the 
ocean.
   The first group I taught the fixed paddle method first. After they had 
struggled with that for a while I then showed them the "California" method. 
interestingly most of the paddlers continued struggling with the fixed method even 
after being shown the Calif. way. It became very apparent that despite my 
earlier post in which I stated that the fixed paddle method requires very little 
in the way of technique and skill to perform, as the conditions deteriorate and 
become rougher technique suddenly takes on a whole new meaning - it becomes 
VERY important.
   The second group I taught the Calif. method first, which would involve the 
paddlers crawling over their boats like spiders, as Mr. Broze describes it. 
After they had a chance to work on that a bit I then introduced the fixed 
paddle method. Once this group had a chance to try the fixed paddle method, most of 
them went back to the Calif. way of doing it. The biggest difference here was 
that while the first group never did really learn the Calif. method, the 
second group not only learned the Calif. way, but was able to much more easily 
pick up the fixed paddle method as well. 
   A few observations here; in the rougher seas most of the people had 
considerable difficulty getting the paddle with the float on it under the rear deck 
bunjies. As the boat was bouncing around, as was the paddle with the float out 
on the end of it, they had problems trying to hit the moving target. One 
person never was able to accomplish this and I eventually had to go over and put 
the paddlefloat under the bunjies for them. All of this meant that the paddler 
was required to spend an additional amount of time in the water while they 
attempted to set up for the rescue.
   Once the paddler managed to get back into their boats the fixed method did 
provide a more secure situation for the paddler to pump the boat out. However 
the paddlers who were using the Calif. method did not seem to have all that 
much difficulty pumping out by either holding the hand pump between their knees 
while their free hand continued to lean on the paddlefloat for support, or by 
bringing the paddle with the float on it in front of them and across their 
laps so they could lean on it with an elbow and use both hands to work the pump. 
All paddlers were able to completely pump their boats out without any 
difficulty using a hand pump.
   About half the paddlers who were practicing the fixed paddle method 
capsized a second time while trying to remove the paddle with the float on it from 
behind the deck after they had pumped the water out of their boats.
   This test proves nothing. I was not attempting to prove anything. I was 
just experimenting because some questions had been raised in my own mind with 
the recent discussions about the paddlefloat rescue on this list. While I might 
find the fixed paddle method easier to do then the Calif. style, this is not 
about me. This is about what is the best, most productive method with the 
highest success rate to teach to novices.
   While I very much respect the work Mr. Broze has done with the paddlefloat 
rescue, I am still not convinced that the fixed paddle method is the better 
way. Each method has it's strong points, just as each method has it's 
weaknesses as well. I have some further experiments in mind which I would like to try 
if and when the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime I will continue to 
do what works.

Scott
So.Cal.

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