I have been asked about entering and exiting a kayak from the swim platform of a large yacht. Frankly in many years of paddling, I have only launched or landed from a dock or similar structure two or three times. On those occasions I crawled face down facing aft as if using the paddle float rear deck re-entry approach. Are there other more effective techniques used for this? How do they do it on the small so-called "Mother ships"? Are mechanical aids of any kind used? I'd appreciate any enlightenment I can get. Thanks, Michael in Tallahassee *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Michael I've found the easiest way to launch and recover from high sided boats is to use an inflatable dingy/zodiac as a launch platform, particularly if there is any swell and the larger boat is rolling at all makes life much easier and reduces the risk of squished fingers etc. If you find it easier to climb onto the kayak's rear deck and enter from prone then that'd be the way to go, but I find it just as easy to put my feet into the cockpit sitting on the side of a zodiac, then with one hand on the back of the cockpit and the other holding the inflatable slide into my seat - also easier to reverse in a hurry if a wave turns up with your name on it. HTH Cheers Colin http://www.kayakscotland.com > > I have been asked about entering and exiting a kayak from the > swim platform of a large yacht. Frankly in many years of > paddling, I have only launched or landed from a dock or > similar structure two or three times. On those occasions I > crawled face down facing aft as if using the paddle float > rear deck re-entry approach. > > Are there other more effective techniques used for this? How > do they do it on the small so-called "Mother ships"? Are > mechanical aids of any kind used? > > I'd appreciate any enlightenment I can get. > > Thanks, > > Michael in Tallahassee *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
One easy but not graceful way is to lower oneself by line. If there is a davit or a boom with a pulley on the bigger boat, it is very easy to tie a double-looped knot, place the loops under my arms and lower myself into the cockpit. If the boom is long, it also keeps me away from a rolling hull.The other nice thing is that I can "button up" before dropping the lines; if I feel a bigish swell coming I can stabilize by pulling up on the line. For safety sake, I want a buddy manning the lines above so I don't get snarled. This works great in calm water. I have been asked about entering and exiting a kayak from the swim platform of a large yacht. Frankly in many years of paddling, I have only launched or landed from a dock or similar structure two or three times. On those occasions I crawled face down facing aft as if using the paddle float rear deck re-entry approach. Are there other more effective techniques used for this? How do they do it on the small so-called "Mother ships"? Are mechanical aids of any kind used? I'd appreciate any enlightenment I can get. Thanks, Michael in Tallahassee *************************************************************************** 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 11:39 AM 3/17/2005 -0500, Michael Lampman wrote: >I have been asked about entering and exiting a kayak from the swim >platform of a large yacht. Frankly in many years of paddling, I have only >launched or landed from a dock or similar structure two or three >times. On those occasions I crawled face down facing aft as if using the >paddle float rear deck re-entry approach. > >Are there other more effective techniques used for this? How do they do >it on the small so-called "Mother ships"? Are mechanical aids of any kind >used? > >I'd appreciate any enlightenment I can get. A friend of mine that owns the local kayak rental shop launches all his customers from a dock. A large percentage of his customers have never been in a kayak before. He attached a large U bolt on the dock near the edge furthest from the water and then slides a 2x6 board (about 6' long) under the U bolt such that extends about 3' over the water perpendicular to the the dock. The boat is placed parallel to the dock under the board with the board just behind the cockpit. Facing the bow of the boat, you sit down on the board, then slide out over the boat. Keep one hand on the boat and the other on the dock and just slide forward into the cockpit. Grab a paddle and push away and your off. Getting out is just as easy. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I don't know what your definition of a "large yacht" is (my definition: any boat bigger than mine). My "yacht" is a 38' sailboat with high freeboard. I routinely board and de-board my Guillemot Coastal kayak from the stern ladder. The Guillemot has a fairly tight cockpit opening, so you have to extend your legs and slide forward from the back deck. Needless to say, it is a balancing act, but I am now pretty confident in it -- it is like boarding from a high dock. You have to get the kayak perpendicular to the "yacht" (parallel to the plane of the stern), stand up in the cockpit while steadying yourself mightily on the stern ladder, then use the stern ladder to support most your weight and balance while lowering yourself onto and into the kayak. Really tricky if a sea is running. I haven't swum from this position yet, but I have had to chase a paddle down once or twice. --Karl Coplan ---Original Message----- From: Michael Lampman Subject: [Paddlewise] Launch and exit from swim platform. I have been asked about entering and exiting a kayak from the swim platform of a large yacht. Frankly in many years of paddling, I have only launched or landed from a dock or similar structure two or three times. On those occasions I crawled face down facing aft as if using the paddle float rear deck re-entry approach. Are there other more effective techniques used for this? How do they do it on the small so-called "Mother ships"? Are mechanical aids of any kind used? *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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