Re: [Paddlewise] Entrapment - emergency release of spray deck

Craig,
In my research for my SK magazine article on entrapment, I came across a 
number on incidents where the issue of sprayskirt malfunction was the 
causative factor of the entrapment - whether that entrapment was a mere 
inconvenience, cause for considerable panic, or possibly extinguishment of 
life (hard to prove).

The issue is serious enough that it warranted inclusion in a recognized 
magazine; serious enough that it is infrequently, but nevertheless, 
discussed in kayak forums; and now I see SK has a mini interview with spray 
manufacturers in their inline newsletter. And it is in the news again.

The recent loss of life under recent discussion may have been due to 
entrapment by sprayskirt. Remedial action to extricate oneself from any type 
of skirt entrapment, from the armchair-reader perspective, seems simple 
enough, but the reality upside-down, no air, panic mode, water up the 
sinuses is more perturbing and difficult to deal with if a paddler has 
actually been through it - certainly the folks I interviewed.

I like your idea of purposely trying to release your skirt without benefit 
of the main method you would normally use (I think you promoted that). I 
even practice my redundant release methods with both hands alternatively. 
This is my summer-holidays-at-the-lake activity once a year - minimum. There 
are a number of other things I practice too at the lake, when I'm relaxed 
and have time to reacquaint myself with possible equipment issues that I 
want to proactively develop some anti-panic brain processes and muscle 
memory for.

I have not been involved with germane coaching schemes, so I don't know what 
the current CRCA/ACA/BCU, et al official syllabus includes on this skirt 
release issue. I do know that coaches I've talked to say they do not like to 
overcoach the issue. I consider it a basic, important fundamental skill: the 
timely release of your skirt, the knowledge and practice to perform a 
redundant removal procedure or two, is to my way of thinking, just plain 
smart.

I'd caution any paddler trying a new skirt/new boat combo - or any 
combination of skirt and boat previously not tried, to go and practice in a 
safe place (pool, lake, someone handy, etc.

No. There are not a lot of deaths or even close calls with this kind of 
entrapment. But it can and does happen. What's a few minutes to practice a 
bit before hand so you are at least somewhat prepared?

As for methods to release the skirt, there are only so many, with those few 
dependent on the exact combination of equipment, flexibility and strength of 
the paddler, their ability to think under pressure, etc. Often, it is other 
skills that can reduce the chances of a rare incident like a broken skirt 
release at an inopportune time from causing a fatality. The ability to 
dog-paddle up to get more air comes to mind. The inclusion of a Roll-Aid for 
those device-oriented might be an option (and the ability to use one under 
pressure), the ability to summon the paddlefloat for a roll back up or 
having a spare paddle conveniently accessible on your front or perhaps rear 
deck (and the ability to retrieve it, assuming in these examples you have 
maybe lost your main one in the surf, say, went to bail out and the skirt 
will not release).

The permutations are endless. In the final analysis, leaving your release 
loop under the cockpit is an act of complete stupidity, as is failure to 
maintain your equipment. Yet, you don't have to be stupid to make stupid 
mistakes, right? But it is stupid not to think through these possibilities 
and come up with a backup plan. And it is stupid to not try out new 
equipment somewhere safe first. Heck, how many extreme sport races have 
there been where for the paddling segment the athlete jumps in a kayak they 
have never paddled before, doesn't set the foot rest properly, and takes off 
to open sea? My goodness people.

I do a lot of extreme stuff with my yakking, but I know my equipment, 
practice redundancies, and for the most part, try to have a backup plan - 
with avoidance in the first place always being the best mitigator or 
eliminator of serious incident. I'm stating the obvious, aren't I?  My point 
exactly.

The pinch method works best for me. Cutting my skirt? I don't think I'd go 
for a full perimeter cut-out. A quick slit should be enough. But if I can 
take the time to orient my knife, surely I'd have time for other backup 
methods. I'll save my knife for fishing line entrapments and 
fending/repelling board surfers. And I don't want to cut an expensive 
skirt - my wife wouldn't let me buy a new one. She must really want that 
insurance money before I turn 65.:-)

Doug Lloyd




>I posted on WCP about this and have had some interesting responses.
>
> First... I think it's important to note that almost every paddler who uses 
> a
> spray deck has inadvertently folded the toggle/loop under the deck but 
> there
> has not been much focus on this potentially deadly problem.
>
> One paddler puts his drytop over his spray deck tunnel which would make 
> the
> "hand down the tunnel" release technique virtually impossible to do in 
> time;
> especially when you add in the fact that his PFD goes then goes over both 
> of
> them.
>
> An alternative technque is to pinch down at the side of the kayak cockpit
> where the tension of the spray deck and cockpit curvature is at a minimum. 
> I
> have not tried this method but at least one other paddler says that this 
> is
> the way he always removes his spray deck so that he'd do it automatically 
> if
> he needed to.
>
> One suggestion was to have spray deck manufacturers sew in a release 
> handle
> at the side attached at the rand (the "bungee" area of your spray deck) 
> and
> attached again at some point inboard. This would provide a release point
> that could not be folded under.
>
> The next time you paddle pretend that you can't release your spray deck in
> the usual way and try some alternatives. You need not be in the water (or
> upside down) to do this; in fact it's probably much better not to be but 
> you
> do need to be dressed for paddling as you would usually be. See how long 
> it
> takes you to get out.
>
> Then let us know what worked and what didn't.
>
>
> Craig Jungers
> Moses Lake, WA
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