when your roll fails and your life depends on it and you are alone.
and if (God forbid) this happens you'll be glad of a hands free pump.
While this technique was much easier for me than a regular roll was when I started to learn to roll, I endorse taking a good run at the roll first. But believe me, unless you have a problem with swimming, a reenter and roll is cake if you have a half decent roll.
No hands-free pump? Jam paddle under read deck bungies and pump out. No rear bungies? Use upper body weight on forearms (close to elbows not close to the wrists)to hold shaft of paddle on coaming, lean a bit towards float, Partially affix skirt, pump out, stow pump, (affix skirt somewhere in thei process) get where you should be.
I met Sing about 3 years ago, and was impressed with the fact that he wanted a hugely dependable roll before he went to sea alone. This gives him a highly reliable, well tested primary mehod of self recovery (roll), and then a reliable but inelegant backup (reenter and roll). Without two reliable systems one is in the danger zone. Redundant safety systems are important to the safety of mariner, whatever the craft. For the sea kayaker, skills represent the most important safety system. When skills have failed knowing where you are, vhf, flares, and most importantly the ability to survive long immersion might help others to save you. Emergency gear on your body, survival preperation for landfall (if you make it) are the final lines of defense.
disagree I disagree that this rescue is a waste of time. However you cannot rely on this as your only rescue as if it is you are asking for trouble.It is useful in flat conditions and dubious at best in wind/waves.
the value of this practice is becoming famalair with your boat and learning balance skills not as much as getting back in your boat. The one place were it is valuable in terms of a means of recovery is when learning how to eskimo role or do a hand roll. If you miss your roll simply climb back in. If you are practicing then you sgould be in suitable water conditions.
The techchniques I have found most useful is to get water out of boat instead of pushing up on bow push down on stern (if you have rudder be careful). This will drain water out of cockpit.
To renter I find the taco renter much easier and faster. Swim up to cockpit perpendicular to boat. Swim across boat as opposed to pulling up on boat. When you get on boat twist so your butt goes in boat. Once here you form a t with feet legs on one side of boat and head chest on other side. Hold your paddle and brace as needed. Swing your feet around so one foot is on each side of cockpit then use paddle for support on one side and put other side leg/foot in boat and your back in
I consider this boat play that will teach you blalnce fro you to learn reflexive bracing and give you confidenve to get back in your boat wihtout paddle float while practing eskimo roll.
Don’t rely on it to save your life but as a stepping stone.
in response to the question I was responding to. Yes!!! every sea kayaker if not every paddler needs a pump absolutely. on foot pumps: Adding non removeable weight to my already heavy explorer is a difficult proposition.
Thank you for clarifying this for any with doubts. To restate: The big six are boat, pfd, skirt, paddle, paddle float, and pump. Don't leave home without them.
Hopefully you will have the oppertunity to see how limited many rescues are in rough conditions while in the presence of other experienced paddlers. This is when you will find out that if you are paddling by yourself that the re-enter and roll with a footpump is a secure recovery. Also at a minimum have a vhf radio and some flares on you incase you become seperated from your kayak. Rough conditions with wind and or current can be very challenging and humbling.
One More Comment It does sound like a hands free pump would be a nice addition. Ive not looked yet but Ill take a look and see just where my forward bulkhead is in terms of the possibility of mounting a foot pump there.
New boats and Ive not cut, drilled, or otherwise modified the basic boat, yet.
There was a fantastic article in Sea Kayaker about it. Get the light return spring and duck lip valves.
Build a strong foundation and build the tower slowly to stay safe. Read, get lessons, (MICKO or Alder Creek or Sweetwater or…) would be a gret way to spent a week or two.
YOu can pursue this alone but just take small steps, it’s not the 99% that kills paddlers it’s the weird stuff like that one in 100 day when the unforecast storm comes up, or the odd current they did not know about or the time they injured a shoulder and had no backup.
Get good paddling and navigation(really part of sea kayaking) skills, dress for an hours immersion and carry a top notch vhf as a final not a first line of defense. Get local knowledge unless you are expert at chart reading. Big currents are a big challenge.
If you can roll… …why would you even think of doing a paddle float rescue or a cowboy, rather than a re-enter and roll? The latter is faster and if done properly does not require the paddler to be underwater for any significant length of time.
Forget about the textbook, upside-down method. A reenter and roll is easier and probably safer when done with the boat on its side. The paddler slides into the cockpit as far as possible while on the surface, briefly submerges to pull himself all the way into the boat, then immdiately rolls up. Using this method, you’re underwater for less than five seconds.
...and there's certainly no harm in learning it. However, other skills are far more useful and valuable, and should take presidence. The cowboy rescue should be one of the last things one learns, not one of the first.
Foot Pump is awfully nice when you are getting in and just about have your skirt on and along comes a big wave and it washes over you, with a Foot pump, you can just continue putting the skirt on , paddle out while giving the pump a few kicks. well worth having a dedicated pump, that can never be lost or left behind. Same goes for a mounted compass. Can’t be left at home unless you forgott to bring your boat.
Good point I remember once paddling out and getting whomped in the chest by a wave which dunped an unbelieveable amount of water in my cockpit. Had to raft up outside the surf zone.
Did not want to hit my head on a submerged rock. It was dark, cold and I was alone. About a 50 yd swim to shore, no current, lots of submerged boulders and a quick walk to help ( Cal-Neva Casino). Made more sense to me.
surf zone I paddle Lake Superior exclusivially. sometimes , the whole lake becomes a “Surf Zone” a pump that can be used while still paddling is quite nice. I find that it has more than payed for itself on the days that the waved are going down the top of your wetsuit, they sizzle down your deck sometimes at about chin height, or break over your shoulder. lots of fun, but wet. I don’t care if it added a few pounds to the carry weight. I bought the boat to paddle, not to carry. Besides unless you are paddling alone, there should be someone nearby to help carry if necessary. But they won’t help pump out your boat when the water gets interesting.
Best wishes in all things
Roy
all my boats are also equipt with tow systems (jam clete & fairlead) and knee tubes & compasses they all add a little weight but are all valuable on the water. most of them also have keel strips
Ok, now that I am awake… Bryan, I never really considered the reentry and roll. I will try it out tomorrow. I got pretty good at the cowboy when I was learning to roll. It was much more expedient than paddle float… especially since I was alone.
seen it done in combat A friend got trashed in 6 foot surf and cowboy rescued in his Feathercraft K1 that he was ripped out of. As the surf was dumpy and deeper water between the wave and shore was present, the foam pile was not very forceful. Still, it was good presence of mind after a whoopin’ like that.
As for the original post-er, don’t submerge your head for anything but a reenter and roll. Hypothermia is not your friend. As for the scissor kick thingy and all the other methods of removing water, it is a waste of time in anything but flat water. You will fill it up again in anything that is likely to have sent you over so don’t bother wasting more energy and moving up and down your boat improving the chances of the wind or waves ripping it out of your hands and sending it out to sea. Get in your boat as quickly as possible, seal your deck and start pumping. One of the reasons you paid extra for a boat with fiberglass bulkheads is so that your footpump could be installed there. Use it. If you need more stability blow up the paddlefloat and make an outrigger for stability.