Kayak - Self Rescue

[DST64]

In the months leading up to making a purchasing decision on kayak, semi dry suit and a few other things, I got great advice from the folks on this site. One bit of advice was the need to practice self-rescue. Well today was that day. Me, my old town sportsman 120 and pdf (and grandson) were in the pool. Some notes:

1. I could rock the kayak side to side aggressively and marvel at the stability. However, when I combined rocking with leaning, the kayak flipped without much trouble at all. So. I'd say in rough water, if i keep the bow into the waves and my weight centred in the middle of the kayak, I probably don't need to worry about a little rough water or waves from passing pleasure boats. However, get caught broadside and combine that  attention to centering your my weight, I'm swimming, much easier than I thought.
2. I thought re-entering the kayak would be fairly easy. It was anything but easy. I'm 58 and 240lbs. It took me 25 minutes to get out the water and I finally managed it by rigging a foot strap to a handle enabling me to use leg strength as well as arms and shoulders. Without the strap I simply could not pull myself up on the kayak. 
3. This was so difficult I'm going to practice it a few times until I get better (and start with the foot strap)

 

My Concern

I've read all the posts re folks wearing waders whilst kayaking and I'm stunned. I wore chest waders as a river salmon angler for years and most people knew there was enough trapped air in your clothes etc. enabling you to float with current for a while, enough to reach shallows and crawl out.  In kayaks there is no floating with current to reach shallows. If you end up in deep cold water with waders on and like me, find it not so easy to get out, it takes a while, you're taking un-necessary risks with your life. Get a good semi dry suit and really, really, find somewhere to practice falling in.

[dbjpb]

You would be surprised how many people kayak that can’t swim. You would be even more surprised how many can’t self rescue.  Chest waders and kayaks is a topic you can research on this site. Lots of opinions. You tube is a great source for self rescue video’s. Most people would benefit from a lesson on how to self rescue. It is pretty easy with the proper technique. Not much strength is required. Good luck with your purchase. Welcome to the club.

[Fishinjohny]

Three things that stick out to me in your post . First is for you to learn a high and low brace. This will help you not only stay afloat in condition no matter which way your kayak is facing when waves come your way, but the learning process will help you understand the capabilities of the hull underneath you. Second you should have a sling and paddle float in your boat and practice using both, first in calm water and then in conditions. ( do this when the water is warm and with a partner near by ). Third find padling partners who are interested in learning also and practice together. Until you have aquired all the skills necessary to truely assess the risk envolved in paddling in the days conditions you should always paddle with a partner or two. A lesson with an ACA or BCU instructer is money well spent and will give you a faster track to being a capable paddler. How this helps.

[mako capt]

If you can't self rescue you should not leave sheltered waters.  Period.

As for waders, that's just suicide.

[dbjpb]

Maybe the lawn chair seat on your kayak is making the self rescue difficult?

[gellfex]

1 hour ago, Fishinjohny said:

First is for you to learn a high and low brace. This will help you not only stay afloat in condition no matter which way your kayak is facing when waves come your way, but the learning process will help you understand the capabilities of the hull underneath you.

 

Most pedalers sem to think having a paddle in your hand more than a few feet from shore is absurd. There's videos of guys struggling in big waves and still not picking up their paddles. I used to teach whitewater beginners to hold their paddles cocked for a high brace and edge their boats till they went over and try to brace a recovery. If they failed it was a roll or eskimo rescue practice instead!

[gellfex]

2 mins ago, dbjpb said:

Maybe the lawn chair seat on your kayak is making the self rescue difficult?

And the high freeboard.

[DST64]

Thanks Folks

The intent of my post was for all the folks out there who might think that either (a) they can fall in, but they'll get straight out because self-rescue is easy and (b) That because they think it's  quick and easy, they can wear waders.  I couldn't get out after 25 minutes of trying. I imagined that 25 mins being in cold water with waders on that were slowly filling and making getting out all the more difficult.  As I indicated I'm 58 and 240 lbs, but I'm reasonably fit. I row 50 miles weekly, but I still couldn't pull myself up. Folks might think they'll jump out like a Disneyland seal lion impressing a trainer to get a fish. Not like that at all. 

 

Once I had engineered the foot stirrup, capsize to back on seat was 10 minutes.  I'm going to practice this process and I intend to get one of those paddle floats suggested above. Watched some you tube videos on that and I believe that's a great idea to stop you pulling the kayak back on top of yourself and offering you a climbing frame to use legs as well as arms and shoulders.  I'll have a process that works for me that I know I can execute. 

 

Other Notes:

• I found the pdf great, it'll save your life but it wants to bring your chest to the surface and your legs under the boat when you need your chest to be low and your legs out behind you for the launch yourself on technique. Getting in that position was more difficult than I thought. 
• Maybe I need a different pdf. One that will sit lower and as a result, push me higher. The one I have is for big lads and is coast guard approved but when floating I wouldn't say my shoulders were clear of the water. 
• Without you in the kayak it seems to sit high on the water. You don't realize how high until you're in the water beside it. Getting up and over the side was the problem. The kayak chair was a non-issue for me. I couldn't get me high enough or the boat low enough. 

Thanks again for advice. 

[dbjpb]

 

 

 

[dbjpb]

4 mins ago, dbjpb said:

 

 

 

as you can plainly see strength has nothing to do with self rescue. Conditioning also has very little to do with it. It is a skill that must be learned. It does help to be young and or flexible.

 

 

[ItsNotLuck]

The video did not show self rescue with kayak flipped.I thought the whole I of the bowline was to be able to throw the line over the hull bottom so that you could right the kayak..I guess you could use it for an upright entry as well. If the kayak doesn't flip can't you enter with out the bowline?All you do is float horizontal and kick/swim onto the hull..... There are video's on the YT but I've never practised it...

[ItsNotLuck]

 

Here's another video that shows using the "stirrup" being used to right a flipped kayak at about 5:00...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dbjpb]

Wow that was a great video. Thanks for sharing. I never say someone right a kayak from underneath it.

Very cool. 

[atv223]

I'm glad to hear you tried doing reentry.  As you've learned, it's not as easy as it looks.

 

I can't tell from your post if your kayak was upside-down and you had to right it.  If you haven't done that, be sure add that to your list of things to practice.  I find righting my Outback harder than getting back in.

[atv223]

While I personally own a semi-drysuit, I do wear waders when conditions aren't dangerously cold and I want flexibility in my layering.

 

I don't regularly advocate wearing waders, but done properly it's not as dangerous as people think.  Even thought it's been shared a 1000 times here, It's worth sharing this video again.