Climbing back into a kayak. From the water.

Today was hot! Called a good friend and he was cool with me launching my kayak into his pool. Getting it into the backyard was a bitch, but I manage not to destroy any decorations.

I spenT and hour+ Perfecting my technique. The first several times was okay, but exhausting. I got to thinking. Why should it take so much effort? I played around. I cracked the code. You have to grab the kayak and kick your feet up to the surface behind you. The try to swim across the top of the boat. Pulling and kicking. Easy. Go until your belly button is in the middle. Now this is important : stop moving! Let everything settle back down. The boat, your breathing, etc. just calm down. Then kick your legs in and roll over on your butt. Done.

Flipping an overturned kayak is easy. Just try to climb back incorrectly and it will flip.

now I’m tired. Hehe.

 

Imagine a walrus with no grace

 

Know your roll..

 

They're even more fun when they're swamped!

 

https://youtu.be/8oOPn1t0Wiw

 

I always pack a hand pump.

$26 SeaSense Hand Bilge Pump - Self-Priming, Manual Bilge Pump for Water Removal on Small Boats, Kayaks, Canoes, Bilges or Any Place Water Collects - 18" x 20" Hose

https://www.amazon.com/SeaSense-Han...d=1&keywords=bilge+pump&qid=1614804831&sr=8-4

 

Just try kayaking down here in FL where there's always a chance there's alligators in the water. You'll perfect your re-boarding technique real fast.

 

My brothers really good with a kayak. I can't even get into the narrow one he takes out sometimes let alone even thinking about it out in the water. Its nearly impossible to balance at the dock while trying to sit in without taking a bath. I'll take my boston whaler boat any day. I can walk around in that.

 

Build a reentry stirrup. Its a loop of rope (preferably synthetic), with a foot loop on one end. When you do a wet entry, you “tie” the other end to the paddle.

With the kayak right side up. Place the paddle across the kayak. Loop the stirrup to the far end of the paddle. Run the stirrup rope under the boat then over the paddle closest to you. The stirrup should be hanging in the water about 24 inches. You now have a stirrup. Place your foot in the stirrup and get in the kayak.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8ya9csKfkk

 

This is why i prefer sit-on-top kayaks

watched my friend sink a sit-inside kayak

 

Those aren't kayaks, their more like a raft. My brother has a real kayak...it s super long and pencil narrow. You really have to have some experience just to get yourself to fit in it. I'd never try to fish out of it.

 

Hawaii has a lot of kayaks, I never understood why people won’t practice climbing in and out of a kayak in the water? Most people will use some kind of flotation devices, and need to practice with them on too?
Those that practice will survive many times more and live to tell about it.

Hawaii drowning , swimming ( Visitor’s/ Tourists) happens a couple of times a year, (plenty and too much) never underestimate your self in any ocean, tides, currents, high surf, rough waters.
Just the other week life guards made over 300 rescues in a day?
Aloha,

You can alway attach a flotation device to your legs if swimming? Like a those long tubes?