6/16/2020 Kayak Self-Rescue Practice

Kayak Practice 6/16/20

Practice, practice, practice.  After having lost a few of our novice visitors in the last couple of years we felt it would be a good idea for us—the so called experts—who can’t rescue even ourselves to do some self-rescue practice.  We are embarrassed because we kayak all the time, but never practice safety.  So, after watching “YouTube Videos” for a week, we held our first practice session this week.  I believe we could earn the grand prize for America’s Funniest Videos.

We practiced 4 different techniques to see which ones we could successfully complete.  The “Cowboy” where you simply “horse” yourself up from the water, crawl up the back of the kayak and plant your butt in the cockpit and you are safe.  Sounds simple.  The second procedure was to do a “paddle float” rescue which uses a float on the end of a kayak paddle and then acts as an outrigger giving you considerably more balance for re-entry.  A third option employs a paddle strap wrapped around your paddle, slipped under the boat, and then wrapped around your paddle on the other side –which has a float on the end.  You put your foot into the step that is created by the strap and then simply climb into the cockpit.  This one is doable.  The final rescue we explored was a 2 man/kayak assisted rescue.  A surviving kayaker paddles alongside of the “wet” paddler and holds/steadies his boat while he climbs in.

Enjoy the video and you will be able to see just how “easy” all of these techniques are.  Some of them are better (younger :)) than the rest of us and their youth shows quite clearly.  I would state at this point that none of us are perfect, but we are all willing to keep trying until we are—we are committed.