|
Lucylastic -> RE: Kayaking (8/29/2012 3:28:34 PM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: JeffBC
quote:
ORIGINAL: Lucylastic
I even learned how to roll, but getting in and out could definitely be less than esthetically pleasing.
I never learned how to roll.. at least not reliably. I might have to do that though before actually doing some open ocean kayaking around vancouver island. I do, however, have the pro-tip on getting in and out.
1) Get kayak in a few inches of water... best is parallel to the shore. If the bottom of the kayak settles onto the bottom of the lake as you get in all the better. You'll still be able to scoot it into the water and it'll be more stable.
2) Place paddle just behind cockpit combing so that one blade is sticking way out towards the shore and you can grab the shaft with the combing in one hand.
3) Kneel down butt first so that you are facing the front of the boat and your butt is facing the paddle shaft just behind you. As you lower your bodygrab the paddle & combing. What you have done at this point is... once again... used the paddle to make an outrigger... this time the outer blade is just leaning on the shore/bottom. At this point everything is totally stable so long as you keep your weight solidly on the paddle side.
4) Place one leg then the other in the cockpit and settle in being sure to keep your weight leaning on the paddle shaft (so it doesn't flip over the other way). DON'T LET GO OF THE PADDLE/COMBING
5) Get yourself all situated as best you can all the time using your hand to brace the shaft of the paddle against the combing and using it as a balance.
It's hard to explain in words but easy to do. Man, those paddles are good for WAY more than paddling :) This video shows it quite nicely at about the 2 minute mark. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZZhJNKMC7s
Lizi mentioned some other random gear to bring and I totally agree. I'd also like to mention again a paddle leash. It doesn't need to be fancy. A few feet of anything that is suitable for lashing the paddle to you, your life vest, or the kayak -- some twine and velcro to wrap around a wrist would work just fine A tow line would also be handy in the unlikely event of a capsize -- figure 15 or 20' of rope and 2 carabiners. Anything which needs to remain dry MUST be stored in a dry bag if on deck and ideally even if inside a hatch. yes, the hatches tend to leak at least a bit. If you don't have a dry bag then improvise with a two garbage bags and be careful not to rip them.
If you can find one without buying it, a bilge pump would also be nice because man, I personally would not want to try to tow a waterlogged kayak.
Excellent advice on getting into the canoe.
Heh I could do it, but gawd I did look like a pratt:), we learned at the swimming pool and you get in at 3 foot minimum...or on the canal(man made) you had the wall, the canoe and lots of water, , I would sit down on the ground, steady the side against the wall, put my feet in, grab hold of the front with one hand, cling to the ground with the other hand wriggle in... so many many times, I would lose the canoe and end up ass first in the water panicking with my toes caught in the rim....
When I learned to roll, we had to turn turtle, grip a hold of the instructors hips , then flip hard with your hips , the buoyancy was supposed to help you get back up.... took many tries ...the fifth time I almost did it, I got halfway back up and noticed my hands were gripping the instructors swimming trunks and they were sliding down, and I was so gobsmacked all I could do was watch his manhood bobbing around ....till I couldnt hold my breath anymore... He never let me forget it.
I learned to roll mainly because the fewer times I had to get into the canoe from the bank, the better:)
I also learned how to empty out a waterlogged canoe, in the water but I needed to have another canoe and another person to help do it,:)
Now its making me wanna go out n do it again, LOL
|
|
|
|
