Saving YourSELF

April-May 2006

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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by James Michael Dorsey

I have been a sea kayaker for over a decade and have had numerous close calls in this time. Looking back on it all, I realize I could have avoided dangerous situations if I had only taken time to learn some elementary techniques before setting out.

1. Wet-exit from your capsized boat.	2. Inflate your paddlefloat.

So with the help of my paddling partner, Alan Feldstein, who is a certified kayak instructor from UCLA, I have put together this step-by-step process showing how to self-rescue if you happen to flip your boat.

This isn’t intended to replace an actual on-water lesson, but only to assist in the learning process.

The first rule of paddling, is NEVER PADDLE ALONE! It’s much easier to get back into a flipped boat with another paddler’s assistance—your buddy can hold your kayak stable while you hoist yourself back aboard. But if you ever do venture out alone and get into trouble, here’s what you do:

3. Slip your paddlefloat onto one blade, slide the other blade under the bungies behind your seat to make a supportive outrigger, and climb onto the stern.

4. Slide your legs back into the cockpit. Then pivot your body until seated.

5. Pump out the cockpit.

6. Re-attach sprayskirt and off you go.

PADDLEFLOAT SELF-RESCUE

• After capsizing, you will probably be disoriented for a couple of seconds. Grasp the sides of your cockpit coaming and slide your hands forward till you find the sprayskirt toggle. Give it a good tug up and away from your body. This will release it and allow you to exit from your boat. As you slide out of the cockpit, your PFD will take you to the surface.

• ALWAYS stay with your boat. It will almost always float, even if half filled with water, as long as there is at least one watertight hatch or flotation bag. Try not to panic. Your PFD will keep you afloat even if you cannot swim.

• While holding onto the boat, make sure your paddle does not float away. Ideally it is tethered to the boat by a paddle leash, but if not, don’t let go of it.

• Turn the boat upright and slide one of the paddle blades under the bungies behind the cockpit, so it become an outrigger.

• Inflate your paddlefloat if it’s an inflatable one, and slide it over the other end of the paddle. Secure it in place if possible.

• Your paddle is now a stable rest on which to raise your leg while pulling yourself onto the rear deck of your boat, keeping your weight to the paddlefloat side.

• Slowly turn your body towards the stern until your legs are over the cockpit. Slide your legs down into the cockpit and pivot yourself until you are seated.

• Release your pump from the bungies and pump out the water, at least enough to make the boat stable.

• Carefully remove the paddle outrigger, remove the paddlefloat and stash under your bungies or behind your seat.

Secure your sprayskirt and you are ready to resume paddling.

Some people employ a ‘stirrup’, a rope or sturdy strip of canvas that is looped around the cockpit coaming and hangs down on one side. You can put your foot into the stirrup to help raise yourself out of the water.

Practicing this self-rescue process at least once a year and in a variety of conditions will give you great peace of mind before setting out on the water.

© James Michael Dorsey is a widely traveled freelance writer / photographer and frequent contributor to this magazine. He lives in California.