So I threw myself off my kayak.
 

Man, I’m tired. Today was practice day for self-rescue. I’m just learning the moves to climb my ass back into the boat. Wow! I learned several VALUABLE lessons. The most important one is that my kayak needs more handholds! I need a solid grip on the far side. As I walrus my ass onto the yak. That’s right. “Walrus” is a verb.

I’m gonna put a t-handle on the far-side with some paracord. The first time I climbed it it was easy. I held onto an accessory track like a rock climber - with my fingertips. Subsequent attempts were uglier and uglier. I simply got more tired.

I think I need a different life jacket too. Mine climbs up on my body as I bob in the water. That ain’t good.

Seriously, a floating bag hooked around your foot as you pull up on a kayak would make it easy. The life jacket really helps. Mine should stay put better.

^ Two really good take-aways from my practice run. :).

It was a bit embarrassing Splashing around in a lake like that, but I didn’t take myself seriously. A kid laughed at me. Haha. A poodle tried to rescue me. It was good time spent. Could save my life.

I had some simple loops of webbing in with the throw bag that I could step on and get in easier.

I just sold my sea kayak. Couldn't get it on the new camper and I was having a harder time fitting into the small keyhole cockpit. Need something different and for me that means expensive....
Unless I can find one on Kijiji or Craigs....

Good thing to practice, Vash. Try it in rough water but only if the wind will blow you onto shore!

Get on it from the back and not the side. Push the kayak's tail down and pull yourself up from there and straddle it on your belly or walrus your way up back into the cockpit. It requires little effort. If you must, a life jacket is great help. It really needs to be tight. Push yourself under water a bit and use the life jacket natural floating ability and rocket yourself up out of the water back onto boat. You can get another foot or more out of the water doing it that way. I bet Seahawk has more tricks on how to get back on. That's how we do it in whitewater.

This makes me want to buy a canoe. Damnit.

is this a white-water thing?

you want some real fun? crack your helmet on a rock, and while being swept downstream like a pinball with rocks for the flippers in the machine, try to get back in while underwater and flip yo azz back right-side up

that's why they give you the training in class....

A well timed scissor kick will greatly assist getting back in the boat. Good hand holds and a proper fitting vest help as well. Like anything, it requires practice so do it a few times every visit to the water.

I keep a small float (designed for this) in my yak (sit in type) you attach it your paddle inflate it as an outrigger to keep the yak from rolling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkj2S4yxoQI

There is a rudder assembly on the back of the Hobie that would really get in the way of slithering on at the stern.

Good on you Vash for having a practice day with your kayak!

Cheers Richard

I watch the kayak lessons in the pool near me. One of the first things they teach is the from the back method of getting back in, in deep water.

If you fall out near a rocky shore or the rapids, you drag the kayak up on the rocks, get back in, then slide the kayak back down into the water.

Nah. Just bring a poodle.

How about just stay in the kayak ? :D

I have no real experience with open kayaks in deep water. When I paddle I stay within 50 yards of the shoreline and just tow the boat to shore if I turtle...which happened once.

I taught white water kayaking in college to make money on my off days when I was a WW rafter.

Bill is correct. Nobody is taught to get back in a kayak once they are out in white water. The spray skirt seal is gone and the kayak will weight a ton. You will not be able to E roll a heavy kayak.

The process is to separate from the kayak if out, get on your back, get you feet headed down river and try and keep your paddle.

Find kayak.

Follow Bill’s advice.

That said, excellent that you are working through this, Vash.

i'm gonna load up with safety gear.

paddle float to help me get back in. a few grab handles and a few safety loops if i need to step into a loop as a foot step.

I also keep a small manual bilge pump in the yak if I am going to be in deep water. - used it once when with my son and he rolled his boat and flooded it. Also used it on the new river when a family with two very young kids swamped their canoe in rapid flowing section. Was too heavy to lift until we pumped it out some.

i'm gonna buy one. thanks!! if not for me..maybe it helps someone. good idea

Sit in or sit on style?

sit on top