[CKF Info] 5/4/2008 Lessons Learned In The Pond Practice Today

[MicroCapMaven at aol.com]

I once had to do a paddle float self rescue in 20 ft seas/30+ kt  winds, off 
Sonoma County (see trip report "Salt Point Saga" circa 2000). My  newly 
acquired roll failed me in those conditions and it was too rough to cowboy  back 
into my Perception Pirouette. An electric pump would have made a reentry  roll 
much more practical.  
 
The paddle float technique stabilized the boat well, although it  took me  a 
couple of tries to initially get back in. I tried to keep the  float deployed 
while pumping out, with Paul holding on to help stabilize me  for  a while. 
Another guy, Sid, whose kayak sank in over 100 ft. of water,  was causing me 
problems while grabbing my boat in panic, until Mike Higgins took  him away.
 
Some may ask, what the h___ were we  doing out in 20 ft. seas?  Read the trip 
report.
 
I also had to use a paddle float to get  back in not long after I got out of 
a three week vacation in the hospital with  an elbow operation and stomach 
problems. 
 
Always bring a paddle float and pump  with you while out in your sea kayak.
 
Regards,
George Miller
~~~~~~~~~~~

 
 
In a message dated 5/6/2008 8:44:47 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
sandmarks at ca.rr.com writes:

Jeff,

Sure that works in the best of circumstances, but in our  little scenario on
Sunday we had one guy towing one guy pumping and one guy  stabilizing his
boat--mostly to get him out of harms way quicker. If your  paddling in calm
or safe area and go over, you'll probably do fine with the  paddle float
stabilizing you. Even with an electric pump it would help till  the pump got
out enough water. But if you go over around rocks and waves,  they may not
wait for you to be ready before they send in round two.  Practice a PF rescue
and boat pumping session and then envision being at  Abalone Point with waves
crashing and rocks around you. You'll probably  realize time is not on your
side.

And since you are new and I  haven't ranted about my second pet safety peeve
for a while, I'll do so  now! I carry an inflatable paddlefloat, wouldn't
leave home without it. But  back in the day when I wasn't such an amazing
roller, I'd never use it for  a rescue. I would use the foam float that I
made from a small kick  board.

http://www.sandmarks.net/paddlefloat.html

Hardly any time  to deploy, no giant sack to fill with water and leaves your
paddle freer to  be used for what it was meant to be, a paddle.

My safety strategy for  paddling alone was an electric pump and paddle float
reentry roll using my  easy to use board. The paddle float reentry roll is
easy peezy, but leaves  you with more water in your boat, but that wasn't a
big deal with my  pump.

Hope to see you on the water to practice some wet stuff. Maybe we  can do a
Saturday practice soon.

Mark  Sanders



-----Original Message-----


Couldn't you use  a paddle float as an outrigger to stabilize you while
you pump out the  water?  I think the electric pump is a great idea, but
it adds another  point of failure too IMNO (In My Newbie  Opinion).

Regards,
-Jeff




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