Paddle Float Rescue: Sea Kayak Rescue Techniques

[robpealing]

Better to climb between the shaft of the paddle and the cockpit, then you are not changing legs on the paddle shaft.

[touringkayaks]

@robpealing. This is worth trying, but I find that swimming up onto the hull on the cockpit side of the paddle puts the paddler too far forward, making it difficult to get the legs in. If you slide the paddle to a position farther back on the boat, balance is compromised. That said, a paddle float re-entry is not a "one size fits all" solution. Try different methods and see which works best for you.

[The10diez]

mira vos esta bueno el invento!!!

[zippyexplorer]

The reality is that, in conditions that are likely to put you in the water this rescue is completely useless......... the only effective self rescue is a roll....... or re-enter and roll at the least....... so start learning that and the skills to keep you up right in the first place rather than waste time on something that will just tire you out and make you into a statistic.

[WiresAnSteel]

Great clip, thx for posting.

[admx94]

Why are there no instructional vids on double kayaks and without a paddle float???? I mean luckily I did a canoe and kayaking camp so I knew most of these maneuvers but it's different in the situation above, especially when the lake you're in is like 200ft deep and your kayaking partner us inexperienced...

[nj4x4fever2]

Very nicely done

[tomfrh]

That looks like such a hassle. What is the advantage over cowboy?

[dinnerandashow]

this is impossible to do in rough waters.

[touringkayaks]

True, the paddle-float rescue is very difficult to impossible in rough waters. Paddlers who paddle alone in rough conditions would be wise to learn other self-rescue skills (including a roll, re-enter and roll, and cowboy). There is a danger that a paddler might gain false confidence by learning a paddle float self-rescue. But that does not mean that the paddle float self-rescue is a bad or useless technique. The more ways I have of performing a self-rescue, the better off I will be.

[NSkayaker]

One way to improve and make sure this rescue is more successful is to ensure that the end of the paddle you rest on the boat (ie, not with the paddle float) goes underneath all of the deck cords (bungees and deck lines). This will secure this end in place on the boat for you. Certainly helpful in bigger conditions. Even better...learn the cowboy rescue....

[fzburk]

In the very beginning of the video you are putting the paddlefloat onto the paddle with the boat right side up. This is very, very hard to do in rough conditions. A better way would be to keep the boat upside down and place a foot into the cockpit. You can put the float onto the paddle while the boat is upside down, plus the boat won't get away from you in the wind. Only turn the kayak over once you've got the paddlefloat onto the paddle and you're ready to proceed.

[rsuthe00]

@fzburk I've heard (from the instructor on this course I just did) a problem with sticking foot in boat to keep it from floating away while putting float on can be a wave smashing it and pulling it away from you with your leg stuck inside and injuring your leg. Don't know how relistic that scenario is, but I wear a pigtail and would probably just clip that onto a deck line while I worked if I was worried about loosing the boat.

[CROWDUDE]

That's a really good technique... you should always carry a water pump to take out the water inside thou, it's harding tiping the water by yoursef.

[acame2000]

my question is how would this technique go in the surf?

i am not a expert but i could see it possibly been flawed with waves moving the paddle around

[thomasbkm]

Perfect :-)

[oxman0313]

I have just started to Kayak and I have learned a lot form you tube. Thanks

[Alexmcgruer3]

I always have trouble with the paddle float re-entry. You make it look easy. Well done!

[palosuave]

cool ... thanks for the tips

[dtrackr]

Thanks

[Lokanar]

Very interesting!

[nousername010101]

tx for the vid!