LIP GRIPPER Self-Rescue
HOW TO RE-ENTER A CAPSIZED KAYAK BY CAPTAIN SCOTT NULL & JOEL MCBRIDE >>
ALTHOUGH KAYAKS ARE VERY STABLE, if you fish from one for long, there’s a reasonable chance that you’ll find yourself taking an unscheduled swim. One of the huge advantages of sit-on-top kayaks is that they are so easy to get back into from the water. Sit-inside kayaks simply don’t provide this flexibility—they hold water and are unstable right up until the point that you have settled back into the cockpit and pumped out the water—but with a little practice and some help from a friend, you can learn to quickly and reliably re-enter a sit-inside.
RE-ENTERING A SIT-ON-TOP
[1] SET UP Hopefully your kayak didn’t actually flip over. If it did, right your boat by approaching it from the side and scrambling over the hull to grab the far edge and pulling it towards you. Once the kayak is right-side-up, position yourself alongside the kayak by the seat. You can keep your paddle in one hand, slide it under your deck lines, or give it to your buddy.
[1 2] [3 4]
[2] KICK AND PUSH With a firm grip on the kayak, let your legs float to the surface behind you. Then give a pow- erful kick with your legs and push with your arms to haul your chest up onto the kayak.
[3] SPIN AND DROP Draw your body fully on top of the kayak, keeping your weight low. Once you’re up on the boat, twist your body around and settle into the seat.
[4] PULL YOUR LEGS IN The final step is to pull your legs back onto the boat. The whole process may not look pretty, but it works!
[TIP:
> Multi-stack marine nylon connectors and crimpers
> Phillips screwdriver > Power drill and bits
16… KAYAK ANGLER spring 2008
Should you face this situation in the real world, it likely won’t be in calm conditions. Practice your technique on calm water, then move to rougher water and try again. Always wear your PFD and practice with a buddy.
READER TIP Stern Light THIS COLLAPSIBLE STERN LIGHT IS QUICK, INEXPENSIVE, AND WELL EXCEEDS THE COAST GUARD REGULATIONS. BY DERRICK JAASTAD
SHOPPING LIST: > Attwood Collapsible Stern Light > 3M marine adhesive sealant > 18’ two-strand marine grade wire
1. Locate where you will place the light, keeping in mind that it may be folded down.
2. Using the light base as a tem- plate, mark and drill the holes for the screws and terminal wires.
3. Fish the marine wire from your 12V power supply to the terminal wire hole.
4. Matching the neutral and com- mon wires, crimp the connection.
5. Apply adhesive to the base of the stern light and affix it to the kayak with screws.
6. Attach nylon connectors and connect to your power supply.
Send your Reader Tip to
editor@kayakanglermag.com
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PHOTOS: JOCK BRADLEY
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