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Practice the
Capsize Drill and Get Out of Your Sea Kayak Quickly and Easily
Generally, sea kayaking is a dry
sport, and unless you do a lot of surfing, you can expect to stay
on top of the water the vast majority of the time. That doesn't
mean you can ignore the possibility of a capsize, however. As the
bumper sticker says, stuff happens, and it's a lot better to train
and be prepared for the worst before it happens out on the
water.
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One of the big fears that most
new paddlers have is being trapped in the kayak during a roll.
It's more likely, however, that the novice kayaker will fall out
of the cockpit, especially if you're not using thigh braces or
other padding.
Before performing your first
roll, you'll want to plan and prepare. If possible, find a
swimming pool where you can practice. If not, locate a shallow,
relatively calm body of water. You'll need a friend or fellow
paddler to assist you, at least for the first few rolls. Dress for
immersion, of course. A nose clip is a good idea if you're
concerned about getting water up your nose (slowly exhaling
through your nose will serve the same purpose). And always wear
proper flotation.
First, remove the spray skirt
from your kayak. You'll want to make it as easy to exit the
cockpit as possible, especially on the first few attempts. Also
try the first few exits without a paddle. Then have your assistant
roll you over, with the agreement that if you bang on the hull,
you'll need help getting out. Once under the water, hold your
breath and count to five. This will give you the confidence that
you'll have time to release the spray skirt and escape when the
time comes.
Then, when it's time to escape,
lean forward and place your hands behind you on either side of the
boat. Straighten out your legs, then use them to push up and out
of the cockpit. A few of these dry runs will show you how easy it
is to escape before giving it a try with the spray skirt attached.
Then try it will all your gear:
- Attach the spray skirt, and
make sure the release strap is on the outside and accessable.
- Holding your paddle, take a
deep breath and have your assistant roll you over.
- Release the paddle, and hold
your breath to a count of five again.
- Then reach out and locate the
spray-skirt's release strap; most people can do this by feel
with their eyes closed.
- Yank the strap forward, then
up to clear the coaming.
- Now lean forward and exit as
before.
Once on the surface, grab one of
the boat's toggles and pull it along before swimming after your
paddle. A boat can drift away quickly--especially in the wind--and
you're better off with a boat (and hopefully a spare paddle) than
a paddle and no boat.
This will all seem quite awkward
at first, but will become routine with practice, and give you the
confidence that you can always escape your kayak, no matter what
the situation.
Can't Afford A New Boat? Consider A Used One!
If you're on a tight budget, or if you're new to
the sport of kayaking and you don't want to invest a ton of money
on a new boat, consider the option of buying a used one. Many used
kayaks have only been on the water a few times, and there are some
great deals out there, especially if you shop out of season. If
you're buying from an online auction, always factor in the
shipping charges and the seller's feedback rating.
If you do go the online auction route, it's hard
to beat the selection and quality reputation of eBay. Everyone's
heard of eBay, of course, and this online auction pioneer has a
great website, literally thousands of auctions running night and
day, a secure system for handling online payments, and a way to
check on a buyer's and seller's track record with the company.
Click on the link below to check out what eBay
has to offer.
eBay.com
Great deals on used kayaks and kayking equipment.
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| Tips
& Tricks |
| Emergency
stove
It's a good idea to
have an emergency stove along on your trip in
addition to your primary stove. An emergency backup
stove can be as simple as a section of rolled up
cardboard inside a tuna fish can. Stuff the
cardboard (corrugated works better) into the can and
then fill the can with melted candle wax. Before you
leave home, light the stove once so that the wax
saturates the cardboard. This will make the stove
easier to light in the field.
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