Good God the tip about lifting up and pulling knees vs dragging just blew my mind. This was the exact problem I was having and you fixed it for me in less than 2 mins. Awesome.
That was far more graceful than my last training session! Great tips too, my next session will be more graceful and I will have fewer bruises after I can tell.
The key point for me was not dragging but edging up the boat. I often feel stuck to or hung up on the deck gear when doing it incorrectly. Many thanks.
Thanks so much for posting these extra details. I've been working on the cowgirl rescue since you first posted it. I like it a lot. Haven't got it down to a single fluid motion yet. For most pool sessions I need to use my whitewater boat which makes things a bit more challenging. But the cowgirl version will work. Going to be working on it again on Saturday when sessions start up again.
It took me a while to figure out how far I needed to be over the deck to land in the cockpit. Now it's my preferred method. Keep working at it! Even as a back-up, it's a good option to have.
@@robertnissenbaum I'm totally convinced that cowgirl is the way to go. I'll be back practicing tomorrow night. I think one big benefit of this approach will be when you have a bulky guide PFD with stuff in the pockets. The water's still 'hard' around here so it'll be a while yet before I can practice outside in a sea kayak. Thanks again for all the tips.
Excellent 👍. I'm definitely dedicating time to practicing this scramble method next vacation. I like the "ice self-rescue" approach to getting onto the stern. I've also switched to butt-first boarding so I'll be okay as soon as my rear is planted on the seat.
That's a lovely video, Robert. The scramble doesn't work for me with my "ocean" cockpit. Without an inflated paddle float, a standard solo rescue isn't possible, so I find the reenter and roll to be my fallback technique.
There is no one right method and each method gets adapted to the paddler's needs. My overall goal is to provide enough basic instruction on technique to provide paddlers what they need to be able to adapt.
Card carrying member of the Deception Pass Swim Team here! Personal preference, but I also like to hold the loop of my skirt in my teeth during a re-entry if possible. Keeps it up out of the way, so I'm not sitting on it plus it's positioned nicely for putting back on. My vest is pretty 'clean', but holding the skirt like that also helps cover potential snags. If someone is having difficulty with balance, I also recommend keeping the legs spread wide while on the deck to help brace.
Excellent point of keeping her legs wide! I had someone do the same thing by putting the skirt in their teeth until it snagged while in their teeth. It wasn't a pleasant experience. Some paddlers will clip it to their PFD before scrambling, but that usually takes 2 hands and risks letting go of the kayak.
@@robertnissenbaum Yikes! Thankfully haven't had that experience. I hate, hate. HATE it when people clip their skirt to their vest. #1 pet peeve of mine. The carabiner round the shoulder strap for that purpose seems like a recipe for disaster, and I can't count the number of times I've seen someone forget to put their skirt on because it's clipped up someplace. Anyway, can't wait to see more paddling content!
Very good and such a clear explanation, thank you so much for this!!.🙂And the skirt thing is so important to remember!!! To make sure skirt is not pulled between the legs, so hard to get it out of the body weight. Especially when reentering has to be done faster than normal. in a storm or so. Do you have tips on how to attach a skirt faster too? Thanks!!!!
You're welcome. Attaching the spray skirt faster is mostly a matter of practicing it - and even then, tighter fitting skirts can be a challenge. Start at the back behind your hip and pull the skirt around the coaming toward your hips. I find it best to lean forward to keep tension on the back of the skirt once my hands get to my hips allowing me to slide my hands to the front of the skirt and pull it over the rest of the coaming - I'll get a quick video on my technique.
There’s a better way: where you face astern on the rear deck chest down and slide your legs forward and down into the cockpit as you corkscrew or logroll your torso to twist with your chest forward by the time your butt twists down into the saddle. This keeps your centre of mass lower because your torso isn’t elevated so high and you aren’t vulnerable to rolling overboard as you raise your knees while trying to insert your two feet inside the coaming. This maneuver is with a dry boat on flat contained pool water. That just isn’t realistic for sea conditions that would toss you into the drink in the first place.
Not sure if I missed something. What I didn’t see was you rigging the boat to begin with. It then has a lot of water in it. Then it is REALLY difficult to keep it stable. The large volume of water them moves around making balance extremely difficult. Add to that doing it in rough water makes the approach virtually useless. Only true way is to have a 2nd boat to help empty water out first.
@@JB-xd9dr It doesn't show well in this video but I was able to empty about 85% of the water out of it. I'm both of the current kayaks I paddle. I can empty more than that even in rough seas. I need to get a video up demonstrating the technique I use
Wow. Impressive. I’d like to know how to do that. I’ve a Prijon Cruiser 430 and it has a large cock pit. I was unable to lift either bow or stern to empty out water. When I righted it it had lots and lots of water in. I got back on top and almost got legs in, BUT was massively unstable with so much water in the boat. Never succeeded to get underway. After many many attempts I gave in.Do post your video please. Thx.
Currently there are a couple of pool sessions scheduled with the Mountaineers (Bremerton and in Tukwila). They have up to 19 in the pool so space is a bit limited. I rent the pool in Bremerton and have pool sessions all winter (usually 2x per month) and limit the pool to 10 including myself and another instructor to make sure there is room to practice skills. I post the session on my website rnissenbaum.com/sea-kayak-classes/ and announce them through email (rnissenbaum.com/subscribe)
@@robertnissenbaum Thank you so much ! So keep everything at the front. The only issue I have with that is the front deck becomes so cluttered. You don't find that to be the case?
@@joethi4981 the only things on my front deck are a spare paddle and a chart. I have my pump and float secured in the cockpit. Water is in a hydration pack on the back of my PFD. Too much on the front deck can make it challenging for an assisted rescuer to brace the kayak. In expeditions, we are generally in calmer conditions and a deck bag to carry other items like snacks works well
For what most sea kayakers do, we want the boat to be able to get on edge, roll, turn, and move the way we want it to move. Too much stability limits how we can paddle it.
@@Ryanstuff that makes sense but that adds complexity and cost plus possible maintenance issues. We carry paddle floats and in a group we can create enough stability to walk across kayaks.
I can do thisd in up to 5' seas and 25 knots of wind - it's something I routinely practice. I will get more video demonstrating that. I can also roll reliably in those same and bigger sea states. I have also know rolls to fail and thus one should have a back up method. ruclips.net/video/WFqEXXZ8vMA/видео.htmlsi=U_fYJERkWkFC-lEF
Well you are a better man than me I started canoeing in 1963 in a lath and canvas pbk 14. I then spent forty plus years canoeing in all sorts of weather I certainly could not use your technique in most of the rough water crossings I did ( I canoe camped most of the Hebridean Islands and North Sea trips) there again I would never end up out of my boat.
I don't think it's being a better man @@john-wq8kfand I am sure I likely couldn't get back into a canoe. I am also a firm believer in rescues being secondary to learning how to stay upright. The best rescue/roll is the one we don't need.
Good God the tip about lifting up and pulling knees vs dragging just blew my mind. This was the exact problem I was having and you fixed it for me in less than 2 mins. Awesome.
Glad it was helpful!
That was far more graceful than my last training session! Great tips too, my next session will be more graceful and I will have fewer bruises after I can tell.
The key point for me was not dragging but edging up the boat. I often feel stuck to or hung up on the deck gear when doing it incorrectly. Many thanks.
Great points about lifting up rather than dragging. I find a lot of people struggle due to dragging and snagging
You are the great teacher ! ❤♥
Thanks so much for posting these extra details. I've been working on the cowgirl rescue since you first posted it. I like it a lot. Haven't got it down to a single fluid motion yet. For most pool sessions I need to use my whitewater boat which makes things a bit more challenging. But the cowgirl version will work. Going to be working on it again on Saturday when sessions start up again.
It took me a while to figure out how far I needed to be over the deck to land in the cockpit. Now it's my preferred method.
Keep working at it! Even as a back-up, it's a good option to have.
@@robertnissenbaum I'm totally convinced that cowgirl is the way to go. I'll be back practicing tomorrow night. I think one big benefit of this approach will be when you have a bulky guide PFD with stuff in the pockets. The water's still 'hard' around here so it'll be a while yet before I can practice outside in a sea kayak. Thanks again for all the tips.
Excellent 👍. I'm definitely dedicating time to practicing this scramble method next vacation. I like the "ice self-rescue" approach to getting onto the stern. I've also switched to butt-first boarding so I'll be okay as soon as my rear is planted on the seat.
That's a lovely video, Robert. The scramble doesn't work for me with my "ocean" cockpit. Without an inflated paddle float, a standard solo rescue isn't possible, so I find the reenter and roll to be my fallback technique.
There is no one right method and each method gets adapted to the paddler's needs. My overall goal is to provide enough basic instruction on technique to provide paddlers what they need to be able to adapt.
Card carrying member of the Deception Pass Swim Team here!
Personal preference, but I also like to hold the loop of my skirt in my teeth during a re-entry if possible.
Keeps it up out of the way, so I'm not sitting on it plus it's positioned nicely for putting back on.
My vest is pretty 'clean', but holding the skirt like that also helps cover potential snags.
If someone is having difficulty with balance, I also recommend keeping the legs spread wide while on the deck to help brace.
Excellent point of keeping her legs wide!
I had someone do the same thing by putting the skirt in their teeth until it snagged while in their teeth. It wasn't a pleasant experience.
Some paddlers will clip it to their PFD before scrambling, but that usually takes 2 hands and risks letting go of the kayak.
@@robertnissenbaum Yikes! Thankfully haven't had that experience.
I hate, hate. HATE it when people clip their skirt to their vest. #1 pet peeve of mine. The carabiner round the shoulder strap for that purpose seems like a recipe for disaster, and I can't count the number of times I've seen someone forget to put their skirt on because it's clipped up someplace.
Anyway, can't wait to see more paddling content!
@@MillerSean more coming soon! Thank you.
Awesome video Robert! thanks!
Very good and such a clear explanation, thank you so much for this!!.🙂And the skirt thing is so important to remember!!! To make sure skirt is not pulled between the legs, so hard to get it out of the body weight. Especially when reentering has to be done faster than normal. in a storm or so. Do you have tips on how to attach a skirt faster too? Thanks!!!!
You're welcome.
Attaching the spray skirt faster is mostly a matter of practicing it - and even then, tighter fitting skirts can be a challenge.
Start at the back behind your hip and pull the skirt around the coaming toward your hips. I find it best to lean forward to keep tension on the back of the skirt once my hands get to my hips allowing me to slide my hands to the front of the skirt and pull it over the rest of the coaming - I'll get a quick video on my technique.
@@robertnissenbaum Thank you so much for the reply!! I will wait for that video! :) Time for dry land drills again!! 😁💪
There’s a better way: where you face astern on the rear deck chest down and slide your legs forward and down into the cockpit as you corkscrew or logroll your torso to twist with your chest forward by the time your butt twists down into the saddle. This keeps your centre of mass lower because your torso isn’t elevated so high and you aren’t vulnerable to rolling overboard as you raise your knees while trying to insert your two feet inside the coaming. This maneuver is with a dry boat on flat contained pool water. That just isn’t realistic for sea conditions that would toss you into the drink in the first place.
Not sure if I missed something. What I didn’t see was you rigging the boat to begin with. It then has a lot of water in it. Then it is REALLY difficult to keep it stable. The large volume of water them moves around making balance extremely difficult. Add to that doing it in rough water makes the approach virtually useless. Only true way is to have a 2nd boat to help empty water out first.
@@JB-xd9dr It doesn't show well in this video but I was able to empty about 85% of the water out of it.
I'm both of the current kayaks I paddle. I can empty more than that even in rough seas.
I need to get a video up demonstrating the technique I use
Wow. Impressive. I’d like to know how to do that. I’ve a Prijon Cruiser 430 and it has a large cock pit. I was unable to lift either bow or stern to empty out water. When I righted it it had lots and lots of water in. I got back on top and almost got legs in, BUT was massively unstable with so much water in the boat. Never succeeded to get underway. After many many attempts I gave in.Do post your video please. Thx.
Just finished building my kayak and before I head out onto the Sound I want to practice this. What pools are open for practice like this?
Currently there are a couple of pool sessions scheduled with the Mountaineers (Bremerton and in Tukwila). They have up to 19 in the pool so space is a bit limited.
I rent the pool in Bremerton and have pool sessions all winter (usually 2x per month) and limit the pool to 10 including myself and another instructor to make sure there is room to practice skills.
I post the session on my website rnissenbaum.com/sea-kayak-classes/ and announce them through email (rnissenbaum.com/subscribe)
That helps alot.
This is great but what happens when you have spare paddles on the back?
That is why mine are never on my back deck. The back deck is the primary rescue point for self and assisted rescues.
@@robertnissenbaum Thank you so much ! So keep everything at the front. The only issue I have with that is the front deck becomes so cluttered. You don't find that to be the case?
@@joethi4981 the only things on my front deck are a spare paddle and a chart. I have my pump and float secured in the cockpit. Water is in a hydration pack on the back of my PFD.
Too much on the front deck can make it challenging for an assisted rescuer to brace the kayak.
In expeditions, we are generally in calmer conditions and a deck bag to carry other items like snacks works well
Why can't they develop deployable stabilizers built into these kayaks? Is it because they would be considered training Wheels by the professionals?
For what most sea kayakers do, we want the boat to be able to get on edge, roll, turn, and move the way we want it to move. Too much stability limits how we can paddle it.
@@robertnissenbaum yes agreed but that's why I mentioned stabilizers that could be activated/deactivated on demand.
@@Ryanstuff that makes sense but that adds complexity and cost plus possible maintenance issues. We carry paddle floats and in a group we can create enough stability to walk across kayaks.
There have been sponsons sold to be deployed in emergency and some also available to keep attached at most times. Sorry I dont recall names or mfg
But try that in rough conditions, learn to roll it could save your life
I can do thisd in up to 5' seas and 25 knots of wind - it's something I routinely practice. I will get more video demonstrating that.
I can also roll reliably in those same and bigger sea states. I have also know rolls to fail and thus one should have a back up method.
ruclips.net/video/WFqEXXZ8vMA/видео.htmlsi=U_fYJERkWkFC-lEF
Well you are a better man than me I started canoeing in 1963 in a lath and canvas pbk 14. I then spent forty plus years canoeing in all sorts of weather I certainly could not use your technique in most of the rough water crossings I did ( I canoe camped most of the Hebridean Islands and North Sea trips) there again I would never end up out of my boat.
I don't think it's being a better man @@john-wq8kfand I am sure I likely couldn't get back into a canoe. I am also a firm believer in rescues being secondary to learning how to stay upright. The best rescue/roll is the one we don't need.