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Re: Skin-on-Frame: Maybe a canoe-kayak hybrid? *LINK*
By:Dave Houser
Date: 8/25/2007, 12:47 pm

: Like before, i had some fear since i am pretty tight into my kayak.

Not knowing your experience level I will start from the beginning. Many beginners have a fear of being trapped upside-down underwater in a kayak. You just need to practice wet exits.

When you put your spray skirt on the coaming always be sure the loop is outside the cockpit. Practice removing your spray skirt when sitting in the kayak on dry land. Grab the loop and push it away and up. Also try removing the skirt without using the loop by grabbing the side of the skirt right next to your hipbone. This is where the coaming has the largest radius and the skirt has the least clamping force. Pull the skirt rim sideways and up. Also practice with your eyes shut.

Zip-tie a Wiffle golf ball onto the grab loop. It makes the loop easier to see underwater and easier to find when you cannot see it.

Next practice a few wet exits in shallow water with an assistant standing to your side and just behind you. If you have trouble exiting they will lift you to the surface by your arms and shoulders. To exit remove your spray skirt from the coaming. Put your hands behind your hips and push the kayak away from your butt. Do not wear shoes with laces or clothes that could get snagged inside the cockpit.

Learn to do self-rescues and assisted rescues.
http://www.useakayak.org/home_page/skill_of_month.html

Learn to roll.

Dress for water immersion.

Messages In This Thread

Re: Skin-on-Frame: Maybe a canoe-kayak hybrid? *LINK*
Dave Houser -- 8/25/2007, 12:47 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Maybe a canoe-kayak hybrid?
Guy Bouchard -- 8/26/2007, 8:06 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Maybe a canoe-kayak hybrid?
Kris Buttermore -- 8/27/2007, 10:17 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Maybe a canoe-kayak hybrid?
Guy Bouchard -- 8/27/2007, 10:09 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Maybe a canoe-kayak hybrid?
Tom Yost -- 8/28/2007, 1:36 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Maybe a canoe-kayak hybrid?
Guy Bouchard -- 8/31/2007, 8:40 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Maybe a canoe-kayak hybrid?
Guy Bouchard -- 9/12/2007, 9:19 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Maybe a canoe-kayak hybrid?
Bill Hamm -- 8/27/2007, 4:21 am