I'm with Pete. If a T-rescue wasn't enough, a pump wouldn't be either.

I almost always carry a pump, but never use it myself. If I'm by myself, I usually do a "Pump & Dump"...if I'm with others, the T-rescue. Still, carrying a paddlefloat, sling, and pump is good backup. How much backup is too much? Personal question.

Uff da---the Cleopatra's Needle. Ugly.

The "curl" rescue isn't something much taught in classes...and takes plenty of upper body strength. Do-able if you've practiced it, but never easy..especially in conditions. If you're patient, it takes less strength. But, in conditions, you'll need all the strength you have. Sloshing waves will continue to try to fill the kayak as you try to drain it.

Equipment isn't a replacement for skills, but poor equipment doesn't help, even if you have the skills. Kayaks without bulkheads must have a sea sock or float bags...and float bags aren't a terrible idea even in a kayak with bulkheads.

We can't save everyone, nor do we have the right or directive to anyway. But I'll do everything in my power so that it doesn't happen to me or my paddling partners...

"Stupidity leads to death". Okay, so what. Stupid people are going to kill themselves no matter what.

Shawn

: I mostly agree, but question the comments about the pump.

: If they didn't have the skills to dump the boat in the conditions, then I
: wouldn't be too sure that a pump would have helped much. I am pretty much
: a novice sea kayaker and can dump out my boat alone in most conditions
: that I could effectively pump it out. With the bow of another boat to hang
: on to, it should be easy, unless conditions are rough enough to make
: pumping out difficult too.

: I carry a pump, mainly because I go on CPA trips where it is required. That
: said, I have a hard time imagining conditions where a pump is the best
: answer.

: Note: I am not saying it isn't good to have a pump along; another option is
: always good. I am just suggesting that the lack of a pump wasn't the real
: problem so much as a lack of sufficient reentry skills for the conditions.
: Good, well practiced, rentry skills would have probably saved him without
: a pump; a pump with no skills probably wouldn't have helped.

: Pete