I guess it is not so hi-tech but and features I should look for? New to sport and just got a composite from SOT boat. Thanks for any help.

Get a good cheap one, because you probably will lose it, or break it before you'll ever use it. I've been paddling for years and in lots of rough water and I've never used my pump except to suck the last bit of water out of the boats when I wash them. Any boating supply store should have a few to choose from. Most kayakers buy the ones with the padded sleeve, but they cost quite a bit more than the ones that don't have the sleeve. You shouldn't have to pay more than about $20.

Unlike my friend Magooch, I've used my pump on several occasions to pump out other people's boats after they've capsized and then been gotten back into their cockpits. You won't lose it if you attach it with a maybe 4 foot piece of cord to the side of your seat and keep it inside the boat between the side of the seat and the hull. Most people end up with the Thirsty Mate pump; they don't break--I've had mine for 26 years and it still works like a charm.

Gotta agree w. Strange Magic.

If you really go after it learning rescues, learning how to paddle a flooded boat, etc, you *will* need a good pump for that...and if/when you are in rough water, or you are helping someone who is, you will need it even more.

Don't skimp on safety equipment - be it bilge pump, paddle float, tow belt, whistle, helmet etc.

I'd rather spend $30-$35 once on a good pump rather than $20-$25 2 or 3x or 4x on a cheap one. Plus what does cost matter if a pump fails when you really need it? Be sure to test your pump several times during the season.

The cheap ones have plastic pump shafts. The shafts get grooves when sand, etc mixes w. the water. Then they get clogged and jam. A removable foot helps some, but if it's a thin skincoat of sand on the shaft, it's still a PITA.


The good ones have stainless steel shafts. Here's three:

The Beckson ThirstyMate as mentioned.
The Current Designs Pump
The Outfitter Model by Seattle Sports (this model only, the
blue and yellow one is the basic and cheap)

That said, I don't pump out my boat when I reach shore after paddling. I just grab the bow, tip it over and wiggle it a few times. 95% of the water drains out, leaving very little to wipe out. Pumping out in that case is for da birds

I must be doing something wrong, because I seldom even have to wipe the inside of the cockpit with my Shamwow--even on my rec boats.

Bought one at the kayak store yesterday and used it soon after! Seattle Sports. Metal shaft plastic housing. IS the CD one metal housing?

Anyway I see a boat 23' IO with 6 people all yelling and waving yesterday. Paddle over and kid runs to the boat and grabs it getting me out of shape. I could not really hear them well and they didn't speak good English. So finally I tell the guy to call SeaTow and he gets it. He calls 411 for the number as I didn't want to get my phone out to give him the number. I assumed he got through.

While all this is happening some party boats are going by with a big wakes coming. I am now knuckle walking the boat on the sand bar as it was not floating much most of the time. I was ready to get out but hung in there. While trying to escape the shallows I took some waves over the side. They almost knocked me and the Kayak over. So now I got to use my new bilge pump in the first hour. Finally got clear of the mess and called SeaTow on my VHF to tell them and make sure they were coming.

Guess I should of had the skirt on but it was real hot and it was the second time out in my new Solstice. Then where three channels intersect I ran into the perfect storm of wakes from some big boats and small. This lead to the most confused water I have seen in my short Kayaking career to date 7-5-10. Only sad the GoPro was on the deck and not my head to review this turmoil later from the couch. It made it fun but I thought I may be going over or pumping again. I put a leash on the pump before I left. New boat took the water good and with my limited experience and what I read I had enough to get through it.

Next Sunday is lesson time with the instructor then I will feel even better.

magooch, maybe you're not going upside down or sideways as much as I do... on purpose of course '-)

Dog, sounds like you got the same one I have... and yup the CD bilge pump has a metal shaft.

Way to baptize it '-)

Yup, wear the skirt. You can do so much more w. one on.

Is it a neoprene one? Those will be hotter but one trick is too swish it in the water then put it on. Then scull or do a hip snap off another kayak's bow if you need a quick cooling off (I'm assuming a roll is on your punchlist).

Oh and if it's a new skirt/new boat, esp. if it's a neoprene one which fits more tightly to the coaming, it's perfectly good sense to do a couple of test wet exits w. someone standing in the water spotting you.

By wet exit I don't mean just flipping over and falling out.

I mean a controlled wet exit where you stay under, tap the boat sides three times, and slowly move your hands back and forth with your palms perpendicular to the sides of your boat. You should be comfortable doing this for a span of 10 seconds, increase it from there.

Practicing wet exits is another way to cool off. And then you can practice getting back in your boat.


You will have hours of fun w. this new boat
Big ups to you for getting instruction, too.

I have a nylon Current Design skirt that came with the boat. Has like a rubber film on the inside. Rolling is on the list not sure if it will happen before the spring. One lesson this Sunday if a few others book. I guess the teacher wants to make a few bucks and not spend 3 hours with me alone in the water for 75 bucks.

I'll have to try the skirt on sitting in the boat to see how best to pop it on. I guess the rear first and work it forward?

heading for the below in bold. I doubt I could take 6 hours in the water as it is about 65 degrees at best. Good way to learn to where a suit. I guess I may have to take the Quick Start course first anyway?


http://www.empirekayaks.com/index.shtml
Oct

Sun. Oct 3 Quick Start 9-12, Rescue 12:30-3:30

$75.00 / Clinic includes kayak, equipment and top notch instruction. (KFAC Clinic/$100)
ALL CLINICS ARE CASH ONLY!

ACA Quick Start Clinic is an introduction to paddling a kayak. Students are presented with basic information on equipment, carrying, launching, landing, dressing to paddle safely, potential hazards and simple rescues. Basic strokes covered; forward, reverse, stopping, turning and wet exit. A perfect course to enhance the enjoyment and safety of the entry level paddler. An ACA participation card is given to students.

Rescue Clinics could also be called recovery clinics. In this class students learn what to do in the event of a capsize. Different assisted and unassisted techniques along with a simple contact tow are taught so you can help yourself or someone else back into the kayak. This is a fun, wet class.


that is what is offered. I am guess I'll go for the Rescue clinic?

Not even sure if they are having both or just ACA Quick Start Clinic? I will call her on Friday or she is supposed to call me to see if it is happening.

These people should rent a scuba pool for winter lessons. People could bring their boat to be familiar with their boat. Not perfect but a good place to start rolling I guess?

My main interest at this point is to be able to get out of it the secondary priority is to get back into it. Most likely if I go it it will not be flat water like I see most of the youtube vids. I only found one where the guy empties the boat in some 3-4' seas and hops back on like "The Lone Ranger" if you are old enough to know what I mean?

The Rescue Clinic sounds great. The price is very fair. Took a BCU/ACA course in summer of 2007 for $85. Take one every year, but now do it as part of a symposium - three days of all kinds of classes, excellent deal.

Tell the instructor you have a new kayak and skirt and you want to do a test wet exit, or a few. They'll understand and want you to tell them things like that. I know, having assisted an instructor at rescue practice for newbies. An experienced kayaker spotted me for my first wet exits. It's no big deal, just good to have backup.

You are going to practice getting back in anyways, so you may as well practice getting out '-)

You might want to invest in some nose plugs before class.
Smiley's are good, something on a small cord. The cord ain't long enough for us seakayakers, we don't wear helmets as routinely as our ww kin, so use a short piece of nonfrayable cord to attach the noseplugs to somewhere on the front of your PFD where it'll easily reach your nostrils.

You are right, most rescue situations are not flat water, but stuff can happen anywhere. We had a person go into an asthma attack and capsize. Another time someone got spooked by an insect and went over. And there is the famous turning-around-to-get-at-the day-hatch LOL

So we learn them on flat water, and practice and keep practicing in progressively more waves and wind.

Yup, to attach a skirt you pull it on over you - the tunnel should be high on your torso, on the upper part of the sternum (breastbone). Get in, put the spray deck completely over the back lip of the cockpit coaming, then lean forward slightly w. both hands pulling the skirt towards the nose (very front) of the cockpit. Snap it over the nose, and then run each hand back along the side, tucking the rest of it under the coaming. The spray deck s/be relatively taut, actually the tauter the better, so that it won't implode under waves... or boat wakes '-)

oh and make sure the grab handle is on the outside!
Don't be that guy w. the "D'oh" moment!

oh shoot. I forgot to mention.

roll is a foundation skill built on a strong hip snap, flexibility, comfort being underwater and good mechanics.

Boat fit is very important too. So it's too soon for your to even really know how your new boat fits. You need more time in it and doing more stuff with it.

At this stage work on the other skills. A strong hip snap, great boat control and the ability to high and low brace will get you out of a lot of near capsizes anyway.

I did my first rolls in fresh water, believe it or not after a 15 minute session my second time out. My first pool session I sucked, but it showed me I needed to do a better job of fitting out the cockpit so I could snap the boat.

Rolling sessions are tiring, I can only go 20 minutes at a time.And if the water is low 60s like Lake Superior was this summer, I had to wear ear plugs, otherwise the cold water in my inner ear drums was disorienting.

Pool sessions are great, too, the water is usually water. Whatever you find relaxes you.

I second the motion about making sure the grab loop/handle of the sprayskirt is completely free and exposed after the sprayskirt is on the cockpit coaming. Also become very familiar with the move to undo the skirt--often with a skirt that fits tightly to the cockpit coaming, or with a cockpit coaming with a wide lip, you need to pull the loop AWAY from you first to get the sprayskirt to begin to disengage from the cockpit. You don't want to discover this fact while upside down for the first time.

Katabatic, you are right; I don't go upside down on purpose. I tried it once accidentally and didn't care for it. The boat didn't like it either. So I've made a deal with all my boats; I do my best to keep it upright and they do their part. So far it has worked out fine for all of us.

I'm also a bicycle and motorcycle rider and I used to sail a lot. Going upside down in those activities was never my thing either--though I did get that way a time, or two. That's just the way I am.

excellent points, Strange Magic. Another tip, Dog - when you are under, do a belly crunch and fold forward. This orients your body under the body properly and gets your hand or hands in position to work their way up to the grab loop. As Strange Magic said, it's a motion similiar to popping a beer

Once the skirt is off, push away from the cockpit w. both hands on the rim, like you were pulling off a pair of jeans.

Practice releasing the skirt w. two hands, and either hand, while the paddle stays in your armpit. That way it's with you when you exit the boat. Get in the habit of coming out next to the boat so you can immediately grab a deckline, or curl a leg into the cockpit while you figure out your next move.

I don't view capsizing or being upside down as a big deal, whether it happens once or dozens of times. In fact I have learned a lot more about taking care of myself by capsizing intentionally. And also a great deal about helping others.
Maybe I will never need all of it, but I have already needed some of it.

I like to play in and around my boats. It's a wet sport

The famous saying applies "we are all between swims"

but if your comfort level is your priority then of course paddle accordingly.