Kayak tip

[thumper]

'Sit on Top' kayaks are notoriously difficult to re-board when you get dumped. Trying to pull yourself on from the side, results in the kayak just spinning in the water, and clambering aboard from the rear is awkward, and requires you to climb over all the stuff in the rear, in order to get back into the cock-pit.

Here's a quick and easy way to get back into the cock-pit:
Get an old, short, dog leash - about 5-6 ft long, and clip it to any fastener near the side of your seat. If you dump, right the kayak in the water, and extend the dog leash in the water. Bring your right knee up, and slip your foot into the leash 'handle' loop, and using it as a stirrup, extend your leg while you pull yourself into the kayak. The leverage provided by extending the strongest muscle in your body (your leg), will allow you to smoothly slip over the side and into the seat.
Leave the leash clipped to the kayak - it comes in handy for tying up to a dock, or securing it to a trailer/boat rack.

Practice this trick out in shallower, warm water conditions - you'll probably have to adjust the length of the leash to suit your size - but once you figure it out, getting back into the kayak is one less thing to worry about!

- from an old, fat kayaker!

[klammer]

from someone on the coast - thank you for this tip

[funkman]

never thought of that....great tip when you tip!

[doublehaul]

Great tip, for the tippy

[IGS]

So the leash is under the kayak as you're trying to reboard?

[tallieho]

Please practice,right yourselve[eskimo roll].If the young man had learned it .He might still be alive..Police outpost 41/2 years ago rip

[Smoky buck]

I agree testing out ways to get back into your kayak is a good idea. I will get my wife to try out your trick as she has to work harder to get back in. Myself I find with the sit on style kayaks I can flop myself back in a number of ways with little effort. I am tall with above average flexibility and agility though. I actually the easiest for me is that I can grab my drive and kinda roll myself in from the side. My wife basically has to climb in from the back

[thumper]

Originally Posted by IGS

So the leash is under the kayak as you're trying to reboard?

No - the leash is placed over the kayak.

[thumper]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

I agree testing out ways to get back into your kayak is a good idea. I will get my wife to try out your trick as she has to work harder to get back in. Myself I find with the sit on style kayaks I can flop myself back in a number of ways with little effort. I am tall with above average flexibility and agility though. I actually the easiest for me is that I can grab my drive and kinda roll myself in from the side. My wife basically has to climb in from the back

I'm built like an elephant seal - and just about as graceful yarding my carcass into a 'yak ! I used to have to hump myself in from the rear, with the bow sticking way above he water, but the side gunnel, dog-leash works much better.

[Geraldsh]

On small sailboats it’s called a right-line, used to get right side up again