Swamped Kayak Rescue Sessions - Stevens Creek Reservoir/HMB

I'd like to get about 4-5 experienced kayakers out on Stevens Creek Reservoir one day soon, to do some swamped kayak rescues. I'd like to investigate various assumptions about rescueing a swamped SOT kayak. After this flatwater session, I'd like to run an additional session out of HMB on a day with some significant swell and chop.

The more I think about what happened, the more I feel that we are all unprepared for situations like the one Frank and Phil experienced last Thursday. What with winter rapidly coming upon us, this would be a good way to spend some time during the low point of the fishing season.

Some of the areas of concern are:  bilge pumps, additional floatation, T-Rescues, tandems, crates, hatch configuration, rigging. Specifically:

     1) Can you use a bilge pump effectively, if there is water coming in to the hatch you've opened in order to pump out the hull.
     2) What if your hatch is fully submerged?
     3) Can you T-rescue if both boats have lots of rigging/rods on their deck surfaces?
     4) How much floatation needs to be added in order to really faciltate a swamping rescue? I have a feeling it's a lot more than 3-4 pool noodles, or a couple cans of foam sprayed into the fore and aft end of a kayak.

A product of these two days of investigation would be an article on how best to handle swamping scenarios, with specific emphasis on the SOT fishing kayak.

Regards,
Scott

Some of the areas of concern are:  bilge pumps, additional floatation, T-Rescues, tandems, crates, hatch configuration, rigging. Specifically:

     1) Can you use a bilge pump effectively, if there is water coming in to the hatch you've opened in order to pump out the hull.
     2) What if your hatch is fully submerged?
     3) Can you T-rescue if both boats have lots of rigging/rods on their deck surfaces?
     4) How much floatation needs to be added in order to really faciltate a swamping rescue? I have a feeling it's a lot more than 3-4 pool noodles, or a couple cans of foam sprayed into the fore and aft end of a kayak.

It would be interesting to probe the limits. And important for a reality check. But kayaking litereature already gives us some hints to the answers and they should be sobering:
1) Can you use a bilge pump effectively, if there is water coming in to the hatch you've opened in order to pump out the hull.

In calm water, maybe. But if rough water caused the problem, probably not. SIK have trouble bilging water even holding most of their spray deck in place if the water is rough.

2) What if your hatch is fully submerged?

Pumping cannot be done from that hatch. Sea kayakers learn a rescue called a side rescue used for tandems and loaded expedition kayaks where the weight is too great for a 'T' or 'X' rescue. That is the only solution I can think of.

3) Can you T-rescue if both boats have lots of rigging/rods on their deck surfaces?

Most likley not and the weight of the water intruding on the hull of a an SOT is likely to be so great a 'T' rescue is impossible anyway. See above.

4) How much floatation needs to be added in order to really faciltate a swamping rescue? I have a feeling it's a lot more than 3-4 pool noodles, or a couple cans of foam sprayed into the fore and aft end of a kayak.

Yes, I think so too. SOTs were not created for the uses we are putting them too. One of the cardinal rules of kayak is "don't open your hatches when on the water. To be really sea worthy, SOTs should have sealed bulkheads but that is problematic in palstic and would raise teh price prohibitively. Some of the new fishing skis are going in that direction but use fibreglas to get it. But they cost more and are harder to customize the way us fishers like to because some use double hulls and didn't think about inside hull access for cusotmization. The category is still evolving and I think many sea kayaking guides, ACA and BCU, if you turn off the cameras so sponsors aren't listening, will tell you don't consider SOTs very sea worthy for anything but calm conditions if you are not adding secured floatation, you cover you deck with gear (clear decks are important in rescues--particularly self-rescues), you don't have grab lines around the periphery of the boat, and you open the hatches while on the water.

That said, I haven't heard of many swamped SOT tragedies--it is usually tipping over and losing contact with the kayak or paddle, unfamiliarity of re-entry techniques, or being unprepared for immersion that seems to be the cause of most SOT tragedies.

I'd suggest a pool session rather than SC resservoir--easier to recover a submerged kayak and easier for all to view the action from the deck. Then when you think you have it down, pick a gnarly day and do it in HMB Habor next. Once confident, go outside the harbor and do it again. Coyote Point gets some really good wind chop in the afternoon and the beach where the paddle fest is held is convenient and close  to the rough water. Plus we can fish for leapoard sharks after we are done 

Vince from Aquan Sports has pool safety demos - the pool is on an off site location but some where within San Carlos or Redwood City. I'll swing by Aquan today to get some more info.

Vince from Aquan Sports has pool safety demos - the pool is on an off site location but some where within San Carlos or Redwood City. I'll swing by Aquan today to get some more info.

Good idea.  Maybe... we can even do some "myth busting" about waders. 

Vince from Aquan Sports has pool safety demos - the pool is on an off site location but some where within San Carlos or Redwood City. I'll swing by Aquan today to get some more info.

Good idea.  Maybe... we can even do some "myth busting" about waders. 

Now your talking!!

Yeah, this sounds like a great idea. Count me in.

As for wader myths...

I think the myths have long ago been broken. Common sense and physics tell us that waders, when filled with water reach equilibriumt with the surrounding water and are in effect, when submerged, neutral in weight mostly. So they don't "drag you under" and you PFD has more than enough buoyancy to keep you floating just fine. Maybe some 'old school' fishers still think waders drag you under, but that's not so. But...

They do bring another insidious danger: hypothermia--the number one killer of kayakers. The real issue with waders is that they don't seal out water for very long once you are in the water and so all your insulating clothing under them becomes wet and your clothe's ability to keep you warm is substantially reduced. Waders themselves don't provide insulation except the neoprene kind and even they are not tight enough fitting as they need to be to effectively insulate you nearly as well as a wet suit does. And, when filled with water, waders keep that cold water right next to your skin. A minor point: they are also generally 'baggy' and harder to swim in.

So waders are comfortable and allow you the flexibility of wade fishing should you desire too but seriously reduce your ability to stave off hypothermia if you are immersed for a significant time. If you wear waders you are taking a bigger risk that any immersion will be short-lived. So I think waders are fine for lakes but not for the ocean. Its a personal risk assessment and choice. But don't kid yourself--you spend 45 minutes in the frigid Pacific like those two did in wetsuits at Bean Hollow only in waders and insulation under them and you may well be significantly hypothermic.

Alan wears a shorty John under his waders to provide insulation when wet and that might well be a solution but I'd think not so comfortable. You are defeating the purpose of breathable waders by wearing a non-breathable wetsuit under them so I'll bet they get 'clammy'. I am pro-waders in lakes but I recognize I am betting I won't end up in the water and if, by chance I do, I won't be in it long. There is no way I'd wear waders in the ocean. But again, that a personal risk assessment. To each his own: your own risk comfort level is personal.

Great idea Scott.  I don't know if we can make the event but we will be very interested in your results........lots of pictures?

Scott,
I am in. This is something that might well save someone's neck one day.

Mooch,
If Aquan Sports can help us that would be great.

Western Sea Kyaakers practices rolling, rescues, strokes, etc. every Thursday in the NASA Ames Pool. I'll find out how access is obtained--maybe we can go under their auspices or something.

Rescues need to be reflexive almost to the point of being instinctive especially in adverse conditions. At least I know rolling is that way--if you have to think about what to do, you've lost very precious time--I know from personal experience and from having a lackluster intermittent roll.

"Swamp My Yak" sounds like a new series, count me in....Danglin

Heh, it could become the new NCKA T-shirt!!!

I don't have any experience with waders but it seems to me that once filled , 1. they don't insulate and, 2. they have weight but no buoyancy that will likely make you float lower in the water.

I've said this before here but I think it needs repeating. I've been on a sinking yak in swell and chop.  When your boat descends after a swell passes it gains downward inertia that is well beyond the actual gross weight. A half filled (with water) kayak that may float you in flat water doesn't float you in swells at all, they get driven underwater everytime a swell passes. Trust me on this.

Part of the reason these boats do as well as they do in swell is because many have capacities in the 400+ lbs. ranges that affords the extra buoyancy needed to quickly counter the upward and downward inertia. It's really not enough to simply float the weight of you and your boat, you need extra buoyancy or you're continually swamped.

When using waders in cold offshore conditions, I simply wear an NRS Hydroskin Farmer John under breathable Gortex and use a wader belt, paddle jacket and lifevest. This combination works well for me.

It seems to me that waders full of water would effectively prevent you from swimming after your boat should you become separated from it.  It would be like swimming inside a deployed sea anchor or drifer.  It would also limit your mobility and add weight potentially limiting your ability to pull your self up onto the kayak.  I do not like the idea of waders for the ocean.

Any word from the folks at Aquan or WSK?  If not, how about SCR on 11/4 or 11/5 ?

I was just there last night, doing roll practice. The water is not too cold at all. We could attach a safety line to the "victim" boat, and rescue it from shore if needed.  Using the lake would also give us a lot more room to practice stern rides, and we'd not have to worry about pool rules, other kayakers etc...

Regards,
Scott