Kayak self rescue

I got my Hobie Compass this year. I know safety is number one priority. I got my PFD, dry suit, vhf radio, and pump. I also watched self rescue videos. But never practiced. Today I fished oyster point for a few hours. There was not a single bite. I decided to call it a day and paddle back to the harbor to practice self rescue. I put my fishing gears and anything that can fall into the water on the dock. Then I stand up on my kayak, a first time for me. The compass is stable enough to standup, at least in calm water. Then I jumped into the water. With PFD on, i naturally float on my back. I know I need to kick my feet to lie flat on my stomach. It took a couple tries. But I was able to get back to my kayak. Not piece of cake, but doable.
  The next step is to flip my kayak. If I fall in the water, chances are that my kayak would flip too. It took lots of effort, leaning my entire body to the left, and finally the kayak was flipped. Here came the challenge. I was supposed to grab the other side of the kayak handle bar and use my body weight to flip. The bottom of the Hobie Copmass is pretty smooth. I tried 3 to 4 times, but can not grab something to reach the other side of the kayak. And I was getting tired. I decided to give it up and start swimming back to the dock which is probably only 40 feet away. My life was not in danger as I was in a very protected water in the harbor. If I were in open water a few miles offshore, I may have to call the coastguard for rescue.
  Well, the coastguard saw me and offered help, which I really appreciate. They suggest me tie a rope on one side of the kayak so I can grab the rope to flip the kayak. This is what I will do next. Just want to share my story.

Did you try flipping the Compass using the Mirrage drive?  Anyway, the rope method is a good one too.  Thanks for sharing the story.

I also find it more difficult to right my Hobie (a Revo 16) than to climb back on board. While the rope technique is a good one, I think it might be wise to practice tipping it right-side-up without a rope, just in case the rope is missing, inaccessible, or whatever...

Both are easy to right.
Reach under the kayak and grab the far side with one hand. Place the other hand under the near side of the kayak.
Pull down with the far hand and push up with the closest hand.
The yak will roll right side up no problem.
It is the fastest way and by far takes the least amount of effort. Save that for getting back on.
Like this. Go to 1:08 of the video.

i had a Compass a few years ago. There is no good handle to grab like the Outback (both handles under the seat and the h-rails). I actually installed a set of h-rails on my compass to aid in righting it, should i flip over. The Compass is a great boat, but righting is a challenge without something to grab on to.

Both are easy to right.
Reach under the kayak and grab the far side with one hand. Place the other hand under the near side of the kayak.
Pull down with the far hand and push up with the closest hand.
The yak will roll right side up no problem.
It is the fastest way and by far takes the least amount of effort. Save that for getting back on.
Like this. Go to 1:08 of the video.

That looks so easy, grabbing from underneath. My kayak looks heavier than that. But will give it a try for sure.

Thanks for sharing! Here’s a surf session I did in LM with my Revo 16. Includes self flipping (around 2:40 min into the video).



My learning :
1. You need to put as little of you body as possible on the kayak when you grab the opposite side. This is so that you can use as much of your weight to flip it back up.
2. On the Revo16, the best spot I found was near the stern. The PFD is in the way, but the least at that end.
3. I agree with Nowhereman that you should learn to flip it unassisted (no ropes)

The wider the kayak, the more difficult it would be to flip, so I think your compass is probably more challenging than my Revo.

It’s very good that set time for this though! Thanks

Both are easy to right.
Reach under the kayak and grab the far side with one hand. Place the other hand under the near side of the kayak.
Pull down with the far hand and push up with the closest hand.
The yak will roll right side up no problem.
It is the fastest way and by far takes the least amount of effort. Save that for getting back on.
Like this. Go to 1:08 of the video.

That looks so easy, grabbing from underneath. My kayak looks heavier than that. But will give it a try for sure.

I've practiced this method on my hobie outback. Definitely not as easy as it looks in the video, but its doable.

Both are easy to right.
Reach under the kayak and grab the far side with one hand. Place the other hand under the near side of the kayak.
Pull down with the far hand and push up with the closest hand.
The yak will roll right side up no problem.
It is the fastest way and by far takes the least amount of effort. Save that for getting back on.
Like this. Go to 1:08 of the video.

That looks so easy, grabbing from underneath. My kayak looks heavier than that. But will give it a try for sure.

I've practiced this method on my hobie outback. Definitely not as easy as it looks in the video, but its doable.

Pull down as you throw the other end up. You have to make it happen.
Doesn't hurt to kick up as you push up either.

I also have a compass.  I put one hand on the drive hole and kick for the other side.  I think it’s easier to flip my kayak than it is to get back  in.   The underside is so smooth it’s easy to swim aboard ti grab the other side.

I also have a compass.  I put one hand on the drive hole and kick for the other side.  I think it’s easier to flip my kayak than it is to get back  in.   The underside is so smooth it’s easy to swim aboard ti grab the other side.

yah, getting in is typically the bigger challenge (for sit on tops at least)

The push pull method works well for me on my Outback and X-Factor, but I have the old ones and use the seat straps to do the pull with.  A rope could help, I always have a paddle leash and a throw rope.  Once in the water, try to keep level headed, and not get your heart rate up.  Laugh for a second, then give it a try.

Definitely good to get that practice in. Took a newb out to practice in calm lake water and he was unable to re-board the kayak. Had to pull him in by the PFD which took some tries and effort as well. The look of panic could be seen on the face although once re-boarded and looking over his shoulder to see the shore bank not 20 feet away he was all smiles again.

Can be disconcerting but keeping at it and practicing different techniques/angles is good. Moving more horizontally across the water/yak vs. vertical pull/pushes. Found it difficult myself at some points along the sides sometimes - tried re-righting yak/mounting re-entry from bow point w/ some success. Fun day for the pb fisherman chilling/watching as well i would assume.