SOLO KAYAK RE-ENTRY:
Whether you fall off the kayak in deep water, or get off intentionally to cool off, swim or snorkel, getting back in is easy. Just follow these steps:
1. Make sure the kayak is right side up. If not, reach under the kayak (grabbing a knee strap or backrest strap) and pull the far side of the cockpit to you, while pushing up on the close side. This will roll the boat over right side up. Alternatively, you can reach over the hull of the kayak, grab the far side, and fall back over to right the kayak. In windy conditions you may have to roll your kayak up on the upwind side.
2. Reach for the far side of the cockpit with one hand and the close side of the cockpit with the other hand, pulling yourself across the seat area.
3. Allow the kayak to tip toward you. Let yourself sink deeper into the water and allow the buoyancy of your PFD and your pulling to pop you up out of the water. Flutter kicking can help propel you onto the cockpit.
4. When your belly is on the kayak and your hips are past the gunwale, turn over so your butt slides into the seat. You should be sitting sidesaddle at this point.5. Lift your feet into the footwells and grab your paddle. A paddle leash really helps.
Practice these steps thoroughly and do not venture far until you have mastered them. Take your time learning to get back in your boat from deep water. It is the most important thing to learn to do.
TANDEM KAYAK RE-ENTRY:
Getting on your sit-on-top tandem is easy from deep water if you practice and follow these principles. If you have fallen off your boat chances are that your partner has also, or perhaps you are both enjoying a swim.
1. First turn the boat right side up, if necessary. Then get on opposite sides of the kayak making sure that your paddle, attached by a leash, is clear from your side.
2. One at a time reach for the far side of the boat, grabbing the gunwale, knee strap or backrest strap. Gripping with one hand on the close side and one on the far side is preferable.
3. Pull yourself across the seat area with your arms and a forceful swimmer’s kick with your legs. Allow the kayak to tilt a little making it easy to get aboard. Now you are lying across the kayak on your belly.
4. Pull yourself across the seat so your hips pass the gunwale and you are hanging over both sides of the kayak.5. Roll over so your butt slides into the seat while your hands are on each side of the boat. Now you are sitting sidesaddle in the seat. Take a moment to gain stability and then put your feet into the foot wells.
6. Gather up your paddle and prepare to brace with your paddle as necessary. Knee straps are very useful for bracing.
7. Then the second rider can get on board while the first braces with their paddle. This can be done one at a time by having one person get on first while the other, in the water, holds the kayak steady. It is possible for both paddlers to reenter the kayak together but good timing and practice will be necessary.
