Comments on: Reentering W500 Kayak From Deep Water – Tim Kerr, NY (Movie) http://wavewalk.com/blog/2009/11/10/re-entering-w500-kayak-from-deep-water-tim-kerr-ny-movie/ The World's Best Fishing Kayaks Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:18:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Quebec Seakayaker http://wavewalk.com/blog/2009/11/10/re-entering-w500-kayak-from-deep-water-tim-kerr-ny-movie/#comment-2617 Quebec Seakayaker Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:12:41 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/?p=396#comment-2617 Well done, instructive, and fun to watch movie. What a useful contribution to this site! I'm confident many people would learn from it. I'd like to add that keeping cool is the key to a successful kayak recovery, even if the water is freezing... Nothing is worse than panicking, because it can lead to mistakes that could be fatal. It's important to start any recovery by assessing the situation and devising a strategy. Also, if you feel you're capsizing it's a bad idea to cling to your w-kayak, since it would increase the chances of a bad capsize, that is with the boat taking water in, or overturning. In many cases those things can be avoided by simply letting yourself fall into the water, and leaving your w-kayak to care of itself - It has a better chance of doing so on its own than with you clinging to it and making it heavier. QS Well done, instructive, and fun to watch movie.
What a useful contribution to this site!
I’m confident many people would learn from it.

I’d like to add that keeping cool is the key to a successful kayak recovery, even if the water is freezing…
Nothing is worse than panicking, because it can lead to mistakes that could be fatal. It’s important to start any recovery by assessing the situation and devising a strategy.

Also, if you feel you’re capsizing it’s a bad idea to cling to your w-kayak, since it would increase the chances of a bad capsize, that is with the boat taking water in, or overturning.
In many cases those things can be avoided by simply letting yourself fall into the water, and leaving your w-kayak to care of itself – It has a better chance of doing so on its own than with you clinging to it and making it heavier.

QS

]]> By: Rox http://wavewalk.com/blog/2009/11/10/re-entering-w500-kayak-from-deep-water-tim-kerr-ny-movie/#comment-2616 Rox Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:48:04 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/?p=396#comment-2616 Outstanding Video!! That shows not only how stable the W500 is, not tipping at all as you throw yourself out of it, but just how easy it is to get back in. I have done this while swimming at Rainbow Res. Though my re-entry wasn't as pretty as Tims, but If I can do it.... anyone can. :) Five Stars my Good Man!! Safe Paddling all! Rox Outstanding Video!!
That shows not only how stable the W500 is, not tipping at all
as you throw yourself out of it, but just how easy it is to get back in.

I have done this while swimming at Rainbow Res.
Though my re-entry wasn’t as pretty as Tims, but If I can do it….
anyone can. :)

Five Stars my Good Man!!

Safe Paddling all!
Rox

]]> By: John Z http://wavewalk.com/blog/2009/11/10/re-entering-w500-kayak-from-deep-water-tim-kerr-ny-movie/#comment-2615 John Z Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:07:43 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/?p=396#comment-2615 You know Yoav, you got me to thinking: I could probably manage Tim's re-entry manuever if I had a sturdy, knotted rope or something anchored to the opposite end of the W. I might be able to then inch my way up - hand over hand between the pontoons and into the cockpit. Wish I lived in a warm water location. I'd like to experiment with this idea. It could save a long, cold dunking or even worse. I have to give Tim credit for his video: the Niagara river is freezing even in the summer. John Z You know Yoav, you got me to thinking: I could probably manage Tim’s re-entry manuever if I had a sturdy, knotted rope or something anchored to the opposite end of the W. I might be able to then inch my way up – hand over hand between the pontoons and into the cockpit. Wish I lived in a warm water location. I’d like to experiment with this idea. It could save a long, cold dunking or even worse.
I have to give Tim credit for his video: the Niagara river is freezing even in the summer.
John Z

]]> By: admin http://wavewalk.com/blog/2009/11/10/re-entering-w500-kayak-from-deep-water-tim-kerr-ny-movie/#comment-2612 admin Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:36:55 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/?p=396#comment-2612 Hi John, Good point! Since the W500 is symmetrical front and back, you could try to reenter it from the 'front', I.E. the end that has no motor attached to it. Once you're back in the cockpit, you could either drive your kayak back to safety in reverse, or try (carefully...) to turn yourself, and face the bow. In any case, doing things slowly and carefully is very much recommended. Albert Einstein used to emphasize the importance of 'thought experiments', and that method could work in this case too, at least partially. The advantage being that water temperatures in upstate NY aren't high enough now for real-world experiments... Yoav Hi John,

Good point! Since the W500 is symmetrical front and back, you could try to reenter it from the ‘front’, I.E. the end that has no motor attached to it.
Once you’re back in the cockpit, you could either drive your kayak back to safety in reverse, or try (carefully…) to turn yourself, and face the bow.
In any case, doing things slowly and carefully is very much recommended.

Albert Einstein used to emphasize the importance of ‘thought experiments’, and that method could work in this case too, at least partially. The advantage being that water temperatures in upstate NY aren’t high enough now for real-world experiments…

Yoav

]]> By: John Z http://wavewalk.com/blog/2009/11/10/re-entering-w500-kayak-from-deep-water-tim-kerr-ny-movie/#comment-2611 John Z Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:14:04 +0000 http://wavewalk.com/blog/?p=396#comment-2611 It's nice to see how an athletic, young guy can get back into a W kayak. I'd hate to see my pathetic, 69 year old carcass trying to do the same maneuver. Something tells me it wouldn't be as quick or look as pretty. Still - it's something I've thought about (what would be the best way to approach it) and I guess the end entry way would be it. In my case though, it would be more complicated in that I would have a trolling motor, battery, steering cables, steering/control head, etc. to navigate around. I even thought that I'd just try to grab the motor's steering control and try to motor as fast as I could for shore rather than risk sapping my energy trying to get back in. It certainly doesn't hurt thinking about worst case scenarios and having a plan in the back of your head. Good subject! John Z It’s nice to see how an athletic, young guy can get back into a W kayak. I’d hate to see my pathetic, 69 year old carcass trying to do the same maneuver. Something tells me it wouldn’t be as quick or look as pretty. Still – it’s something I’ve thought about (what would be the best way to approach it) and I guess the end entry way would be it. In my case though, it would be more complicated in that I would have a trolling motor, battery, steering cables, steering/control head, etc. to navigate around. I even thought that I’d just try to grab the motor’s steering control and try to motor as fast as I could for shore rather than risk sapping my energy trying to get back in. It certainly doesn’t hurt thinking about worst case scenarios and having a plan in the back of your head. Good subject!
John Z

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