Watching YouTube videos doesn't do it. There is no substitute for practice. The practice is more difficult than I thought it would be. I go to the same "Maiden Voyage' lake for practice, because there aren't many people around to watch me founder. The first session:
"The Cowboy Scramble: FAIL. I couldn't get my body high up enough on the boat without it flipping over on me.
"Re-Entry And Roll": FAIL. I just couldn't figure it out.
"The Ladder": PASS, (C minus). I managed to get it done, but the 'yak is awfully shaky when I'm on top of the rear deck.
"Paddle Float Re-Entry": PASS. I really dinged up my deck with the paddle, though. I discovered that I needed to use the deck rigging to hold the paddle.
The second session:
"Paddle Float Re-Entry": PASS. It got easier, once I realized that you can do it more than one way, as long as you remember to keep leaning on the float side.
"Re-Entry And Roll": FAIL. I'm going to need lessons.
"The Ladder": PASS (B minus). It works, but this boat bangs me up.
"Cowboy Scramble": FAIL. I think this works better in kayaks with higher initial stability.
Both times, I tried the self-emptying technique, where you lift the stern, and get the water out, and both times, the 'yak flips itself over, naturally. Most of the water comes out, but I go under. I think its because of the way my cheapo PFD rides up.
Well, at least I know one reliable way to get back in if I ditch.
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