Anyone who has pumped water out of a flooded cockpit knows that it can be difficult and time consuming to pump five or 10 gallons out of a kayak. With an assisted rescue, your partner can lift the bow of your kayak and, assuming it has bulkheads, drain most of the water in a matter of seconds. If you’re recovering from a capsize and wet exit on your own, just rolling the kayak over from a position near the cockpit will allow a lot of water aboard.
I use a wonderfully simple, straightforward method for draining water from the cockpit that requires neither fancy gadgets nor assistance.
It’s called the “pump and dump.” After a few practice sessions in safe, flat water, the pump-and-dump should become a fluid and efficient technique to add to your self-rescue repertoire.
The Method
After you have capsized and done a wet exit, work your way to the bow without losing contact with the kayak or your paddle. If you are right-handed, position yourself in front of the kayak so that your left shoulder is at the bow. Place your left hand under the bow against the forward end of the deck.
The best and most powerful position for the paddle is with the middle of the shaft on your shoulder. With your right hand, place the paddle over your right shoulder and hold it there with your knuckles up. The blade in front of you should be flat on the water to the right side of the kayak.
The beginning of the pump-and-dump is a lightning-quick combination of pulling down on the paddle, doing a scissors kick and lifting the bow as high out of the water as you can. The water will drain out of the cockpit as the bow rises.
At the apex of the lift, flip the kayak over to its right-side-up position. The cockpit should be close to fully drained, so you can work your way back to the middle of the kayak and set up for your preferred method of reentry.
Practice Makes Perfect
I have taught this maneuver to many people and have noticed that the crux of the sequence is typically in the wrist flip when the bow is at its highest above the water.
Some kayaks, especially those with upturned bows, will practically flip themselves; others take some coaxing. You may find it helpful to practice by splitting the technique into two exercises. To practice the kayak-flip part of the pump-and-dump, stand in chest-deep water and shove the bow of the upturned kayak as high above you as you can, and flick your wrist to push the kayak over.
Twist the kayak so that it rolls toward your thumb-it will be easier to keep your grip on the bow. If the kayak rolls in the opposite direction, you may lose your grip, so make sure the boat doesn’t get away from you. Keep working on the lift and wrist flick until the motion is fluid and consistent.
In deeper water, without the kayak, practice the scissors kick and paddle motion. Pull the paddle down firmly as you do a scissors kick. In no time, you should be able to lift yourself out of the water to waist level.
Applying the Technique
Once you have both of these components worked out, put them together in one fast and fluid motion to flip a capsized boat. You’ll have a righted kayak free of water, or very nearly so.
I should note that the closer the aft bulkhead is to the cockpit opening, the less water the cockpit will retain. If your bulkhead is several inches aft of the opening, expect to find a bit of water remaining in the cockpit.
Bjorn Olson is a sea kayak guide and instructor. He has been guiding in south coastal Alaska for nine years. He makes his home in Seward, Alaska.