Practice Self Rescue, Practice Buddy Rescue

  Great job of saving your buddies life Chris. Without your help-- the out come could have been a fatality. I think that the decisions you made were all correct. And even though no one ever wants to be in that position-- in our adventures it happens. I hope to never go out with someone who is not willing to go the extra steps needed to make sure all are safe.
  In my 40+ years on the water in kayaks/driftboats/ power boats I have been in similar situations where another person would be dead without my jumping in to do what I could. There were too many anxious moments when I wasn't sure I could save another without dieing myself. But as long as I have a breath left in me I will never abandon another -- even for my own safety.
  For you guys that have yet to be in this position I'll say this--- be prepared for accidents. They are going to happen. How you respond to accidents may make a huge difference in others and your own future. Be smart , be safe , and make sure that all live to try again.

 Cause life is short-- you need to live it tall.

From the looks of it he did not know how to re enter his boat.  Even if you're tired the correct technique is pretty foolproof.  I think I'd require a practice session with a newbie before going in water more than waist deep.  Thanks for the post Chris!

Good write up.  You should switch your screen name to  Ling Ling Hero

A post above reminded me of an interesting fact: I'd never been seasick in my entire life before kayak fishing on the ocean. I still tend not to get sea sick, but the point is that even if someone doesn't have a history of getting sea sick they should proceed on the salt with caution.

There are lots of good threads on here about how to avoid/cope-with sea sickness. For me all I need is sea bands and some mint or ginger gum.

Dude!

That was a bad situation.  I'm glad y'all kept your heads about you and got things done.

All that added "deck space" needs to go in the garbage. 

-Mark-

Good write up.  You should switch your screen name to  Ling Ling Hero

+1

Your youtube video post has made it to the g+ feeds. Check the Tim Percy reshare on his page.

ya done good, Chris. This is what? your 3rd rescue in 2 years?

Your youtube video post has made it to the g+ feeds. Check the Tim Percy reshare on his page.

ya done good, Chris. This is what? your 3rd rescue in 2 years?

I'm not sure who Tim Percy is but I did get an email saying that he shared my video.
Yeah, three rescues in two or three years. That's kind of crazy.

All that added "deck space" needs to go in the garbage. 

-Mark-

+4 on the smooth deck. I'm not even really big on milk crates.

Pajama bottoms and a tee-shirt???  I remember going out at Beverly beach with just a neoprene shorty under a breathable drysuit many (many!) moons ago. I stuck my leg in the water and I'm pretty sure it froze solid and broke off at the thigh. A drysuit without good under laying insulation is not such a good idea. Scratch that. It's a reeeeally bad idea. Even with the neck properly sealed they'll find your perfectly dry frozen body bouncing along the bottom.

I'm a huge advocate of self rescue drills. But after reading this and having done a few aca courses (another reeeeally good idea) I think assisted rescue practice is just as important. If your properly dressed, re-boarding exercises are actually a lot of fun! Even more so in cold water as you don't really have to get wet.

Sounds like y'all did a good job of getting him back in though. Actually that was an excellent job as everybody is still breathing.

Nice work Chris and buddy!

Deck mount or not, the dude has shit for form. He's trying to roll his hips up into the seat pushing the deck down, instead of getting himself re-boarded and centered. If you try and turtle over and you are not squarely across your kayak you will roll over and over like a Big Bite at 7-11. That's why you practice before you go out.

Yeah,  when I spew,  it's right on the deck,  then just rinse it off.  Ask Mark.   :-)   Also, this is why bilge pumps are super important, a boat with water in it is VERY unstable.

this is why bilge pumps are super important, a boat with water in it is VERY unstable.

Huh, I always thought bilge pumps were for SIS's. I've never had more than little puddle inside. Should I just stick one in the hull and leave it there? I'm not sure how water would ever get in unless a hatch flew off. I'm reading these posts like a hawk, want to keep it simple, but want to be safe, too. I'm thinking of adding some Velcro inside the hull for spare paddle and now a pump to keep it from sliding around.

this is why bilge pumps are super important, a boat with water in it is VERY unstable.

Huh, I always thought bilge pumps were for SIS's. I've never had more than little puddle inside. Should I just stick one in the hull and leave it there? I'm not sure how water would ever get in unless a hatch flew off. I'm reading these posts like a hawk, want to keep it simple, but want to be safe, too. I'm thinking of adding some Velcro inside the hull for spare paddle and now a pump to keep it from sliding around.

YES! I don't go out without one anymore. It has come in handy many times for me as well as for others in a group that needed one when they were in a pinch. I just leave mine loose in the milk crate (has pipe insulation zipped tied on it for flotation.) You might try Stainless Steel S-biners on those things instead of Velcro. Tie some paracord with loops inside the hull too keep stuff from sliding around

Yep, you should always have a bilge pump.  Leaky boats happen, even brand new ones.  Plus, if you slip and take a swim, when's the most likely time for that to happen?  The most likely time is when you're messing with gear, a time when your hatch is likely to be open. 

OK, it will be done!