Getting in and Out of your kayak

Do you stress about getting in and out of your kayak? I hope this helps!
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[@lordenoch0]

Voted Most Useful Kayaking Video of 2024.💯

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks for voting. Let’s see if I win a prize!

[@brianrobertson3064]

I launch backwards too, I discovered early on that all the lakes where I paddle have gravel beaches with just the exact size stone that jams in your skeg. I get my legs out before landing and because I've got very long legs I've started to develop a method where I push my bum onto the back deck before the bow hits the shore, that makes it easier to just stand straight up. My upper body strength has long since left me, I think I'd rather just fall in and swim than attempt that high dock exit 😁

[@AdventureOtaku]

I would have swum if I had tried the high dock.

[@kiwimanie]

So the high dock thing... With a big cockpit like you have, I find it easy to pull up my knees, place my feet right in front of the seat and then with one hand hold the dock while you grab the front of the cockpit with your other hand and just stand up. (or first rock onto your heels) Because you stand up straight, your boat won't move away. while getting up. You can move your weight over to the hand on the dock and just sit down on the dock. Your feet are still in the boat to keep it close to the dock. Easy as that :-)

[@AdventureOtaku]

I'll give it a shot. I love that, that is a big cockpit. While frequently I am told it is a small cockpit. All a matter of perspective I guess.

[@brianschlottman9681]

Thanks Brett for another thoughtful video. I use your methods, hate a dock, have to get wet feet but I dont care.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Yeah, I don’t mind the wet feet either. Thanks for watching.

[@lysan1445]

I can't do the paddle bridge and resort to the "cowboy sitdown" just like you. Strangely, I can't get out the same way; I have to exit both legs to one side, using the paddle vertically like a cane for support. Unfortunately, I have to use docks quite often, and that is particularly difficult when the water level is relatively low and the dock high. Some docks have bathing ladders, then I use the ladder to pull myself up or lower myself into the kayak. What turned out to be quite helpful is tying my boat to the dock as it stabilises the kayak. I have an extra rope attached to one side of my kayak about where I sit. Another advantage is that my tied boat can't escape while I am scrambling up the dock. Just be careful to keep your weight toward the dock. I am sure it looks funny how I do it, but I don't care. Better than capsizing while getting in and out, which happened a lot before I figured it out. I really appreciate that you consider that everyone is different and has different abilities. I got a lot of scorn because I couldn't do it the "right" way.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Tying the boat to the dock is a great idea I hadn't thought of, thanks for sharing that. We need to do away with the "right way" concept. It's holding us back.

[@anninwhack1998]

I have a very ungraceful technique that works when you can nose onto shore. I use this when my bad knee won’t bend enough for other various techniques. Once the kayak is stabilized nose in on the shore and can also use the paddle to brace if necessary, I will kind of turn myself over in the cockpit so I can brace myself w my hands on the back of the seat area then get up on my knees (so like all fours in the kayak) and then get my bad knee leg out of the cockpit by just swinging it over the side into the water. Then I just bring out the rest of my body. It also reverses to get into the kayak. It doesn’t work on steep banks and can work parallel if using the paddle to brace the boat.

[@AdventureOtaku]

I think I said this elsewhere. If it works, it works.

[@twiggyll1803]

I use your method to enter my boat however I’m not quite as agile as you. So, once I get my butt in the boat, I use my paddle as leverage while I get my long legs into the cockpit. Sure I scratch the end of my paddle a bit but it keeps me from tipping over. I get out of my boat completely differently. It doesn’t matter how the boat is positioned relative to the shoreline, rather how deep it is. I pull up to a pretty shallow depth of maybe 6 inches, get both legs out to the same side, (think riding side saddle on a horse) again using paddle as leverage if needed. Then I scoot back to maybe a foot or two depth of water and simply stand up. It’s just like rising out of a chair. You can put both hands to your sides and use the sides of the cockpit same as the armrest in a chair.

[@AdventureOtaku]

It’s about finding something that works, and you did. Well done. Thanks for watching.

[@flatheadfletch]

I’ve only been paddling Sea kayaks about 3 years, lakes n rivers only. I’m 63 5’11 and 210 lbs. I’m not the most flexible. I have found that a yak in motion is much more stable than floating. I straddle , sit behind cockpit and paddle a few strokes lift feet and put in cockpit then paddle another stroke or two. I then set paddle in front of me put hands on the sides press up and slide into cockpit, paddle a few strokes set paddle down and set back band adjust feet and am home. This method is a little longer but very stable. My kayak is Kevlar I don’t want scratches or dings. If I can’t straddle I just do a wet entry. Ps I exit the same way just reverse order.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Kayaks are definitely more stable when moving, but sitting on the back deck raises the center of gravity making it less stable. Good for you being able to mount that way - it all goes back to what works for you.

[@billyhsu4567]

Thanks for sharing these.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Glad you like them! thanks for watching.

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

I don't have too much problem getting in and out thankfully. I generally can't start with the legs out and bring them in due to a lack of flexibility. That will not change without radical surgery that no one wants to do. On the long tippy yaks I do have trouble stretching the deck on when on the water, and sometimes reaching around to lower or raise the rubber. But I get by.

[@AdventureOtaku]

I think at the end of the day we all get by…. Thanks for watching.

[@ninenine8546]

Thanks for the video Brett. I'm the old guy who answered your survey and was afraid of making a fool of myself at the launch when I first started. So far I've yet to spill. I'm sure I just jinxed myself now. Maybe you could do a video of kayak appropriate stretching exercises. People don't realize they can become more flexible in spite of many physical issues. Its helped me a lot.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Well I am glad you have been successful in not making a fool of yourself. I think that should always be your goal. I don’t think a stretching video is in my future for the same reason a workout video isn’t in my future. I don’t have the training/expertise to speak about it effectively. Now if I could get my personal trainer to do it…that would be another thing. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[@kdogg7882]

I have a Sea Eagle Razorlite and Explorer. For both you can put the back end of the boat in the water and walk directly across the now and sit down. It’s so easy compared to many enclosed kayaks.

[@AdventureOtaku]

I bet...

[@chrisphillips5722]

Brett, thanks for another informative video. NRS sells a 3’ thick pad that fits on your paddle blade for self-rescue. It can also be used in the paddle brace method. The benefits are: 1) it protects the blade of the paddle from the ground, 2) it adds a little more surface area to the ground, and 3) it acts a cushion from vertical and lateral forces when loading. The downside is, where do you store the beast. It is not perfect but seems to work best for me. Cheers

[@AdventureOtaku]

if it works for you that is all that counts. I have definitely seen foam paddle floats and people just stick them under the bungees (usually behind the cockpit) when not in use. they are big though!

[@kevinharding2099]

Good job. When getting in and out on a dock (with a canoe) I attach a line to the boat and take the end of the line with me so I don’t have to worry about holding onto the boat and I can focus on getting up on the dock (often without grace or fluidity).

[@AdventureOtaku]

A number of people have mentioned tying the boat off to the dock, and now I am a little embarrassed I hadn’t thought of it!

[@tangara7166]

I've found with docks, except the super high ones, if you carry a rope that can go from your seat and up around the dock cleat, it helps keep the boat from kicking away while you're working on getting out. It's one less thing to worry about during the struggle. When using this method to get back in, make sure that you tie the seat to the cleat with a few inches of slack so that when you weight the boat, it'll settle flat on the water.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Someone else mentioned tying off to the cleat, which I would like to think if I did it more often would have occurred to me.

[@swimrski]

When I first bought a sea kayak I went to a small local lake with a nice sandy beach and a dock and spent a few hours practicing getting into and out of the boat. I do your straddle entry, because you are right, it is fast and you are away from the beach quickly. My exits are generally done on approach and to one side so that I am "stepping" out of the boat into water that is between knee and waist deep and I'm in a fairly upright position. Getting out of a beached boat is, for me, awkward. Doable, but a struggle.

[@AdventureOtaku]

And you see, this is the epitome of “find what works for you.” I am totally making this the theme for the rest of the year.

[@maritvansanten]

I don't like (high) docks either, but depending on the actual height and build, I somtimes can get in and out of my kayak. Either with the help of a ladder attached to the dock, or if my kayak can fit under, I put the bow beneath the dock until I can reach up and pull myself straight out of the cockpit. No need for leaning sideways, so my kayak stays fairly steady. Sometimes I need to push myself on the back of the boat first, which can make the whole exercise very ungraceful, but it works. Anyway, I don't have much of a choice. In my town, a typical boating city in Friesland (Sneek), there is not one single kayak dock 😵‍💫. Here in the Netherlands, there are only very rarely (if at all) those beautiful kayak 'lanes' we see in your video. We do have quite a bit of simple kayak (sometimes floating) docks along typical paddle routes, but in the wrong time of the year, you probably have to work yourself through high grass and reeds to find/access them. With bad luck even the waters surrounding it are fully grownover. And... the docks are removed as often as they are placed. The best shot, is to find a kayak club with public acces to their dock. On a side note: more and more creeks and small streams are getting regulated with weirs. Almost none of them offer kayak docks and pretty much all have high, steep, green walls... 😖 Sandy beaches are scarce (except of course along the Northsea), even on big lakes. Most belong to holiday parks which only guests may use, or they need you to bring wheels for your kayak due to the distance from the parkinglot to the beach. So... we're pretty screwed over here 😂

[@AdventureOtaku]

The lack of access is very surprising to hear. I would have expected better.

[@maritvansanten]

@@AdventureOtaku me too! 😁

[@tehbieber]

There's a park nearby that's in a nice location to launch, but the "kayak launch" is a short dock. First time I went I managed to slide into the boat and I was very happy with myself for pulling it off .... and then I dumped myself in the nasty bayou getting out. I didnt want to throw my chest onto the dock because of all the bird poop on it, but I guess that would have been preferable to how it ended up

[@AdventureOtaku]

Docks stink…. Even without the bird poo.

[@davejohn5876]

I wonder if the textbook method of using your paddle behind the cockpit and using it as a outrigger for entering and exiting a kayak is taught because it is more adaptive for different body types and kayaks. My first kayak was 26" in the beam. I'm only 5'2" and simply was not tall enough once standing in the water to be able to straddle that kayak and lower myself into the seat. Same for getting out. My current kayak is 22 1/2 "and I find your preferred method of straddling much faster more stable and easier. I've also noticed that a lot of folks who use the outrigger method are trying to get in from the shore and not get their feet wet. I much prefer having the kayak already floating before entering and getting my feet wet is really a non-issue.

[@AdventureOtaku]

This is a great comment. I think there are a few things going on. There is definitely a problem with the way I get into a boat if you don’t have long legs - keeping in mind I am 5’6” so I don’t have long legs, but my boat is 22 or 22.5 inches… so not very wide. The “outrigger” method as you have perfectly called it, I see done by high ranking ACA paddlers in narrow boats. I may be wrong but I always thought two things. A) it’s an ACA thing. B) to me it feels like a method designed by a committee. Both of those things may be wrong. I’m with you, I don’t care if my feet get wet.

[@frankcologne1974]

5000 Follower. Gratulation from Cologne. 🎉

[@AdventureOtaku]

Was it you! Ive been watching all day to see when it happened. Thank you so much!

[@sandrablackwell2929]

I am in eastern Washington state. The weather has tuned warm quickly (80+ today) but the water in most lakes and rivers is COLD. and rivers are in high run off. We pay attention to the water temp to decide on dry suit or no. Can you talk about that? You audience probably knows it already but you never know...

[@AdventureOtaku]

I’ll put it on the list but a lot of it has gone down in the comments.

[@jayburne6825]

More and more I see people who just don't want to get there feet wet yet look so awkward trying to get in lol thanks for sharing

[@AdventureOtaku]

Better your feet, than your head.

[@jayburne6825]

@AdventureOtaku I know right ...

[@kdogg7882]

I launch my wife so she doesn’t need to get her feet wet when the water is cold

[@AdventureOtaku]

And I am completely okay with that!

[@Simon_W74]

I have bent a couple of Aluminium Paddles shafts sliding in from a bank where the bank is sloping down towards the river. Not a nice way to get in or on a boat. We have one place where it is the only way I can get in. The Dock is similar to one of of portages, but is had hand rails, Which I have had to bodily pull myself out. and your right about the boat wanting to go off in any direction it wants. the other side is a floating pontoon that I didn't like even more as it moves around to much, more so when someone is trying to help you out. With Docks or edging I will always hold the persons boat still to make it so much easier for them to get in or out. Sadly not everyone at my Club thinks like that. I honestly don't know if we have any Kayak Launches here in the UK. As I have never seen one over here or any videos of them being used here. One at our Club would be very handy for beginners as that is when your most like to get a swimmer is getting out at the and of the Club night. I was on the Norfolk Boards today and our get out for lunch was about a two foot high mooring that River Cruisers use, We had two that beached, and I pulled them up so they could get out without any issues other than getting paddling shoes wet, I relaunched them in a similar way to. The rest of us used the mooring and hauled ourselves out. It was a beautiful day to be out on the water. We were a mix bunch today, some in Canoes and some of us in Tourers and two paddled boarders. So it was paddle and wait for them to catch up. All told there were sixteen of us on the water today. If you ever come over to England I would recommend exploring the Norfolk Broads as it is a mixture of Rivers and man made lakes that connect them. We get a lot of Visitor to the Broads, Most tend to hire Boats for the day or for a week or so. Even though I live not to far from them I would still love to spend a week on them. I am also looking to kayak camp in the near future. Another Excellent video Brett.

[@AdventureOtaku]

I’d love to paddle in England. I was just saying to the wife we need to go back, we were there a few years ago and loved it.

[@Simon_W74]

@@AdventureOtaku You'd have to spend a good length of time over here as Scotland on the West Coast is amazing as it Both parts of Ireland and Wales.

[@AdventureOtaku]

A month, easy.

[@brianmarshall9620]

Brett, Great demonstration on a very touchy-subjective topic. I thought you put to rest a lot of questions. When I first got into kayaking, I was one of those "land lovers" that tried like heck not to get my feet wet when entering or exiting my beginner kayak. I found out in short time how foolish I was in trying to get in and out using a cock that was too high. Yes...the boat moves very quickly when the feet leave the kayak floor! Just as you pointed out, the sideways to the shoreline, or the back to the water beyond the shoreline are the safest ways to get in. Yes, a little water will follow you in, but that's why you have a sponge inside to sop-up the excess! One thing I'm curious about is what is the product you put on before getting into your boat? I've recently visited my Dermatologist and had a dozen spots removed on face and head. Would very much appreciate finding out what products you've found to use for sun protection. Another subject to take more seriously as we get older! Thanks!

[@brianmarshall9620]

P.S. It's supposed to be "DOCK!" I need to proof read before I send! Sorry!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Glad you found it helpful. I did a double take on your typo…. Thanks for making me laugh.

[@MikeSG1960]

I use your method. I tried the paddle brace method but it just doesn’t work for me. The only problem I have is my legs are long and my cockpit is regular size for a sea kayak so it can be a bit challenging. Plus the extra 15 pounds strapped on my belly doesn’t help!😂

[@AdventureOtaku]

Yeah, you people with your long legs.... I try and phrase things as options for long leggers. But it goes back to there is no one right way.

[@edwardperrault3650]

I had to laugh at this. There is a restaurant on the river near my house that has an "easy access" dock for boaters. It always seemed like a good option for lunch - but the dock is too high for me to exit my kayak safely. I think I could do it, but sitting in restaurant while soaking wet doesn't appeal to me. I've asked if they would consider adding a low raft to one end of the dock and they said they would consider it, but so far nothing has been done. Guess I'll just continue to lunch on trail mix and protean bars.

[@AdventureOtaku]

I would be very surprised if they made a change to the dock.... trail mix it is.

[@roastawk]

First yet again! This must be some kind of record.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Unbelievable determination!

[@tommycheshire5508]

I can surf my kayak, I can launch into the surf, if the stars have a rare alignment, I might pull off a roll, however I am unable to get in or out my boat. I am not flexible at all. I can not get my legs out if I am sitting in the boat. When I catch a wave I go all the wave and flipping my boat over and crawl out. I have never admitted this to a living soul. I wish I had a quarter for each time that I took dumped trying to either get in or out of my boat. I am not fooling anyone that is watching me. Since I am the only guy with a boat, every eye is on me, which makes me more nervous. What a mess.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Yeah…that ain’t great. My big concern is you getting hurt….

[@anninwhack1998]

I am not flexible either and have a very bad knee. I’ve dumped myself out too. It works! I have a good laugh and some fun. I have a technique nose in where I turn myself over in the cockpit to get on all fours using the back behind the seat to push myself up and get my legs out one at a time. It’s a very similar body motion as getting your body off the floor when you’re on all fours so no new balancing or technique to learn. We’ve been getting up from all fours since childhood. And if you don’t care about getting dumped there’s no problem. It even works getting into the boat.

[@AdventureOtaku]

@@anninwhack1998 I might need a video…. But in all seriousness, if it works, it works. The only problem with intentionally dumping is in cold weather.

[@Kayaking_to_escape_family]

Never used a pier, a boat launch or a kayak dock. We don't seem to have them on the English channel. They mite boat launch down at the marina, but never seen it. Talk about how the other 1/2 live.

[@AdventureOtaku]

So it’s all beaches? Sand beaches or rocky beaches?

[@Kayaking_to_escape_family]

@@AdventureOtaku Pebbles and shingles along the south coast. Its all the chalk cliffs and flint they hold.