Practicing Self-Rescue Capsize Recovery in My Oru Kayak

Today I’m going to attempt to flip over my kayak, and self rescue by re-entering my Oru Kayak Inlet. It might not be elegant, but come join me!
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Hi, I’m Steph! A DIYer, author, and podcast host. I live in Tallahassee, FL with my two adopted greyhounds.
I make DIY videos ‪@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY‬
You can check out my podcast, Discovering Our Scars here: bio.link/dospod
You can learn more about me at www.stephaniekostopoulos.com/

[@Billythekiddnz]

It put some perspective on alot that I was curious about. You are wonderful thank you steph

[@josephchan2078]

Learn an ACA course, level 2 coastal kayak skill course, it will help you to understand much more on all kind of basic kayaking skills and knowledge, it could apply to your oru kayak. Such as adding 2 inflatable triangle bouyancy aid to your oru kayak, 1 at the bow, 1 at the stern. So, it will not sink. Buy a paddle float, in case you need to get back to your oru kayak on your own in deep water. Paddle float re-entry, "Cowboy" re-entry from the stern of the kayak but not that work, as your oru was too light. Heel hook re-entry maybe an option. I like your video, it's details, great ! Keep up your good job.

[@laurarash45]

I practiced flipping my Oru while at the lake with a friend today...SO many lessons were learned. Primarily I learned that I need float bags and a bilge pump, exactly as you discovered!

[@Carniak]

My big complaint with the Oru is that the float bags should really be included rather than an "accessory".

[@martin.feuchtwanger]

Shame on all recreational kayak manufacturers and vendors that fail to provide proper buoyancy in/with their boats!

[@Fishaholicboy]

Definitely isn’t easy to get back in your kayak after clipping but you did it 👏🏼👏🏼 good to share this for people to manage expectations

[@pkarowic]

Great video Steph. I have a Tucktec foldable kayak and tried to get back in after I intentionally flipping it. The water depth was 14 feet so I could not stand on the bottom, thus I could not get back in. What I ended up doing was guiding it back to shore and up righted it and went out again. I have a tether for my paddle and Go Pro just in case. They always state to paddle near the shoreline or paddle with a buddy in case you flip, which makes sense. No big deal, I just wanted to see if I could get back in. I will attempt it again when the water warms up. It was a tad chilly I must say but a learning experience. I was surprised how hard it was to flip, but it will. Take care and enjoy the summer.

[@smkauthor]

Thanks for sharing!

[@keepingitrealcampaign8132]

Thank you soooo much for this! I love the oru kayak! I bought the inlet and the lake one so I can invite a friend with me to go kayaking. Thank you again for this cuz I've been wanting to practice this scenario too

[@tinman610]

I applaud you for the testing and what you learned from it. The first thing everyone should do after buying a kayak is take it to controlled conditions and intentionally flip it. I did this for my first kayak 30 years ago and found out immediately I needed an air bag in the front because it only had a bulkhead in the back. You can be sure that it will be even more difficult in a real world situation with wind, waves, current. Find out what its like to reenter your kayak before before that happens and practice.

[@pcboudreau]

Yeah, a T rescue is the best choice for rec boats. Float bags would help for the cowboy entry attempts.

[@Anythingforfreedom]

That looks tough. I want to see someone try this in the Haven.

[@gotfoo666]

Thank you!!! I have been looking a video specific to the Inlet.

[@Svergara1]

awesome vid! Great attention to detail.

[@fb-gu2er]

You’re probably the biggest supporter, maybe the only one, of those kayaks in KZbin. They’re easy but they are dangerous. Too fragile and flipping in the water is game over. Not worth the risk. Get a proper kayak for your own safety

[@olderthandadirt]

For the cost conscious paddler Dollar Tree beach balls could work as floatation bags.

[@stephenboyd7547]

I think it would be good to have actually and empty water storage bladder- maybe one of those 29 gallon ones stored on the kayak. When it capsizes, unlatch it, fill it with water (for counter weight) and attach it to the other side of the kayak for counter weight (it will act as your mom is holding that side... as it sits in the water it doesn't capsize the kayak but as you try to get in and the kayak tips, it will have that water weight balancing... then once you are in, empty the bladder. I have a oru kayak, just haven't had time to go out but that was my plan to test out.

[@nrgraff]

Interesting to see... I bet it would help a lot to have a friend help with rescues

[@ronanh13]

I went swimming off my sit on top kayak the other day and then had to do my first reentry and nailed it, my kayak was anchored which made it easier

[@ginsbergca]

Great video. There is one issue though. I know that lifevest is cumbersome when you are working to climb back into kayak. I noticed you unzipped/y clipped and left it on your shoulders. The thing is, that vest really needs to stay fastened on you. Loosening it the way you did puts you in trouble should you end up back in water with the vest falling off or getting tangled. In the pool, maybe ok. In the lake or on the river, unfastening your vest is not recommended at all.

[@reality2748]

Getting in: Kick Steph, KICK! I wondered how one would get back into an Oru after capsizing. Nice info.

[@barrybfalkner]

Great information and demonstration (while using a multi-camera setup, no less)! First time out in our Oru Inlets last week, my wife completely flooded her Inlet trying to get out next to shore. The float bags we had placed in the bulkheads saved the day and kept the yak from sinking entirely. I don’t have a bilge pump (yet) but I did put collapsible travel mugs in our Inlets to bail out any incidental water.

[@nonyabusiness2510]

It cannot sink entirely. They float. They may fill with water but they won't sink.

[@grinchlette]

@@nonyabusiness2510 I recently read a review by a guy that said his sink completely, never to be seen again.

[@MARKLINMAN1]

If i can offer a small tip, getting in from the stern of the KAYAK is the CORRECT way, you just need to spread your weight and legs wider, trying to EVENLY distributing your weight is key, once on slide forward and be DONE. I know it is easier said than done, but you should give it a go again and practice getting in from the STERN, The more you practice the better you will become at at.

[@mikecollett4231]

Looking forward to seeing this done in a lake when you can't touch the bottom. Thanks for the video.

[@roberth.retallickr.n.8069]

I got to practice all of these skills and so many more from the amazing scout leaders I got to have. We once paddled a totally submerged canoe one time. I can make a floatation device out of my pants if I had to. I just put my Bay onto the water today and it all came right back. Amazing.

[@trishascherfer4539]

Paddle float would help with self rescue.

[@impulsestar6431]

My friend flipped over into the lake from beach LT, tryie to get back is impossible because kayak takes water and is very heavy. I was just by him in my oru trying to guide him to the shore which was almost impossible because of a weight of that. Not for me. Have fun and be very careful

[@ouissandy2806]

You have to use the paddle, then rock on the side, and most importantly, get that right foot over.

[@blairgoodlin2527]

Any chance of a re-do with the float bags installed? Also maybe using a paddle float to help getting back in? NRS has a foam paddle float that doesn't need to be inflated prior to self-rescue.

[@smkauthor]

Yep, literally just did this with all those items. It will be posted soon!

[@Viewfromtheturret]

There is a video of a guy using a paddle float to self-rescue in his Oru and that seems to be the way to go.

[@ironearth7013]

You need the float bags.

[@smkauthor]

Which I talk about at the end of the video

[@SeeTheWilsonsGo]

So I just tried this test with my Inlet. I did it in the deep end of the pool. My problem was immediate because in turning over the kayak, I scooped up enough water that it sank it below the water level making the bilge pump impossible. I noticed the float bags from orukayak are not built for the inlet but only for the larger bay model. Any input on what I’m doing wrong in the flipping process? Final question, do you think the inlet is safe in areas where you may get boat wakes? That sure was easy to turn over. Thanks for the information.

[@smkauthor]

Did you have the float bags in when the kayak filled with water? Oru says the float bags will fit in all their kayaks, and they do work in my inlet. I have kayaked when I got some wake from boats and had no issues, it's actually kind of fun to ride the waves on a kayak. I point the nose of my yak toward the waves and no issues. I always kayak on flat water. I personally have never felt like I was going to fall out, but where you kayak is really depending on your comfort level and your confidence being able to get back in your boat if it capsizes.

[@MervsH]

Could you please test if the Oru float bags really works in Inlet. If it will help you afloat and can still paddle back to safety.

[@smkauthor]

Yes, I plan to test this soon.

[@JauntyNavigator]

I was wondering if you had float bags installed?

[@smkauthor]

No, but I have them now. I share about that at the end of this video.

[@XiaoPangZi]

There are some ballons you can buy from Oru to put inside the front and back so the kayak always floats

[@smkauthor]

Yep, I have the Oru Float Bags now.

[@Whatizzit]

Thank you for this. I was completely alarmed when I saw a kayaking buddy paddling one of these without float bags installed. I advised her to practice self rescue in a safe place near shore, knowing what she’d discover. I’ll send her a link to this video. It is utterly irresponsible of Oru to sell these kayaks without floatation bags.

[@DaveK84]

From oru website: "While Oru Kayaks are naturally buoyant and won’t sink even when submerged, float bags keep you afloat and maneuverable if you capsize or take on water." This is the same thing that happens with most canoes and other things that I have ever been in. They won't "float" on top of the water, but they won't sink to the bottom of the lake either. The pfd is what keeps you safe when this happens and there are ways of self rescuing and getting water out of the boat. I don't think its irresponsible at all, its just what actually happens when your boating.

[@lynnmadore7373]

I don't understand why anyone would want one of these boats especially at their ridiculous price point. ORU deals with constant complaints about integrity of the boat (holes), and it's my understanding their customer service is subpar. Now I watch this video only to realize that I'd be sunk if ever I were to fall out of the boat. That ORU "sells" float bags is disgusting. For boats running almost one thousand to well over two thousand dollars, it disgusts me that you'd have to buy an accessory to be safe. I had to give up kayaking due to the weight of my hard shell boat, and these kayaks certainly won't be leading me back to the waters anytime soon.

[@nchris41]

After 2 years of use, my Oru Coast has begun to crack completely thru both walls at the most severe folds. This particularly occurs at the stern where there is a reverse fold (folds one way when stowed, folds 180 deg when deployed). I will need to bond a patch in these areas and hope that it can handle the folding. It will wind up in the dumpster in a year or two.