Spray Skirt Grab Loop Uh Oh!
By Wayne Horodowich
When I started kayaking I was self taught. I figured out the best way to attach my spray skirt to the cockpit coaming was starting at the rear and then finishing at the front. I knew I had to keep the grab loop out so I could grab it to wet exit. At the time my grab loop consisted of two ends of the elastic cord that was sewn into the circumference of my neoprene skirt. As my kayak skills increased and I became more comfortable in my routine I didn't pay much attention to my grab cords (my pathetic excuse for a grab loop). Oh, did I neglect to mention that I paddled alone in a plastic whitewater kayak, because there was no one else that I knew that paddled or had a kayak. Since I didn't know how to roll I stayed on the beach side of the kelp beds knowing that when I capsized I had to pull my kayak to shore to empty the water and get back in to continue on my way.
My "Uh Oh Moment" occurred when I capsized by the kelp bed because I leaned over too far to look at the marine life under the water. You can say there were two "Uh Oh Moments". The first was finding out I leaned too far. I learned I couldn't lean that far and not capsize. My "What Now?" was to wet exit. I was over and did not know any other possibilities. Possible "What Nows?" could have been trying to brace, coming up for air, swimming my kayak to shore while in the cockpit or rolling up. All of which were skills foreign to me at the time.
The next "Uh Oh Moment" was when I realized I had not kept my grab cords out for me to grab. When I reached for them they weren't there. As a side note this is where I find the following phrase completely ridiculous that many of us utter (even myself) when giving advice, "Don't Panic!" Easy for you to say. I am the one down here, underwater and I cannot find the cords on my spray skirt so I can release the skirt, wet exit and come to the surface. After, the initial panic disappeared (about one to two seconds) I went into "What Now?" mode. I reasoned that the side of the skirt had less tension on it than the front of the skirt as it was wrapped around the cockpit coaming. I took both hands (heck with the paddle) and peeled the skirt off of the coaming and then performed my standard wet exit.
The biggest lesson I learned was to always check to see that the grab loop is out after the skirt is attached. My routine since that moment is to grab my grab loop after my spray skirt is attached. I also learned that it was not difficult to remove a skirt from the coaming when you peel it up from the side of the coaming. It has become a basic skill that I teach to all of my basic students. I also learned, from a picture I saw months later, that attaching a plastic golf ball to the end of my grab cords was a good idea.
As I told that story over the years I have been given the following "What Now?" advice. Not all "What Now/" advice is good advice.
1- Try lifting your knee pop the spray skirt. I don't recommend it because I know of two serious consequences of such a maneuver. One was the skin ripped off of the shin by a sharp fiberglass coaming lip. The second was a paddler wedging himself into the cockpit.
2- Reach in through the tunnel to push the skirt from underneath. Could work if you can get you arm into the tunnel far enough and not get stuck. Most people have their skirt tunnel under their PFD, which means you would have to open you PFD to try this. Opening your PFD while underwater is not a smart option.
3- Take your combat ready knife and stick it between your legs and cut a hole. Then rip off the skirt from the coaming. People don't even think about trying this. If you are lucky enough not to stab yourself you can actually make it harder to get the skirt off. Not worth trying.
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