Kayaking | How to Self-Rescue || REI

If you’re out for a solo paddle and find yourself swimming, it’s time to do a self-rescue. This video covers how to set up your paddle float, right your boat and climb back inside. Watch the video, then pick a calm body of water, bring a friend and get some practice.

Head to your local REI to get advice from our experts, sign up for a class and pick up the gear you need.

[dasaxophonist]

This looks better than the last vid I watched. I fell overboard in the middle of a lake with gators. I ended up swimming back to shore pulling my kayak lol. Was scary

[DamonKirry]

This is such a helpful video. Thank you for making one that's simple, quick and very easy to understand. I'm about to go out and practice reentries at the local lake and I was looking for some better methods than you HORRIBLE scramble😅

Yours is SO much better, I cant wait to try it. Thanks again!

[jerometanguay]

Interesting video thanks. Taking my initial kayak course tomorrow and was wondering about that part

[theopinson]

Did not know those paddle float things even existed. Something to add to the list!

[cyclesingsleep]

...works best when your friend, who is watching, is frowning! (As shown in video.) : P

[livinglifeleona]

What I really learned from the video and comments is always have flotation devices on hand for both paddle AND kayak (attached).

[evielknievel]

My first time when I flipped was at a lake with lots of water movement. It is not so easy . First the kayak gets full of water quick. 3/4 of the ship submerged its impossible to move . When its in the middle of nowhere whith no land close people panic alot quicker. Please show a real scenario.

[amazonegadgets]

Great work and advice thanks for sharing your video 📹

[kiddywriter]

Great video...are your pants a dry suit? Need a pair of those.

[cyndirosenthal]

What kind of kayak is that? The cockpit looks easy to get back into

[edloki]

How about if the water is deeper and there are 1 meter waves? My kayak got flipped by a wave and I had to wait for another boat to help me. Trying the above didn't work cos I had a hard time staying afloat in choppy water.

[spractive]

I never even see a kayak IRL but it's my phobia. Drowning inside a kayak.

[martin.feuchtwanger]

Don't let go of the paddle-and-float when flipping the kayak!

[whatnow]

1:57 Thats a friend? Looks like a stalker from a Halloween movie! Lol!

[seehongkongsea]

Excellent video! My fear is getting attacked by a shark while self rescuing.

[PaddleDogC]

Try it in rough water where you are likely to have had the ejection to start with. People get false confidence doing this. You need proper instruction from certified instructor.

[gakkaoutdoors]

I don’t know how this would work. I had to do 3 wet exits today and there’s no way the boat would flip without a lot of water in it, it was a moving river class 2 rapids. Maybe this might work in flat water. I think roll over is the only option if you want to get back up.

[zedgama]

I really appreciate that the technique is given quickly and then again with details. It helped me understand how each detail fit together to make the whole process work.

Thank you for the video!

[Prunesquallor]

Emptying the boat and getting going again will not work in a rough conditions when there will be another wave along in a min

[zombieman]

so what do you do when you don't have a paddle float