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(jeffh129) wrote in news:ada68cdc.0404301822.5264b6a4
@posting.google.com:

Ok, here is probably the dumbest "newbie" question of the year.
Yesterday I purchased a new Sundance 120 after three test paddles.
However each time I test paddled the yak, there was an employee there
to help me enter and exit the yak next to a pier.

So....now I have it home and am anxious to take it out soon. I assume
I won't be doing the pier entry and exit as I will be alone. How do I
get in and out of the darn thing? Do I float it out into a foot or so
of water? Then what? Same thing on exiting. How do I actually get in
and out? ( I TOLD you this would be dumb)

The easiest way to get in and out of the kayak is to float it just off shore
then stand with one foot on each side of the boat and then squat down until
you're sitting in the seat. Then swing one leg in at a time. You'll get
wet up to your calves or so.

Here a better way.

Put the kayak in the water parallel to shore so that it is just floating.
Stand next to the boat on shore facing toward the bow. Take your paddle and
put it behind you perpendicular to the kayak. Lay the paddleshaft on the
boat so that the shaft is just behind the cockpit rim with the water side
paddle blade just beyond the waterside edge of the kayak. Most of the
paddle will be towards shore. Turn the shore side paddle blade so that it
is facing up. Reach down with your water side hand and grasp the
paddleshaft and cockpit rim such that your fingers are in the cockpit and
your thumb wrapped around the paddle shaft. As you squat down put your
other hand on the paddle shaft midway between the kayak and the shore side
blade. Now, keeping slightly more weight towards shore you can sit down
next to your water side hand at the rear of the cockpit. Keeping your
weight shifted slightly toward shore swing your water side leg into the boat
then your other leg (don't take your hands of the paddle yet). As long as
you're leaning slightly toward shore and you've got your hands on the paddle
in the positions indicated you've got an outrigger that will keep you from
capsizing towards shore and since you're leaning towards shore you won't
capsize the other direction. With practice you'll be able to do this fairly
quickly with getting your feet wet.

Getting out is just the reverse of the process. Paddle up parallel to
shore. Put the paddle into place behind and position your hands as
indicated above. Lean toward shore a bit than scoot back and up until
you're sitting at the back of the cockpit rim. Swing your shore side leg
out, then the other one and stand up.