How to Practice the Kayak Wet Exit

ArticleMay 03, 2013

Now that you have mastered your roll, you can spend some time on safety at the pool. I know I’ve had more than enough wet exits, but I still like to practice different methods for safely exiting the boat. You have probably heard and repeated to others, “Always have your grab loop out!” Well, what happens if it’s inside your cockpit or out of your reach?

There are several techniques worth practicing. You can grab the material in the middle of the skirt and pull to the side (if you have an implosion bar, you can grasp it), punch out with your knee and hand, peel the edge of your skirt up, or wiggle out of the tunnel.

Grabbing the material in the middle of the skirt's deck.
Grabbing the material in the middle of the skirt’s deck.
Using the knee to help release the skirt.
Using the knee along with the hands to help release the skirt.
Prying on the edge of the skirt to help release it from the cockpit combing.
Peeling up the edge of the skirt to release it from the cockpit combing.
Exit 3
Wiggling out is another great technique to teach young and old alike.
Exit 4
I like to have a tunnel that is loose on kids so if they forget the steps to a wet exit it is easy for them to use the wiggle out method.
Exit 5
Exit 6
Exit 7
This turns a likely intense moment to laughter as they pop up with the skirt still on their boat.