: With me in the water, I grab the side of the boat and it just spins like a
: log. I have to get enough water flooded inside the cockpit to make it
: work.

I don't like the idea of flooding the boat as a rescue aid. I see what you mean about it getting lower and easier to access, but all that water sloshing in your cockpit can actually make the handling much, much worse. This free surface effect is less in your boat than in a regular kayak without the side compartments, but still probably not a good goal.

:I can't do that just holding onto the side because the side
: watertight compartment won't go under water enough to allow enough
: flooding to take place. I found that holding down on the stern and
: twisting the boat sideways I can get enough water into the boat to make it
: stable so I can craw over the side into the cockpit.

Rather than thinking about climbing onto the boat, visualize pulling the boat underneath your body. It would seem like the same motion, but this really works.

Shawn

:I will also velcro a
: canvas bucket inside the cockpit as another second option to get enough
: water into the cockpit to make a side entry work. Once I am inside the
: water filled cockpit the boat is much more stable then then when unflooded
: and can be paddled at about half the speed that it could normally go.
: Bailing all of this water out is quick and simple. I paddle the boat to
: shore and pull it sideways on shore as far as I can. The I bail about half
: the water to make it lighter and then tip the boat towards shore and most
: of the water comes out. Then I lift the stern and then the bow and all of
: the water is out. I am pleased with the results because I really wasn't
: sure this would work and I feel confident now that I can rescue myself.

: John