: Hi Dan ~
: What's a canoe-style re-entry?

: Jim

My name for it - don't know if there's an 'official' name. Grab each side of the coaming with a hand, give a good strong kick and pull the boat under you, so your navel's over the cockpit. Arms and legs are in the water to brace as necessary. Flip over to put your butt in the cockpit, still sideways to the boat. Bring a leg over the foredeck and you're in standard 'lazy kayaker' position. Finish up by wiggling into the boat. No, it's not graceful. No, it may not work in really big water. Can't imagine it without a fairly large cockpit. But it's quick, easy, and no equipment needed. In my SW Ohio flatwater, it's all I'll likely ever need. Most places I paddle, I can get out and walk if needed. Can only think of once that I 'needed' anything - mostly getting back in is a function of wanting to swim, or blowing a practice roll. Never could trust my cowboy - if I get my chest up enough so the PFD clears all the deck rigging, I'm wet again. That's another reason I'm looking to clear the decks as much as possible. Even building bulkhead hatches (okay, that's mostly 'cause I'm skeered of getting a saber saw near my deck

But who knows - maybe someday I'll venture up to the North Coast (aren't you up that way, Jim?) and then I'd definitely want a more solid reentry.