Lull - Sea Kayaking Safety and Rescue

A must-read for all sea kayakers original, practical, and comprehensive. It just might save your life!

Eric Soares, Commander of the Tsunami Rangers, co-author of Extreme Sea Kayaking

John Lull must have more lives than a cat. He survived when his surf kayak snapped in half on a giant plunging wave at Pacifica, and again when a rock fall from a cliff obliterated his campsite on the rugged Oregon coast. His knack for survival is more than luck, though, and in Sea Kayaking: Safety & Rescue he shares his extensive knowledge of water, weather, and boats. What sets it apart from many other books on kayaking is that its not just about avoiding hazards but also about how to deal with them.

Cathy Chute, Sea Kayaker Magazine

I just bought your book Sea Kayaking: Safety & Rescue . I read pages 99 through 104, went out to the local river, and taught myself to roll in two short afternoons. Now I can roll, reenter and roll, and reenter and roll with paddlefloat assist. I attribute this success to the excellent way you explained the technique.

David Lengemann, Coaster owner, New Jersey

The step-by-step instructions and illustrations of different rescues are the best Ive seen. Unlike many sea kayaking books that cater only to beginners, this one should continue to be useful to paddlers over the years as they try out new and more difficult things.

Sarah Ohmann, Twin Cities Kayaking Association

Lulls expertise and selfless commitment to paddling shine through in this book.

Keith Miller, President, California Canoe & Kayak, Inc.

The chapters on training and risk assessment are particularly helpful in developing the confidence, skills and judgment to begin to venture into more varied conditions at sea, and to do so safely.

John McCormack, KANAWA

No matter what your skill, you will learn something here. Dont fuss over it, just go out and get it and read it.

Penny Wells, Bay Currents (Bay Area Sea Kayakers newsletter)

This volume deserves an honored spot on the bookshelf of anyone who hefts a hull off a roof rack.

Paul McHugh, San Francisco Chronicle

Sea Kayaking Safety & Rescue

1st EDITION July 2001

2nd EDITION September 2008

Copyright 2001, 2008 by John Lull

Front cover photo copyright 2008 by Michael Powers

Back cover photo copyright 2008 by Jim Kakuk

Interior photos, except where noted, by John Lull

Cover design: Lisa Pletka and Larry B. Van Dyke

Book design: Larry B. Van Dyke

ISBN 978-0-89997-476-7

Manufactured in Canada

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations used in reviews.

SAFETY NOTICE: Although Wilderness Press and the author have made every attempt to ensure that the information in this book is accurate at press time, they are not responsible for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience that may occur to anyone while using this book. You are responsible for your own safety and health while kayaking. The fact that kayaking techniques are described does not mean that kayaking will be safe for you. Be aware that weather and ocean conditions can change from day to day. Always check local conditions and know your own limitations.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book could not have been written without the help, support, and contributions of many individuals. I would like to thank, en masse, all the kayakers with whom I have shared adventures on the water over the past 20 years, including members of the San Francisco Bay Area Sea Kayakers. You are far too numerous to list here, but you all know who you are.

In particular, I thank Derek Hutchinson, who gave me my first official kayaking lesson; Frank Ducker, my first kayaking mentor; Penny Wells, John Jeppesen, John Dixon, and Andy Yun for so many great kayaking experiences during my formative years as a paddler; Bonnie Brill, whose entertaining mishaps provided fodder for this book; and, most of all, my domestic associate, June Legler, who had more kayaking adventures with me than she really wanted.

I am indebted to all of my fellow Tsunami Rangers, with whom I have learned most of what I know about the wilder aspects of sea kayaking. I especially thank the following Tsunami Rangers: Eric Soares and Jim Kakuk, super sea kayakers, who introduced me to the art of paddling ocean rock gardens; Dave Whalen who showed me just how much abuse a kevlar kayak can take; Debrah Volturno, my favorite kayaking co-instructor and one of the finest paddlers I know; Tim Sullivan for his cheer in the face of misadventure; Haruo Hasegawa and Bill Collins, who are always a pleasure to kayak with; and Michael Powers, who contributed most of the photographs for this book.

June Legler, Eric Soares, Jim Kakuk, Bo Barnes, Penny Wells, Grace Iannotti, and Kenny Howell also contributed excellent photographs. Debrah Volturno contributed photographs and illustrations.

I thank San Francisco Chronicle outdoor writer and expert kayaker Paul McHugh for writing the forward to this book; Keith Miller, President of California Canoe & Kayak (CCK), for helping me to refine my whitewater kayaking skills and for keeping me employed over the years as a professional paddler; Kenny Howell, Sea Kayak Program Director at CCK, with whom I have worked and paddled for the past few years; Will Nordby and Andy Cominos for collaborating with me on two kayaking videos which provided a foundation for much of this book; Ralph Diaz, for insights on paddling in boat traffic; and the brilliant sea kayak designers Matt and Cam Broze, of Mariner Kayaks, who have always been generous with their advice.

Finally, I thank all the staff at Wilderness Press for their editing and design expertise, particularly Larry Van Dyke for his book design (both editions), Jannie Dresser, whose editing and organizational skills helped make this book readable; Tom Winnett for his concise editing; Roslyn Bullas for her help and editing on the 2nd edition; Lisa Pletka for her front cover design; and Mike Jones, who approached me with the idea for this book.

FOREWORD

The John Lull I know is a very funny guy. A twinkle in his eye appears to be standard equipment, no matter what hes doing blowing tenor sax in a blues band, or shredding glassy waves at his home break, Pillar Point, in his hard-railed Mega Rio surf kayak.