How to roll with a BackUP:
- Upon capsizing, grab the BackUP 's handle and pull. The BackUP will slide out of its shell and immediately inflate.
- Lean on the hand holding the BackUP , and sit up. The buoyancy of the BackUP will hold your hand near the surface of the water.
That's it! A few things to note:
- The CO2 cartridge must be replaced after each use of the BackUP --- the cartridge is entirely empty after one inflation.
- Be nice to your shoulders. Keep your elbows as close to your body as possible whenever you lean on anything ... including your BackUP.
- Those with a double kayak, see rolling a double.
This diagram shows the technique for having the Backup surface to the most comfortable side for this right-hander. It works fine surfacing on the other side, too.
Tips for using a BackUP
- It's best to have the Backup rise to the surface on the
side of the boat opposite the hand which grabbed it.
Imagine. If you were upright in your kayak holding onto
something floating to the right of your boat with your
right hand, and then capsized toward it, once upside down
it would be on your left. So have your Backup bob up
there, on the left (if you are right-handed. Lefties, do
the opposite.) Everything works fine if the Backup
surfaces on the "wrong" side too, but it feels
less natural.
- Here is an easy way to execute Tip #1 when pulling the
Backup from a location ahead of you, for example, from
installation position A (see next page). Grab the Backup
handle with your right hand, pull, and immediately move
your fist over to your left shoulder! Lefties, do the
opposite.
- Unless you're very big, or your boat is very loaded, the
Backup will provide ample buoyant support for righting
even if held against your boat hull. Holding the Backup
even a small distance away from the boat hull will
significantly increase the righting "torque" on
your boat.
- You will probably need to use both hands for leaning on
the Backup ! Put your second hand on top of the floating
Backup bag. Keep ahold of your paddle if you can. If not,
it won't go far in 3 seconds, and you have a spare paddle
anyway, right?
- Use your rolling skills to minimize the strength required. When you lean on your Backup , roll your kayak upright first and raise your body and your head up from the water surface last.
INSTALLATION INSPECTING Follow the INSPECTING instructions on page 9 to check out and arm your Backup . ATTACHING TO THE KAYAK The Backup is inflated by pulling its handle away from its protective outer shell. Installation involves firmly mounting the outer shell so that it stays put when the handle is pulled. The BackUP should be mounted in a location immediately accessible to you after capsize. Two recommendations:
- A. Ahead of the cockpit
- Mounting the Backup just ahead of the cockpit is a natural position since that is the direction kayakers are trained to reach after failure to paddle-roll, in order to release the sprayskirt before exit. The Backup can be easily strapped to the bungy cords there. Be sure the installed Backup does not interfere with normal operations of your craft.
- B. Behind the cockpit
- Another good location is on the deck of the kayak just behind the cockpit. Be sure that it is not in the way of your elbow when you paddle. Right-handers should have the Backup handle on the left, to be grabbed by reaching with your right hand around the left side of your body. This way the inflated bag will pop to the surface on the most convenient side of the kayak for righting (see Tip #1). Be sure that you could find the handle easily if you were upside down, underwater, and surprised!