To get back into an inflatable kayak in deep water, stay with the boat, move to the middle where it is most stable, kick your legs up behind you so you float flat on the surface, then pull your chest across the deck and rotate your hips down into the seat.
The first thing to know is that an inflatable kayak works in your favor here. It sits high, it is wide, and it cannot sink, so it stays right beside you as a big, buoyant platform to climb onto. That is a real advantage over a narrow hardshell, which can swamp or roll away while you fight to reach it.
Start by getting your body flat. Treading water and trying to climb straight up almost never works, because your legs hang down and pull you under the boat. Instead, grab the far side of the kayak with both hands, kick your legs toward the surface behind you, and let your body plane out like you are swimming. Once you are horizontal, a hard kick plus a pull brings your chest and belly across the middle of the hull.
From there, do not try to stand or spin fast. Slide across on your stomach first, then slowly rotate your hips so your seat drops into the cockpit and your legs follow. Sit low and centered while you settle, then bail any water that came in with a bilge pump, a cup, or a sponge.
Two habits make all of this easier. Keep hold of your paddle, or tuck it under the deck bungees before you climb so it does not drift off while your hands are busy. And re-enter at the middle of the kayak, not the nose or tail, where a wide hull gives you the most stable spot to lean on.
A stable, wide inflatable is the difference between a re-entry that works on the first try and one that keeps dumping you back in.
The NIXY Tahoe Inflatable Kayak is a wide, high-buoyancy tandem hull, which is exactly the shape that makes a deep-water climb-back easier and steadier than a narrow boat.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easier to get back into an inflatable kayak than a hard-shell one?
Usually, yes. An inflatable kayak floats higher and wider and will not sink, so it stays next to you as a stable platform instead of swamping or rolling away. The wide hull gives you a broad surface to pull your chest across, which is the hardest part of any deep-water re-entry.
What do I do with my paddle while I climb back in?
Secure it first. Tuck the paddle shaft under the deck bungees, or hold it against the far rail with the hand you use to grab the kayak. A drifting paddle is one more thing to chase in open water, and you want both hands free to kick flat and haul yourself up.
How should I practice deep-water re-entry?
Practice in warm, shallow water close to shore before you need it for real, with a friend nearby and a properly fitted life jacket on. Getting the kick-flat-and-rotate motion into muscle memory in calm conditions means you will not panic the day it happens in open water. For more on why these boats feel steady, see are inflatable kayaks stable.
Wear your life jacket, stay with your boat, and the water stops being something to fear.
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