Outrigger self-rescue

Somewhat more challenging than a paddle float self rescue.

Basically, you hold your paddle near one blade to the back of the coaming. With the other blade in the water, nominally flat and slightly submerged, thrust yourself onto the back deck and get yourself back into the cockpit.

The real challenge with this technique is that the paddle does not have enough flotation to provide a stable support as in a paddle float rescue. It only serves to dampen the rolling motion of the kayak and provide more time to recover from changes to the kayak's position. If you find yourself seriously off balance, you'll end up in the water.

My personal experience with Euro paddles is that this technique is hit-or-miss. Greenland paddles, on the other hand, provide somewhat more flotation and make it a tad easier to execute. In addition, performing a cowboy scramble seems to be easier. If you lie on the deck as per a paddle float rescue, your body moves too much to one side or the other. With a cowboy entry, you sit up on the rear deck and dangle your feet in the water on either side. This seems to provide much better stability and make it easier to recover from small deviations from stable. By the way, once on the back deck, you can sit on the Greenland paddle to hold it in position.