We ve assumed you have access to a conveniently low dock or shallow area for your launchings and landings. If you don t, things can get a bit clumsier, but the same principles hold. If you are entering or exiting your boat in surf, you will need to move quickly to avoid taking on water or having the boat rudely taken from you by a surge. Keep your boat perpendicular to the waves, more out of the water than in it. In surf or surge, never exit or enter on the beach side, where you may get clipped by your boat if it is lifted and thrown toward the shore by a wave.
High docks present a real challenge to kayakers.
You ll have to give up your paddle for support and, instead, use your arms to support the transfer of weight to the dock. If you re entering or exiting from a pier with a long drop to the water, you may be forced to use a pier ladder rung as your support system. Again, the trick is to slowly transfer your weight away from your cockpit and onto the ladder. As long as you are firmly anchored to the ladder, the boat should remain in place and be a reasonably stable platform. Once you re out of the boat, a line can be attached to the ladder to temporarily hold the boat.