Unless you have a better solution, I suggest that hand pumps are a very
viable solution, even if only the instructor carries one. Hand pumps
come in various sizes. You kind of casually discard that solution as
"impractical" without any good reason, it seems to me.

I have seen electric battery bailing pumps used in a whitewater canoe,
and it was pretty impressive to see water pouring out pipes on both
sides of the canoe without anyone lifting a hand. This was a permanent
installation, but you could use a portable electric bilge pump to empty
a kayak.

I agree with the other poster that what you have described sounds
unsafe, and you need to take more steps to make it safer. Do the
students wear wetsuits?

Richard



ChipsCheeseandMayo wrote:
Its not sea kayaking, but flat water kayaking in beginner boats so
things like hand pumps etc not practiable. As its a taster session
paddling in scotland getting them wet at the very start is not a good
idea either as it is bl**dy freezing up here and quite frequently once
they;ve got wet they have to go and get changed and miss the rest of
the session. As it is a taster session they also are not wearing
spraydecks.