(Another) Scotty downrigger on a Hobie Outback – the “boomless” variation

Can the DR cable on the port side be released from the rear pulley if you are in the water and need to re-enter?

Slime could re-enter his kayak from its right side. The downrigger cable wouldn't get in the way of that.

I try to have a plan figured out in advance about how I would turn my kayak upright and re-enter it if I get flipped over.  I try to design this plan to minimize the chances that I will run into or get tangled in gear and lines which are in the water while I'm swimming, to avoid wrapping lines and leashes all the way around the kayak when I turn it upright.   

If you flip a sit-on-top fishing kayak, various fishing lines, downrigger lines, and leashed gear will end up hanging down in the water, and may be draped across the bottom of the kayak.  If you had rods and/or a large landing net in rod holders and they stay in place, they'll be sticking down in the water, and depending on which direction they are sticking down, they may interfere with swimming around next to the kayak.  If any lines are draped across the bottom of the kayak, and you roll the kayak the wrong direction, those lines will end up being wrapped completely around the kayak, which will not be a good thing.  In general terms, here's my plan if my kayak flips in deep water away from shore.  This description assumes that if your kayak flips to the right, you'll end up swimming on the right side of the upside-down kayak:

1. Because I have rod holders mounted near my feet which hold the rods out at right angles to my kayak, If I need to swim around the kayak, to avoid running into the rods I would swim around the stern of the kayak.

2.  I check to see if any lines are draped across the bottom of the kayak.  If there are, I move them away from the Mirage Drive (if there is one) to avoid entanglement, and swim around the stern of the kayak to the other side before proceeding to Step 3.

3.  To roll the kayak upright, I reach over the bottom of the kayak and grab the Mirage Drive (if there is one), a scupper hole, or the far side of the kayak, pull it towards me while pushing down on the near side, and roll the kayak upright.

4. I move around to the side of the kayak with fewest obstructions.  In my case, because I usually have a downrigger and a fish finder mounted on the right side of my kayak, it's the left side of the kayak.  In Slime's case, because his downrigger cable runs along his left gunwale, it's the right side of his kayak.

5.  I lay fairly horizontal in the water at right angles to the gunwale, grab the gunwale, and in one quick motion I pull myself up onto the kayak and as far across it as I can.  I end up lying on my stomach across the kayak, preferably with my head hanging over the far side of the kayak. Some kayakers like to reach across and grab the far gunwale before pulling themselves up into the kayak, but I don't find that necessary.

6. I roll over onto my back, sit up, and slide into my seat.

7.  I deal with whatever flipped me over so I don't get flipped again.

7.  I look for any loose gear and recover it before it floats away.

8.  I start untangling lines and leashes.