A sticky for ocean newbie questions?

[dreamcatcher]

 I was out the other day and saw a newbie who was tying off to seaweed on the side of his boat,that can be dangerous in big swells, it can roll you over in no time at all. I suggest a line tied to the front of the yak with a carribeaner at the end. It can be used as a tow line and keeps the yak stable and stationary. I use a line about 12 to 15 ft to allow for surge and swell.

[AlsHobieOutback]

I was out the other day and saw a newbie who was tying off to seaweed on the side of his boat,that can be dangerous in big swells, it can roll you over in no time at all. I suggest a line tied to the front of the yak with a carribeaner at the end. It can be used as a tow line and keeps the yak stable and stationary. I use a line about 12 to 15 ft to allow for surge and swell.

If I do tie up to kelp, i usually toss a strip of kelp on my foot peg and press my foot down on it.  Release is easy, just lift my foot!  Although I have a kelp clip now, I still haven't tried it out.   

[fishwrapper]

Mooch says: I use the Fox 40 pealess whistle

What I wanna know: Do they make a Fox 40 peeless wetsuit? Why oh why didn't I buy one with a relief valve?

[ianh]

I have been fishing off of a 9'8" longboard with a milk crate bungied on the front.  I always wear a full wetsuit, booties and sometimes a hood.  I only go out a half mile or less so I don't have a radio or compass.   

Two days ago the wind push me over a rock covered with kelp.  I knew the rock was there and thought I could float over it.  The swell surged and my fin must of caught the rock and I did a slow roll and ended up swimming in 54 deg water.  I flipped my board over, grabbed a floating plastic jar that had fallen out, threw the jar back in the milk crate and climbed back on and continued fishing.

For me the most dangerous situation is getting in and out of the water.  With a surfboard I can get through heavy shore break if I time it right.  But adding a milkcrate full of fishing gear changes everything. 

I've surfed for many years and the worst situation is getting out of the water at high tide (5  to 6+ ft) with heavy surf - this is when the waves can sweep you off your feet and then slam you into the sand.

I've been having a lot of fun fishing, but the ocean is a dangerous place and you need to know your limitations.

[Chubasco]

    SMOKE FLARES....For daytime. I've been broke down in the bay. Private boat.
Shot off flares, you realy can't see them in the day.
Smoke flares you can see for miles and most boaters know red or yellow smoke means help.   

[Cabeza de Martillo]

Excellent sticky lots of great info for newbies like myself.

Thanks for sharing.

Antonio

[halibutking]

is there a list of things that is required by law that you need on your kayak to be in the ocean?  can somebody who knows post this please.. thanks..

[NoSoupForU]

Love the info that is shared here!

[surfingdude]

I did not see "space blanket" in this thread...less than 5 bucks everywhere ,, doesn't have any weight,,can be used when wet and cold to warm you  ..also if stored in PFD it would make a very visible thing to use  as a  signal when looking for a rescue ....even drunk fishing boat captains tend to see giant silver things splashing around in the distance.