Humbled by god's creation," Bean Hallow" 10/20/06

At first I thought of writing this as just an incident report like I was trained to do. But a report like this has a whole different fill  when it's a  first hand experience. So I am writing this as a person who has had numerous encounters in life saving situation where I was the rescuer not the rescued and from that prospective how that can influence your common sense/judgement.

Let me start out by giving you some of my background:

#1. Come from a farming community where hunting and fishing was are back yard, back in the day when Union City was two towns ( Alvarado and Decoto). Where we were 4H members you know hands on stuff.

#2 Took my first CPR class at the age of 10 yrs. old when hell most people couldn't spell CPR. Actually used it on my Father who was stung by his bees some 200 times putting him into cardiac arrest at approx. 16 yrs. old. 1967 or 1968.

#3 Drafted in 1970 sent to Vietnam as a Medic. Which probably was the time when most civilian emergency response teams realized how fast a solider could learn to not only stabilize combat wounds but also conduct some amazing field life saving procedures that were unheard of in civilian application.

#4 Upon returning from Viet Nam or VN entered into the California Department of Correction ,CDC.
where I was enlisted to work the maximum security wing O-wing. Think of Pelican Bay prison and you have O-wing prior to that unit at Pelican Bay being built. Most of us could identify whose cliques a convict was associated with by just looking at there tattoo's and more but I regress..

#5 Was postulated by several Law Enforcement Agencies which included San Joaquin county S.O., Santa Clara county S.O. and Monterey County S.O. because of my background with Cliques and Prison gangs. Choose M.C.S.O. Patrol. Had enough of babysitting.

With that being said let's talk about yesterday.

 Earlier this week Eugene called and said that
he and his Dad were going out to Bean Hallow ,BH , launching at 0700 hrs 10/19/06 at which time we talked about our separate experiences and that I had been out once with an instructor/guide for fishing. So no expert here.[/u] With this said I asked my partner Phil if he would like to join  me due to having a tandem kayak and not wanting to tackle the surf with an empty front cockpit on my Hobie Outfitter alone (misery Love's company came to mind later). Phil was game so we set off that morning with the anticipation of catching some Lings and Hali's.

Following Eugene and his Father we made our way to BH. We sat for a while and I  watched the surf thinking of weather it was okay or not. It was not as dicey as my first launch there and I knew that the surf would be coming in so what the hell let's do this. Remember all that experience mentioned above.....WRONG.

So off we go first into the famous BH bowl launching from the north end of the beach straight to the center of the bowl where from there one can make a bee line into the surf with less wave break. Phil performed great and we found  ourselves outside the breaks and in the swell zone. I directed Phil to keep paddling so off we went with me filling good with my first launch at one of the most dangerous beaches in the area without my instructor (Allen). Besides on my previous fishing trip I had marked all our waypoints that I wanted to fish on my GPS.
 Having paddled out about a quarter mile I wanted to check our bearings and see if Eugene and his Dad were with us. It was at this point I realized that my Kayak had taken on allot of water with my hatch being swept over with water. Also the balance of the kayak was off. From past experience I knew I had water inside my hull and started to bilge pump which was like trying to empty a bath tub with a thimble. Their has been leakage with my Hobie but I always managed to handle it with no problem. The last time at BH my fellow Kayak er told me I looked low in the water and I bilge before landing with no problem. Of course different time different circumstances.

About this time I told Phil that we needed to turn around and get back to the beach.
SH#! began to reverberate in my head.  With one dig of my paddle to reverse our direction put us over our balance point. Swamped, sunk,ditched !!! No amount of bailing was going to resolve this  situation.  The only part of my Kayak above water  was approximately two to three feet of the nose and the forward hole being completely submerged.

First thought let go of the Kayak and swim parallel to the beach to get out of the westward current which I knew would take us out. Second thought wait for Eugene and Father then tie up to them having them paddle us closer to shore.

When Eugene got to us  I swam over with my safety line and clipped onto his Kayak. First thing Eugen suggested was that we call the Coastguard (CG). I told Eugen that we needed to first try to paddle in and with in a few strokes I knew that I had to make the dreaded call " Mayday! Mayday"! for two reasons 1. My partner and close friend Phil and 2 because at this point the only one with any real emergency skills was guess who the dummy in the water.

I told Eugene to quit paddling that I would make the call. Here is a point of interest for anyone who is floating on a swamped Kayak in the middle of the ocean. It takes some adjusting talking calmly in the middle of what was now big swells. So I asked Eugene to take that task over. Eugene was doing his best but the tone was not getting through to the coast guard after several futile attempts I started to hail with Mayday, Mayday two afloat at BH 5 miles south of Pescadero. After a few minutes of the appropriate hail we finally got a response from South San Francisco CG. I'm thinking to myself damn, Half Moon Bay is over twenty miles away so you need to remain calm ,relax and just drift with the kayak.

 We had Eugene with us so I knew that at least if we did get in more trouble, as if we weren't in enough trouble,  that the two man with us could  get themselves to shore and possibly maybe one more. Guess where the skipper stays.

About this time as we are drifting out to sea Eugene brings up the subject of guess what..... the Landlord. I don't know if it was the look I shot at him or the ," Eugene let's please deal with one thing at a time", when the topic changed to a solution rather than that of BoogieMan. Thanks for getting the hint Eugene.

At sometime I had looked at my watch and we entered the water at approximately 0720 or 0730 hrs. I kept asking Phil if he was starting to shiver and he needed to let me know when and if he started.

CGSSF informed us that I was over modulating and to turn down my volume ,to those in the know, a very important point. One needs to keep in mind that your  stress level comes out in your communication through your volume or how fast you try to converse. Even the most experienced people I know have to learn this through  personal experience this can't be taught. It's funny how this stuff started to come back to me that in fact if I needed to get rescued I had better hunker down, understand our dire situation and utilize my past experiences to get us out of this. No Hero here just a fact.

At this time we were informed that a chopper was launched from station and that they were in route with an ETA of approximately 30 minutes. Having a grasp on what is known as the 10 code (suggestion) after a few 10-9 (do not copy) I finally understood and just made sure that we were ready for our pick up. Eugene suggested that his Dad could drive my truck back so I swam over and gave him my keys which were secured in a place that could be  easily accest by Eugene in my front pouch (suggestion) of my spray jacket.

Every time I went between the Kayaks which were only separated by our safety lines the theme song from jaws came playfully to my imaginative mind... Thanks Eugene. So needless to say I kept my splashing to a minimal.

I was the first to hear the choppers approach telling everyone to be quit that I could hear the chopper. It took everyone a few seconds before they could hear it also ( remember Viet Nam Medic Helicopters etc.). By this time a visual was made and I directed the chopper to us by his clock. We're at your 1 o'clock now your 10 o'clock etc. Got to Love these pro's and how quickly they adapted to my directions I must say that I have not seen such a beautiful site since well awhile...I untied us from Eugene knowing that the prop wash might effect his stability and knew that the prop noise would make communications darn near impossible. Besides I could already see the chopper start there approach and trying to estimate a safe hover taken account of the swell and drift so he/she could make it to us okay. They had to fly by us once and redirect themselves being that things had gotten a bit more choppie since our launch. (When we first entered the water I reported to CG that the swell was at about 4 to 5' by this time the swell was over 6'.)

Phil how you doing?.... had become my mantra every few minuets
As the chopper approached the second time I knew they were aligned and I put my head down to protect myself from the prop wash but don't think for a minute that I wasn't thanking my higher power for it's assistance in our whole ordeal and I did allot of praying silently during this situation.
After what seemed a few minuets the diver jumped in asking how you guys doing. Then inquiring about our clothing  he asked if we had wet suits on which we said yes. He said at this point," Got to love having the right equipment, Right!!! (suggestion)

After a quick estimate Phil said to our rescurer that he was getting colder so up he went first in the basket. I have to admitt that at this point a big sigh of relief came over me. My partner was safe and sound. Now, while I was waiting for new instructions  from the diver he pointed to the west and there was the Harbor Master boat coming to. So he told me to relax and swam me to it's ladder were I scrambled on board (very humbling). During my tow to the rescue boat is the first time I started to question myself. Didn't have the time to think of ,"Damn Frank that was stupid'... or "Damn Frank did you hear that pop? The sound of your head coming out your a@#".  Funny thoughts like that.

Of course something happily brought my thoughts back to reality and that was when the chopper hovered above us to drop Phil onto our vessel. With direction from the diver and skipper Phil was lowered safely aboard, the diver got in and off they went into the mountains  they did on white hats. (helmets at least). About this time the skipper said looks like he was to small so they threw him back. Gee that sounds familar.

We got my Kayak aboard only after opening the hatches and using a winch to hoist it so the water could come out from the hatches. The word displacement has a whole new meaning to me.
Did I mention that these particular Hobie's have a slight leakage problem and that I was told that my new Kayak will be delivered on the 26th and I could use my kayak until then after requesting a replacement. Here is the scary part to me, I still listened to the voice in me telling me I can handle it. Call it ego, over confidence or what ever you want, Frank, you made a bad discession.

 The other thing is reliance on someone elses talents. Simply put DON'T!! If I gave anyone the impression that I am a Kayak expert I apologize I beleive I told everyone I had only one launch from the beach and that was guided by the competent Allen Bushnell who did his job to the letter and beyond.
 
Thanks Allen from me and my family plus listening to the experiences from guys like Fred, Dan, James and a bunch more who are willing to share there experience with anyone new to this sport.
 Fred you in particular were in my thoughts while in the drink and thanks for sharing the successes but, also your failures with me or us . Success to me comes with a few failures only thing is we are in a sport that can change within a stroke of the paddle.Those who know me know I do not even go into a lake situation with out my PFD.

Eugene and Dad thanks for standing by until we were safe and all you did afterwards. I thought my Fish Finder was on it's way to Hawaii. Really you didn't have to do that.

Suggestion to anyone coming into this sport who wants to venture into the ocean. Take a lesson from the guys with the know how and a little advice from this humbled kayaker," Get yourself prepared because this is a wild ass ride".

TOLD TO ME SOME TIME AGO, "iF YOUR GOING TO EAT CROW DO IT WELL IT'S FRESH".

Safely yours, The Crow Eater

Frank,

Again I apologize for mis-labeling you as an "expert".  I just thought of you as an expert because of the way you carry yourself.  That was my second time fishing Bean Hollow.  Second time real surf launching experience.  I looked to you for direction since you learned it the proper way through taking lesson with Allen.  I learned alot and was very impressed by the way you handled emergency situation.  You were very calm through the whole ordeal, I think I was the frantic one on the inside while trying to remain calm outside. 

For anyone who is reading this, I was not trying to make light of what had happen by any means.  That was serious stuff.  I wrote it with the intention that someone out there might learn from what we've gone through.  If you're a newbie like me, the ocean is no joke.  I think Mooch said the best "A stringer of fish is not worth losing your life for."

Eugene

Frank... thanks for the honest and humbling report of your experience.  

I think it has given pause to all of us to re-think our level of preparedness.  

I know it isn't any fun having to write a report like that... I'm just glad you got to write it.

Erik

Quite an adventure and a happy ending...free helicopter ride!  Seriously, glad everyone made it out ok and a great reminder that we all need to watch our a$$e$ when recreating on the North Coast.  Be prepared and bring a buddy.  I know how you felt, had similar emotions flowing through the veins last year when my dino hunting trip with Jelly went SIDEWAYS and turned into a tale of survival.

If you haven't bought that VHS read this post again, and then go buy one! 

Great report Frank,

It's quite the experience to be the subject instead of the responder.  (I too am/was an emergency responder).

Your analysis of the levels of error that got you to the bad place was great.  When I find I've hosed a decision I tend to find I was guilty of at least one of the bad traits of greed, laziness or arrogance.  When we commit one of those we have little or no room for the world to interject its harsher reality.

Congratulations on keeping your partner and comrades safe.  Great job.  Great management of a potentially multiply tragic event. 

Frank & Phil,

I'm glad that the two of you made it out of that situation alive!  I get chills each time I think about what the two of you went through.  It is really making me re-think my wanting to go back to the Bean for another "wild a$$ ride".  Heck, it's making me re-thing ever going back into the ocean at all, well at least until I have the "proper training". 

If you haven't bought that VHS read this post again, and then go buy one!

I made Ed (Sudmucker) finally order one, so that he will have it when we go out. 

Mary

Frank:

What a great story!

Thanks for your honest and extended recount of the adventure.  IMO, the biggest factor here was the actual leak in your yak.  Point taken that leaks do not neccesarily remain "stable."  You used that yak at the same spot two weeks prior, and it was good all day, besides a quick pump-out before landing (thanks marmot). 



To be safe, I guess we should assume that leaks WILL get worse, esp if they are a seam type leak rather than an abrasion type.

I commend you for your presence of mind in the emergency situation, as well as all your companions for sticking together and staying calm until the rescue could be effected.

My point is this:  You did a lot more things RIGHT in this situation than you did wrong, for sure.  any of us can find ourselves in a similar situation.  When it's my turn, i am going to be thinking of you, and hope I can be as together as you are.


Your Pal Al

Wow.  What a story.

Frank, like Allen said, I saw way more good decisions than bad ones in this story.  What you described to me was a fairly typical start to a kayak fishing trip that went south.  After it went south it looks like you handled it perfectly.

How big was the hole?

MolBasser

The incredible thing about the hole is it is in the seam and hard to find. According to a letter addressed to the dealers this has been an on going  problem for sometime.  I have put this Kayak on stationary horse's and filled it up. No leakage. But in the water under stress is when the problem occurs. The problem seems to be inherent to the front hole where the front drive goes.
Good news is that I have been offered a full refund and acknowledment that this problem is occuring in most of these outfitters that fall into a certain serial number sequence. The bad news is that this letter was addressed to the dealers and not the owners of these craft ( I got hold of the letter through one of their young sales personal who just wanted to be helpful).
So I am starting to think single kayak and have asked several of the more experienced kayakers their opinions of a kayak suitable for me that would fit my body profile.

My P13 came with a seem leak in one of the rear scuppers.  It took three trips for me to figure out what was going on.  This was the first full production run of the boat.  The dealer did not seem surprised.

Thank you for your report and insight for others who may find themselves in a similar situation.
I am going to share an experience of a rescue I did for someone with a submerged kayak. It was nowhere near the extremes your guys faced, but maybe it could help someone in the future.
I was at Negro Bar ( upper end of Lake Natoma ) near Folsom Prison. CHUB and I paddled as far up as you can in our sit-on-tops until we reached the warning signs of the prison. We drifted back down, pulled over to the side and sat in our kayaks enjoying some fresh blackberries. We saw another kayaker in a SIK headed up towards the prison. About 10 minutes I see the same kayaker in the water without his kayak. The water was cold and I asked him if he needed help. He barely got out the word "YES!" when I realized he was floating with his kayak completely submerged.
I paddled over, grabbed him by his PFD and helped him to lay over the bow of my kayak. I reached into the water and got ahold of the bow of his kayak and rolled his kayak so it was upside down in the water. I started to pull up on the bow of his kayak. Water seeks its own level, so with every inch of upward motion it was that much more water out of his kayak. Soon enough I had the bow high enough out of the water that I was able to roll it so it was upright and floating. There was still a lot of water in the kayak, but it was empty enough for the guy to get in and take it to shore to drain out the rest.
I was looking at a picture of the Hobie Outfitter. If it has two hatches then maybe it is possible to drain a majority of the water out of it with the assistance of another kayak. I have had ZERO experience with this kayak so I am merely making an educated assumption.
I would seem to me if you unscrewed the front hatch and let the kayak fill completely with water it would be completely submerged yet remain  just under the surface and horizontal. With the open hatch facing the sea bottom and someone lifting the opposite end of the kayak the water would drain out of the open hatch. I know when you lift the kayak you don't just LIFT the kayak. You have to apply upward pressure and eventually you will gain ground. It is one heavy buggar when filled with that much water. The more you get the end of the kayak out of the water, the more water out of the kayak. Your kayak would still have quite a lot of water inside, but it might be drained enough to give you the necessary time to make it back safely.
I am VERY pleased you all made it out safely. Good call on the wetsuits when in the ocean. I hope everyone reading your post pays attention.

Thank-you for sharing your difficult experience. A lot of good will fllow from your generous honesty.

A few questions please:

When you took the load off the kayak, was it still rapidly taking on water?  How quickly did it fill in the first place? 

A portable VHF has a limited range. What would you have done if you hadn't been able to raise the CG? I ask because many of us kayak in remote locales far from a CG station.

Finally, can you speculate on the outcome had you and your friend been out alone on the tandem?

Frank,

I just got back from Mendo and read your full report.  I was so relieved to know you all got back safely. Having met you several times, I know you are a very safety-conscious guy.

I think it should be very sobering for people to realize that your past experiences "under fire", may have been the only difference between a happy ending and a tragedy.  Many of us may know what to do, but it's knowledge not forged by fire.

I first trained in psychiatry caring for Viet Nam veterans in a VA inpatient unit.  They lived through horrendous experiences and IMO the medics had the worst post traumatic stress.  They had to retrieve wounded under fire and under terrible circumstances.  They saw the worst and sometimes had to do terrible things themselve.

On this site, I have read a few posts that seem rather glib about matters of safety and the risks of facing a disaster at sea.  Almost like it's sport to tempt the sea.  Its one thing to think about what you'll do in the comfort of your living room.  But all these strategies will lose their meaning when the swells are pounding you, the shore is no where in site, your partner's face is turning blue and it's taking all you have to fight the surge of panic that's welling up within you.

I know your experience helped you keep focused on what you had to do "under fire".

I have to admit, the tears welled up when I read about your concern for Phil.  I thought about all the vets I cared for. They struggle with tremendous survivor gult for making it back as a survivor. Ask any soldier why he fights?  Not for ideology, or country or flag.  It's to get back home...and to bring your buddies home with you.  If I had to be in a crisis, I'd take being with a combat vet any day.

I salute you Frank...you brought everybody home.


Doug



PS:  If you haven't done so already, I would file a report with consumer affairs and give a "real, live account" of how dangerous this defect really is.  Hobie may not want to do a mandatory recall because of the expense and PR:  Hence only the dealers have been informed.  But with time and the nature of stress fatigue on the mounts, you can bet that at some time, some where, this defect will claim a life.

https://www.cpsc.gov/sec15.html

Years ago, doing trips on Prince William Sound (central coast AK) there were a few things I always needed to see before I launched. These were, in no particular order:
-PFD on each paddler
-VHF with battery (sometimes the battery would get forgotten in the charger)
-flares (handheld at least)
-bilge pump for each kayak

It's kind of like the old "watch & wallet" before leaving the house, and these things are just second nature now.  Every time I try to pare down my gear I look at this little "insurance" pile of equipment and think. "well, when was the last time I actually used the...?" Now I'll just answer myself with "self, remember Frank & Eugene's Bean Hollow story?" A tale like this is always a positive thing when it turns out the way it did. Props to everyone involved for making it back & keeping safety awareness at the forefront. There are a lot of folks with yaks out there.
-Sean

Frank...PLEASE tell me you didn't have a banana on your kayak when all this happened

Gald your all safe and sound