NorCal Kayak Anglers
Kayak Fishing Zone => Safety First => Topic started by: yakyakyak on March 13, 2017, 04:03:55 PM
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Curious if anybody had any experience on a kayak that slides away after you hit the drink. How far did it go? What was the speed before you get dumped on? How did you get back? What would you do different (harness, etc.)? I am thinking of a yak that slides away at decent speed (not from a slow speed), but all feedback are welcome. Maybe some folks with sail/motor already figure this out, if so, what do you do?
Added:
Basically, how do you recover from such event and what would you do differently going forward?
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All depends on wind, waves, and how hard you fall out👏😂
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Sure depends on the wind, waves, etc. But the answer to me is "Not Far!" because my paddle is leashed to the yak, and you tend to death grip your paddle as you fall overboard. Actually I think the wind is the biggest issue, if it's windy, it can get away from you pretty quick.
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Tether yourself to it.. or if you are using that 3hp Torqeedo,,, better use a seat belt. :smt005
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mine never ran both times :smt002
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Sure depends on the wind, waves, etc. But the answer to me is "Not Far!" because my paddle is leashed to the yak, and you tend to death grip your paddle as you fall overboard. Actually I think the wind is the biggest issue, if it's windy, it can get away from you pretty quick.
+1 Just hold on to that tethered paddle.
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Tether yourself to it.. or if you are using that 3hp Torqeedo,,, better use a seat belt. :smt005
Ya, this is why I was asking ... lol ... looking good, ready for water test.
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When I first started and was always going out alone. 1 yr before I saw, and met Brian G. I used a surfboard leash precisely because of that worry. After falling out a couple times the leash became more a hindrance than a help so i got rid of it. I agree. hang onto your paddle. (Hang onto you rod also, especially if I've lent it to you!!!)
Bushy
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When I first started and was always going out alone. 1 yr before I saw, and met Brian G. I used a surfboard leash precisely because of that worry. After falling out a couple times the leash became more a hindrance than a help so i got rid of it. I agree. hang onto your paddle. (Hang onto you rod also, especially if I've lent it to you!!!)
Bushy
What about people who don't paddle?
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When I first started and was always going out alone. 1 yr before I saw, and met Brian G. I used a surfboard leash precisely because of that worry. After falling out a couple times the leash became more a hindrance than a help so i got rid of it. I agree. hang onto your paddle. (Hang onto you rod also, especially if I've lent it to you!!!)
Bushy
What about people who don't paddle?
Hope the toe straps on your mirage drive is tight? :smt005
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Practice falling out so it doesn't happen.
Unless you get a torpedo hit from a GWS you know when you are falling out of your kayak.
Don't fight it, hop off and keep one hand on it as you do.
If you haven't practiced enough then you have no idea what I am talking about, and that's on you.
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Practice falling out so it doesn't happen.
Unless you get a torpedo hit from a GWS you know when you are falling out of your kayak.
Don't fight it, hop off and keep one hand on it as you do.
If you haven't practiced enough then you have no idea what I am talking about, and that's on you.
I think you're right, things seems to enter slow mo when you're about to fall off. I want to say I have a pretty good reaction on a spill event, but I agree that practice will make perfect.
I've seen some of the commentaries on the AI boards, harness seems to be the way to go. 'gonna try the surf leash thing as an insurance.
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Practice falling out so it doesn't happen
I think you're right, things seems to enter slow mo when you're about to fall off.
Always seemed to happen pretty quickly for me...Just sayin'
bushy
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I can picture a separation situation where you would quickly and irrecoverably lose contact with your kayak. Anchored in current is one. Strong, unexpected and sustained wind blow is another.
A strong unexpected gust happened to an NWKA guy a few years back, you could see the wind whipping up the water as it blew toward his position. When it hit, he huli'd into the cold water. Watch the first few seconds of this video to see how fast it happens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P3T64I3WEE
He didn't get separated, but I could easily see it happening.
As for tethering to the kayak, I think that opens up a whole bunch of other concerns. If I did tether, I'd want it to be at the waist with a harness. You don't want it on your ankle with the potential to get pulled under and not have any good way to reach the line to cut it. I'd rather be separated from my kayak in that instance. I don't tether and have no plans to start.
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I think you're right, things seems to enter slow mo when you're about to fall off. I want to say I have a pretty good reaction on a spill event, but I agree that practice will make perfect.
I've seen some of the commentaries on the AI boards, harness seems to be the way to go. 'gonna try the surf leash thing as an insurance.
You're on a Raptor,, you won't fall off.
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I think you're right, things seems to enter slow mo when you're about to fall off. I want to say I have a pretty good reaction on a spill event, but I agree that practice will make perfect.
I've seen some of the commentaries on the AI boards, harness seems to be the way to go. 'gonna try the surf leash thing as an insurance.
You're on a Raptor,, you won't fall off.
Accelerate too fast and he could somersault off the back!
Make sure you have it trimmed properly to get up on a plane.
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My only real concern with this is when (solo) anchored out in big water far from shore with fast current. IE anchored a mile plus offshore in Suisun Bay. Current there is way faster than I can swim, with or without PFD (always worn). I've thought about tethering but never done it. Figured in that circumstance it would be a really ugly day but with wetsuit and PFD I'd get to shore safely, it would just be a long ass float/swim. Anytime I've gone over (never in moving water tho) seems like an arm immediately lashes out and grabs the yak.
Maybe I should set up an auto QRAS release, maybe just tether a light line to pop the release.
Wind would be a big deal too if you reacted too slow.
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If I rig up a motor, I'm going to add a kill switch like you find on a jetski.
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I think you're right, things seems to enter slow mo when you're about to fall off. I want to say I have a pretty good reaction on a spill event, but I agree that practice will make perfect.
I've seen some of the commentaries on the AI boards, harness seems to be the way to go. 'gonna try the surf leash thing as an insurance.
You're on a Raptor,, you won't fall off.
Jim, I actually feel really really good about being on the Raptor. But I worry about everything, at least I'd like to get this answered to some degree. 'gonna tether to top of PFD or waist and will test high speed. The surf leash should be good for on/off. Tether is only on high speed, off otherwise. You never know, that's the same reason why we buy insurance. I can't discount stupidity as well ... for example, I may decide to surf standing up :smt005
I also thought about grabbing the paddle, but my paddle is tucked in into a bungee paddle holder, may not come off easily.
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If I rig up a motor, I'm going to add a kill switch like you find on a jetski.
Yup, I got the kill switch covered, it's the slide that I worry about. Thx!
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I can picture a separation situation where you would quickly and irrecoverably lose contact with your kayak. Anchored in current is one. Strong, unexpected and sustained wind blow is another.
A strong unexpected gust happened to an NWKA guy a few years back, you could see the wind whipping up the water as it blew toward his position. When it hit, he huli'd into the cold water. Watch the first few seconds of this video to see how fast it happens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P3T64I3WEE
He didn't get separated, but I could easily see it happening.
That's a guy who didn't practice self rescue.
He took WAY too long to get back on then needed help doing so.
Gather and fix your shit later. Get back on first and foremost.
If you practice regularly you will learn your tipping point too and avoid that mistake more often than not.
Pretty freaking simple~ PRACTICE!
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Also- Carry your waterproof vhf radio on your PFD, which you are always wearing. If the yak gets away, you can still call for help.
Bushy
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Looks to me like those new style seats create a center of gravity that enhances one's "opportunity" to flip over. I think I'll stick to the sore ass scenario rather than the flip.
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In 12+ years of fishing at least once a week I think I might have fallen off my Prowler 15 once, but since I don't recall the details, I think maybe I never have, except when practicing -and it's hard to get it to go over.
But I almost never fish outside of Monterey/Carmel Bays, and I don't enjoy fishing in windy, rough conditions, so I watch the weather/wave reports pretty carefully, and have the privilege of fishing on weekdays if I wish, so I have a lot less pressure to go out in poor conditions. And I try to head in before it's absolutely mandatory, to give myself a little slack in case I get delayed getting in.
I suppose if you were on the open ocean where the wind could come up suddenly it would be a different story. The swell shouldn't surprise you, with all the swell predicting websites,and if you look at a chart and FF now and then to stay away from shallow water, or move away if you see a breaking wave you didn't anticipate.
I agree that the fewer tethers/ropes/stringers the better in case of capsize, and keep a knife on your vest that you can use with one hand in case you do get tangled
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Anyone remember Albion a few years back,? Windy,, nasty, about 5 people rolled that day. Dan ( Headwaters) was surfing in that stealth kayak, stopped to take this photo.
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I need to win that yak at the Tillamook event. It looks like there may be some Loose Screws making the trip.
Martin
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I need to win that yak at the Tillamook event. It looks like there may be some Loose Screws making the trip.
Martin
Cool !!! It's gonna be awesome !
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'tried my motor today. The short story is, 'dont think you should worry about a high speed slide if you worry about battery usage :smt044 I did bring that surf leash just in case .... :-)
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I took a few spills in a Wilderness systems Tarpon 140. Gust were 60-80 with a constant 35mph wind.
The kayak never got far from. I did ended up needing a rescue because I couldn't stay on it due to waves and wind.
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That's a guy who didn't practice self rescue.
He took WAY too long to get back on then needed help doing so.
Gather and fix your shit later. Get back on first and foremost.
If you practice regularly you will learn your tipping point too and avoid that mistake more often than not.
Pretty freaking simple~ PRACTICE!
The front of that video was trimmed-off so you wouldn't know that he knows how to do a self-rescue as well as anyone, but was using a boat loaned to him for a test ride, one he'd never been on before this was filmed.
Nonetheless, you're points are well made. Practice, practice, practice.
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I took a few spills in a Wilderness systems Tarpon 140. Gust were 60-80 with a constant 35mph wind.
The kayak never got far from. I did ended up needing a rescue because I couldn't stay on it due to waves and wind.
This I find hard to believe.
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I took a few spills in a Wilderness systems Tarpon 140. Gust were 60-80 with a constant 35mph wind.
The kayak never got far from. I did ended up needing a rescue because I couldn't stay on it due to waves and wind.
This I find hard to believe.
^
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I took a few spills in a Wilderness systems Tarpon 140. Gust were 60-80 with a constant 35mph wind.
The kayak never got far from. I did ended up needing a rescue because I couldn't stay on it due to waves and wind.
This I find hard to believe.
^^
That's a pretty serious storm. It wouldn't just pop up out of nowhere. If it is true, you need to learn how to read a weather report.
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I took a few spills in a Wilderness systems Tarpon 140. Gust were 60-80 with a constant 35mph wind.
The kayak never got far from. I did ended up needing a rescue because I couldn't stay on it due to waves and wind.
Those are Chuck Norris kayak conditions, are you guys related?
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I took a few spills in a Wilderness systems Tarpon 140. Gust were 60-80 with a constant 35mph wind.
The kayak never got far from. I did ended up needing a rescue because I couldn't stay on it due to waves and wind.
Those are Chuck Norris kayak conditions, are you guys related?
:smt044