AI Hall of Shame - Lessons Learned

Glad you guys made it home safe!
 Cramping is a bad thing while paddling or peddling out on the water especially in the wind. I had my share of cramps out on the water and its no fun not to mentioning the pain.

Good to know you all made it back.

Glad your safe and great pointers...

  thanks for the chuckle with #2.... 

 

2.   Register your AI so you could use your sail even though the coast guard is just yards away watching you.

I really hated registering the AI, but there ya go... gotta do it... 

Second most important piece of safety gear on my boat is the anchor. Specifically for those times I'm being swept a) out the gate, b) onto the rocks, c) into second place.

If you're cramping up, couldn't one drop the anchor until either the current subsided (never more than 3 hours), or the legs recover???

Second most important piece of safety gear on my boat is the anchor. Specifically for those times I'm being swept a) out the gate, b) onto the rocks, c) into second place.

If you're cramping up, couldn't one drop the anchor until either the current subsided (never more than 3 hours), or the legs recover???

I think an anchor gets more people into trouble than out of trouble, especially in bad conditions.

Second most important piece of safety gear on my boat is the anchor. Specifically for those times I'm being swept a) out the gate, b) onto the rocks, c) into second place.

If you're cramping up, couldn't one drop the anchor until either the current subsided (never more than 3 hours), or the legs recover???

You are absolutley right about that.

Happens to the best of us, AI or no AI. It's good to share our Hall of Shame experiences so that these things are less likely to happen to others. It's what makes NCKA a community.

My H of S, with the brothers Sin Coast, BMB and Alien backing me up.

Kuya Rey -

Sorry about inventing the AI Hal of Shame and hope I never get inducted.  The AI has towed 5 kayaks for every time an AI needed help. I posted this on our HMB regatta. http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=42519.0

Hobies have a lot of mechanical complexity and the AI kicks it up even more. The more complexity, the greater the chance of mechanical failure. The amas and mast create more wind resistance so more difficult to peddle/paddle into the wind. So here are some things you can do when peddling into a headwind:
1. Take the mast down
2. Fold the amas in
3. Paddle and peddle, yes you can do this at the same time.
4. If you have a net, lay it down
5. Take a zig-zag pattern so the wind is quartering not straight head on

Some other general safety tips:
1. Check your equipment (paddle, mirage drive, rudder, sail) before each outing
2. Never sail farther than you can peddle/paddle
3. Always have a tow rope
4. Always have a buddy
5. Exercise every day, paddle/peddle once a week year round

The AI is my go to boat for really bad ocean conditions but don't let it's sea-worthiness make you think that you can do more than a SOT paddle yak. If the the mirage drive, rudder or sail breaks you may find yourself in a situation where you have to paddle back to the launch. Mentally go through the broken drive, paddle, sail and rudder scenarios and know how you are going to respond. Good judgement, preparation, and physical conditioning go a long way to staying out of trouble. These thoughts are not criticism but provided as food for thought. Glad things worked out well for all those who needed assistance, you had a lot of company.

Scott

Scott

Thanks for all the good points and tips that we all might need someday.   I really doubt we would ever see you added to the list.   

Rey

Kuya, thanks for sharing your experience. Glad your OK

How many of us have found ourselves in that 'Yipes!, I'm in over my head' moment?
That is the time to take what time you have (sometimes about 2 seconds) to access, and make the safe decisions.
1)Is there a place nearby out of the wind/current?
2) Is ANYONE nearby that can help?
3) What safety equipment do I have with me?
4) Is this boat going to save my life or end it?
5) ...

Keep in mind:
Any situation you make it back from... Is a learning experience...


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Glad you 're okay Rey. Even as a long distance cyclist I too can cramp up after a hard day of pedding/paddling; and I carry tons of water and gatorade on board for that reason.

Thanks for the advice and I was wondering were you once with the 129th ARW

Glad you 're okay Rey. Even as a long distance cyclist I too can cramp up after a hard day of pedding/paddling; and I carry tons of water and gatorade on board for that reason.

Thanks for the advice and I was wondering were you once with the 129th ARW

Yeah, gatorade is now going to be in my list of must carry items.  I served but I was with the 14th Engineering Combat Battalion at Ft. Ord during the Vietnam era.  Yeah, I'm that old.   

Rey

Glad things worked out Rey.

I've cramped up a few times on the pedals and your experience sheds new light on the risk in challenging conditions. It's one thing that happening on a lake. You'll survive to the other shore.  It's  a whole different game in the ocean.