How NOT to make a surf landing..

enough about thigh straps. i worry about all those leashes i see on kayaks. paddle-leash,stringer-leash,pole-leashes,anchor/drift-chute line,painter-line. seems to me that if a guy got into trouble,all those leashes and lines could be a problem. i only use one leash.its for my paddle.i have also lost one pole because it wasnt leashed.

I enjoy "creative" surf landings and hope to do it again asap.   Getting dumped is part of the fun, especially with folks watching. 

Enjoy creative surf landings and hope to do it again asap.

Amen to that! I remember doing a stearn first landing during the HMB Kayak Surf lessons and it was not really something that the instructors wanted to teach...maybe because it was not acknowleged by the ACA...I don't know for sure. But I did land the kayak succesfully - repeatedly. In fact, I found it a lot easier to do because the beach break was similar to Linda Mar (where I first learned from the local kayak fishermen). I do admit that this type of landing is not for all typed of beaches - like Bean Hollow or Limeklin. But it's possible to apply once you have figured out how a particular beach breaks.

IF anyone wants to practice this type of landing, send me a PM and I'd gladly pass on what I've learned.

Oh, and if you feel the need for knee straps bring 'em if you want. I never used 'em and may never will cause I know I can do without 'em.  To each his own 

IF anyone wants to practice this type of landing, send me a PM and I'd gladly pass on what I've learned.

I would love to take you up on this Mooch. As I said before, my launch/landing experience is practically zilch so I would jump at the opportunity to learn a few things from a veteran.

FF

I'm just happy no one has ever filmed one of my surf landings......

Allen

I never used 'em and may never will cause I know I can do without 'em.  To each his own 

And you'll never use a sit inside kayak either. Because you know you'll get stuck inside when you capsize

I use thigh straps with my surf boat, I can't imaging paddling it without them. I tried them on my larger fishing SOT and didn't really like them, it seemed that every time I brought my lure up to the boat it would get hung up on one of the straps. Next time I take the tarpon out I'll paddle it with the straps and give them another try. Scott is right on about the leaning, its a whole new world of kayak control & steerage. Maybe the rarity of leg strap usage is due to the majority of SOT's being substantially wider than SIK's & not as responsive to leaned turns???IDK.
My take on surf landings is that one MUST practice a little before loading your boat up & going out to fish. You should know yourself & your boat well before attempting anything beyond just paddling, especially in exposed water. However, I also I think every person who purchases a kayak should take at least a basic paddling class with practice rescues (not just the "paddle float" but assisted rescues as well, and not just a verbal going over but actual participation-Ya gotta get wet to learn 'em). That's just how I roll.
I also endorse playing around in the boat. Dress for immersion & try out a bunch of silly things in a safe water environment. Try to stand up on your boat. Try to rescue yourself without losing your paddle, and without a float or other assist. Swamp your boat (you do have backup flotation, right?) and have a short race with your friends. Do the same in an empty boat but without using a paddle, only your hands....I could go on & on.
I like the surf launches & recoveries, & still learn things today.

I use thigh straps with my surf boat, I can't imaging paddling it without them. I tried them on my larger fishing SOT and didn't really like them, it seemed that every time I brought my lure up to the boat it would get hung up on one of the straps.

Ummm ... store them away after you get through the surf zone?

-Allen

Ummm ... store them away after you get through the surf zone?

eh, frankly it seems like just more junk to have to mess with OTW. I haven't used them seriously on a fishing SOT & haven't had problems with surf landings because of it yet (don't ask about the 1' sneaker waves tho). I think I'll paddle a bit this weekend & see how much difference they make on my tarpon SOT. The straps I have are the cushy padded ones, maybe they are more prone to snags than the straight web type? I'll have to do more "research"

You can see that the straps on my Scupper are sort of mid-range, in that they are padded, but not all that much. I can honestly say that I don't remember ever having an issue with snagging, and I use the boat for both rockfish as well as bass fishing in freshwater. A crankbait with dual trebles is a snag magnet.

One thing that I do though, is when I'm not actively using the straps while underway, is to tighten them up all the way, so that they are not flopping loose. They are attached directly to the padeyes, no clips, so they stay on 100% of the time.

Scott

IF anyone wants to practice this type of landing, send me a PM and I'd gladly pass on what I've learned.

I would love to take you up on this Mooch. As I said before, my launch/landing experience is practically zilch so I would jump at the opportunity to learn a few things from a veteran.

FF

FF, I'll be in touch.

IF anyone wants to practice this type of landing, send me a PM and I'd gladly pass on what I've learned.

I would love to take you up on this Mooch. As I said before, my launch/landing experience is practically zilch so I would jump at the opportunity to learn a few things from a veteran.
FF

FF, I'll be in touch.

Yeah, I need some practice too... Only surf launched at bean hollow twice (in one day) before the conditions were unbearable.  Ate it both times coming in  but brought no tackle or equipment to loose.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,8105.msg71367.html#msg71367

But I plan on practicing a lot more this year.  LM sounds like a good place to practice in the surf.  Want to work my way back up to Bean Hollow  

Mooch, if your doing any classes, I am there!