First surf launch

I decided that today would be a good day to hit Moro Bay for a spell.  Got into town at about 11:00 and looked at the bay, so flat and featureless to a freshwater guy...so I thought I'd head over to Montana De Oro.  From the top of the hill the swells looked pretty bad, but they always do on the outside of the spit, so I kept going.  at the beach near the headquarters I watched the surf for a while before deciding that it was possible. 
After putting minimal gear in the boat I went down to waters edge and watched some more, looked like the waves were coming in long sets starting big (3 foot breakers) and tapering off in about 5 min intervals.  When I thought the time was right I drug the boat out hopped in and began paddling, quite pleased with myself....

I've had the Pungo for about 2 months now and have spent plenty of time in it on rivers and lakes, even in Half Moon Bay when the swells were NUTS.  I have taken it up to Bass Lake and played with the wakes maybe by PB'ers and feel fairly comfortable in lots of situations.  Still, I thought this morning that I should take the wife's new Tarpon, but decided against it...I would take MY boat damnit and learn some new tricks while I was at it!

...the all the water under me was sucked out and I hit the sand with the nose of the boat a foot from a 3+ foot tall wall of froth...knowing the outcome , but hoping I could pull it off, I braced and muttered some clever last words just in time for my mouth and boat to fill with saltwater and sand.  The first breaker was OK, I was still pointed out to see and fairly upright.  the outwash on the other hand spun me about 45 degrees and tipped me a bit to the left, just in time for the second breaker to form with me in the middle, and the third and fourth, and fifth...

After recovering from the spin cycle (theres a great story involving spin cycle and arms, but another time), I dumped most of the water out of the boat and gave it another try, with similar results.  Following the definition of insanity I tried to launch a total of four times, I was not going to let all those gawkers enjoy the sight of utter failure and defeat...

In the end, I drug my sopping wet a$$ back up the beach with little dignity and one less tackle box, changed into dry clothes and packed up.  On my way out of Moro, I stopped by the kayak shop and looked at the Cobra Fish and Dive...nice looking boat, and maybe my next....

Got home to find a request for a resume in SACTO by Monday morning, so I wont be making it to the Moss tournament, but then again, maybe I should get a more seaworthy boat and skills before taking that one on...
Jim

 These kind of post are gems for us less experienced. Thanks for having the Balls to tell all. a lesser man would not have. Keep on launchin!!! Good luck w/the Job and if you do move to Sac it's closer to my neck of the woods (Chico). I have no one up here (that I know of)to hook up with. It would be great to explore and caravan with you. Randall

I cannot even imagine launching through the surf in a sit-inside kayak. That thing must weigh close to 800 lbs. when it completely fills with water.
I woluld also worry about getting trapped inside while being tossed about in the surf.
On steep surf days I have swam my kayak past the breakers then hopped on. Of course there were not a series of breakers either.
I know how exhausting it can be to be creamed over and over in the surf. Being able to stow everything below sure does make a difference too.
Next time take the wifes Tarpon. You will be able to get on faster and get up to speed sooner to break through the surf too.

the Pungo is a sweet little boat--for lakes or slow mild rivers. But it was not desinged from rougher water or the ocean. Experts don't recommend taking a closed deck through surf unless you have a spray deck--especially not a large cockput 'rec boat' instead of a 'keyhole' cockpit sea kayak. true sea kayaks seal up so no water gets in and one can roll them back up without wet-exiting.Tote is right--water weighs around 8 pounds a gallon and that Pungo will get really heavy fast--it could seriously hurt you in the surf. While some people in the far North use closed-deck sea kayaks for fishing, you need very good boat hadling skills to stay up right and storage space is limited and inconvenient. Get an open deck boat for bay and ocean fishing--when the weather and seas turn rough--its dangerous to be in the wrong kind of boat--very dangerous when SF Bay or the ocean kicks up while you are out there.Your wife's Tarpon is a fine boat--I assume its a 120 which is  good size for lakes and short distance ocean. But a longer 14-foot boat is better for all around use if you want to have one boat to use anywhere. Prowler 15, Cobra Marauder, Tarpon 140i--all are great open ocean boats.

Consider coming tothe SF Bay Area Paddlefest at Coyote Point Sep 30-Oct 1 to try out boats. Sat morning is a fish derby and NCKA will have a booth there and there will be clinics. Bill has posted details on this web site. Bring the wife, try out a lot of boats, learn for experienced kayakers and anglers.

yeah, it was a ton when full of water    live and learn tho...
The wifes tarpon is a 140, but she hasn't let me paddle it yet...
I'll try to make it to the paddlefest
hopefully well be in sac be the end of the yaer...then there will be lots more fishing to do 

Jim

Hey Jim, Thanks for sharing your experience. Pungos are great yaks for flat waters not the surf. Recreation kayaks like the Pongo once filled with water ,can weigh several times more than what they did when they were empty. Glad to hear you got a Tarpon 140. A little slower than I like but everything else is there.
Paddle safe Jim.

Jim,
Thanks for the post I appreciate your enthusiasm. I have been itching to surf launch however, being a newby myself I am on the list with scallen to show me the ropes. At my age a few bucks to a guide is better than what I think or thought I could do without being shown.Better safe than sorry I guess comes with time in the pressure cooker on or off the surf. Best wishes on your new venture in the Sacramento area. Frankfishing

A well designed closed deck sea kayak is capable of launching/landing in surf that 99% of SOTS are nowhere near being able to handle. Don't nail the launch/landing, and SITE (Sand In The Ear) launch/landing enters a whole new realm of possibilities. Abrasions, dislocations and fractures, oh my!

I suggest that Port San Luis would be a better spot for your first attempts at surf aunching and landing.

But otherwise, way to cowboy up !

Scott

The  fish n'dive is a great yak but I would not recommend it for landings  in rough tides or mixed swell days.
As JTF  can attest, I got slammed by a mixed swell wave towering  8ft this Sunday when landing at Bean Hollow. I had paddled into the  cove after JTF and Ben and while they made it to the shore okay, I was struggling to get my FnD to the shore as fast as I could.  I looked back and saw the huge wave almost on top of me. I braced myself and was pitched up and thrown pretty hard. Thankfully, I didnt get slammed by the yak but it was a bit disorienting in the water  not knowing which way was up. I got slammed 2 more times with following waves before I was able to crawl out.
Never use a Fnd in rough water or in mixed swells.
That said, I look forward to the next time I head out. With milder tides of course.