Caught in Storm: Safety Tips

This kayaker in Florida gets into a whole heap of trouble when he stupidly goes out in rough conditions that get a whole lot rougher. Really exposes some flaws in his safety protocols, actions/inactions and gear that we can all learn from. Lots of useful comments in the comments section.

One thing several people mention is that inflatable PFDs suck and shouldn't be used. Being that I use one (that has never had to inflate), that's a little concerning. I'm going to take it and myself to the quiet river and flip and see what happens with it. When I previously practiced flipping and flipping-back on the river I didn't wear it. Thoughts on the inflatable (I use an Onyx auto-inflating one)?

Assuming the inflatables don't have much pockets or solid practical attachment points... Gotta have pockets.

Radio, knife, whistle, beacon device, etc. In the event of unexpected medical incapacitations or kayak separation, some items may be good to have readily available on person. Last meal favorite donut, Bible.

Looks like perfect conditions for an AI!

Lots to learn from this video.

Positive:
Be able to self rescue, many times if necessary.

Negative:
Don’t go out in conditions you can’t handle.
Radio should be hard tied to your PFD, and/or you should carry a spare.
I agree on the other safety items that should be in your PFD: I carry a knife, whistle, satellite beacon, and a small strobe.
If it is getting at all sporty, your gear should be secured so it won’t tangle you if you flip.
A lot of modern fishing kayaks have really high seating positions that are unstable when it gets rough. Lower your seat, pick a different kayak, practice your skills, or avoid rough conditions.
He might have benefited from pushing one pedal forward to keep the Mirage fins flat against the hull when he started to go sideways. With them straight down, they cause the kayak to flip if it gets pushed sideways.
Personally, I’d only use a solid foam PFD when kayaking.
I don’t know what his landing options were, but if you can’t handle the waves hitting you at an angle, you might be able to head straight down wind to a different landing site, or if the squall is going to pass quickly even point your nose into the waves and ride it out for a bit.

Who wears regular shoes on a kayak?

He sat straight beam-to the waves/chop.  If he had quartered the slop, he probably wouldn't have capsized.  Sure, that puts him not 100% on his desired course, but he could "tack" back and forth so as to make forward progress without sitting beam-to the weather.

Also, agree with others - foam PFD with radio hard-tied is the way to go for sure. 

He did a lot wrong but honestly I think this highlights that the typical pedal fishing kayak, while having good primary stability, has poor secondary stability in actual conditions. Maybe even more important is that without a paddle, it is like riding a unicycle versus a tricycle. Even without bracing, paddling and maintaining constant contact with the water is basically having an outrigger deployed at all times.

Well, it was an "extreme kayak fishing tournament", so I guess it lived up to its name

I think he would have done better if he didn't keep on flipping over 

I wonder if those Lynx's are more likely to flip because they ride higher on the water? Assuming so, then that would be a double whammy of already bad conditions, and then a kayak that is not well suited to those conditions.

He wasn't wearing a wetsuit either, which I think is a key piece of safety equipment, both for maintaining body temp and flotation. I always wear one in the ocean or if I think things could get a bit gnarly.

He didn't  have the toe straps on his pedals, which can help with power and stability. And it seemed like he was taking somewhat short strokes.

He did a lot wrong but honestly I think this highlights that the typical pedal fishing kayak, while having good primary stability, has poor secondary stability in actual conditions. Maybe even more important is that without a paddle, it is like riding a unicycle versus a tricycle. Even without bracing, paddling and maintaining constant contact with the water is basically having an outrigger deployed at all times.

I don't see how this was a pedal-kayak issue. He was on a Lynx, which is shaped more like a SUP than a traditional kayak--great primary stability, and 0 secondary stability.

I commented on this video online elsewhere.
As a Lynx owner I can attest that it has some of the best primary stability, but zero secondary. When it starts to go, it just goes. (Mabel deciding to jump off in the direction of the lean may increase this tendency.) My Outback, while tilting more with Mabel bouncing around, seems to have a bit more secondary stability.
But none or these sit-on tops have the great secondary stability allowing you to do a nice 45 degree side brace that a sit-in sea kayak does.

I commented on this video online elsewhere.
As a Lynx owner I can attest that it has some of the best primary stability, but zero secondary. When it starts to go, it just goes. (Mabel deciding to jump off in the direction of the lean may increase this tendency.) My Outback, while tilting more with Mabel bouncing around, seems to have a bit more secondary stability.
But none or these sit-on tops have the great secondary stability allowing you to do a nice 45 degree side brace that a sit-in sea kayak does.

Perhaps the lynx isn't meant for in super windy situation that's why the guy flipped multiple times. Although I've never seen anyone tried this with the i11s in same condition to see if it'll act the same since they're be similar in weight. I had a hard time car-topping the i14 in windy condition before. One time it blew me in circles 

I think he chose the wrong kakay for the condition.  I saw in his video background that when a boat went by, another kayak was cruising without any difficulty.

Paul

He did a lot wrong but honestly I think this highlights that the typical pedal fishing kayak, while having good primary stability, has poor secondary stability in actual conditions. Maybe even more important is that without a paddle, it is like riding a unicycle versus a tricycle. Even without bracing, paddling and maintaining constant contact with the water is basically having an outrigger deployed at all times.

I don't see how this was a pedal-kayak issue. He was on a Lynx, which is shaped more like a SUP than a traditional kayak--great primary stability, and 0 secondary stability.

Yeah probably another pedal kayak wouldn't have had an issue in these conditions (which weren't too horrible although waves are flattened on action cams). But just speaking generally and not even considering sea kayak vs SOT as a factor, I think a paddle alone as an element of stabilty is underrated by kayak anglers. In more serious conditions I can't imagine losing the ability to feel and respond to the water with my own two hands, projecting force wherever I need to and not just in a forward vector underneath the kayak.

For the conditions that most people fish in though, this doesn't matter too much.