Ready for a maiden voyage on Saturday

Finally!  The winter obligations are slacking off and I'm ready to splash the Outback for an inagural voyage on this coming Saturday (29th) of March.  The boat has been sitting in the slings with me too busy to launch it since late January.  I'm ready for river, lake, bay or ocean, if anyone is game to put up with a rookie tagging along.  I've spent time on all of those using various sorts of craft, so I'm not totally new to the concept.  I live in Mill Valley and don't mind driving a bit if necessary.

 - Stu

Have you been out on your boat at all yet, Stu?  Any experience on a kayak?

You should probably do some time on some flat water to get acquainted with your boat and how your body feels aboard it. 

Are you all geared up with safety equipment?  A good PFD, VHF, GPS, flotation, compass, flares, bilge pump, wetsuit?...

It's a nice looking boat.  Have fun and be safe.   

Eric

Forecast for Saturday (3/29) looks promising , but is still early.
calling for 5kt wind swells at 1 foot. Pretty easy even for a newby.
I think I will try to go out of Santa Cruz Harbor, and try my luck at Habibut again.
Gotta get some supplies and tie up some rigs that scallen showed me.

I will keep you posted, but if you have all the gear (safety) I don't see why we can't go out at least to the mile buoy and try our luck.

I had a mishap at home the other nite, nearly killed myself with some nasty drain cleaner, but I seem to be recovering (note to self, don't mix brands, and always have good ventilation) problem solved and I am starting to breathe normally again.

Stoggie

  I hope to meet you and your Outback if you make it to the Mid-April NCKA gathering at Van Damme.  Let me know whenever you're in the Mendocino area.  I'm a kayaking newbie, but have all the safety equipment.  Have you practiced your self rescues yet?  Go with a friend and it can be fun.  The wide Hobbies are tricky to flip upright once overturned.  You can get leverage by grabbing the fins, but if the fins are not installed (like when going through seaweed) then it can be really tricky, but self rescue practice is really mandatory for health and safety.  Have a good maiden voyage!  Do you smash a mini-bottle of champaign on the bow? 

Have you been out on your boat at all yet, Stu?  Any experience on a kayak?

You should probably do some time on some flat water to get acquainted with your boat and how your body feels aboard it. 

Are you all geared up with safety equipment?  A good PFD, VHF, GPS, flotation, compass, flares, bilge pump, wetsuit?...

It's a nice looking boat.  Have fun and be safe.   

Eric

Hi Guys:

Thanks for the responses.  It's hard getting started when you don't know anyone so I really appreciate it.   I'm generally fit and have been through self rescue drills both with a sit-in and sit on top craft, though not on this one since I haven't launched it yet.  My intent is definitely to launch in relatively mild conditions the first few times.

Here is me as far as kayaking equipment, water, and fishing experience goes.  Hopefully this will be a match for someone.

Boat Equipment:
------------------------

I have not gone overboard  on purchasing equipment or installing mounts because I have wanted to physically see what others have done but here's my list so far:

•   PFD - a Stohlquist Fisherman in High-Vis Yellow
•   Safety kit: Consists of stuff I’ve used in my personal kit when I go offshore racing:  3 Orion Skyblazer flares, a whistle, and an ACR Firefly Plus strobe and flashlight combo (rated for 10 hours strobe, 2 hours flashlight). I’ve added a mini air-horn for the kayak.
•   Ritchie Kayak compass and a front hatch tie down kit (I'd prefer to start that way and mount later if I decide I want to)
•   VHS radio (floating submersible model by Icom)
•   Drift anchor
•   Standard Anchor
•   Bilge Pump
•   Plug-in type of rod holders.  I have a scotty flyrod holder that I will install once I have a good feel for where I want it to be.
•   I haven't set up my anchor trolley system yet, though I have the hardware.
•   …Nor have I purchased a GPS.  I'm still evaluating the various units and am positive that I’m going to get a GPS/Sonar combination.  I'm leaning towards a Humminbird 797c2i SI with incorporated Navionics Gold Mapset, but it seems that with the side imaging the transducer needs to be external, and I want to see what other people do about that before I take the plunge.  I've purchased the components to make a battery dry box as I have seen on this and other forums - I just need to make the selection of the unit and install it.  It's an expensive decision and I want to make it just once.


For Outerwear:
-----------------
•   5mm O’Neil wetsuit.  I got this for using to swim out to rocks and fish for stripers.  It’s a one piece and not a 2 piece, but it will do for now.  I'd rather see what people like to use before I throw any money in that direction, or if I would prefer a dry suit, or if both are required.
•   Henri Lloyd Semi-dry top
•   Oceanic dive booties
•   Lots of artificial under layer type of stuff
•   Many different sets of foul weather gear
•   All the waterproof sunscreen and hat stuff



Water Experience:
---------------------

•   I've raced offshore in sailboats in a few oceans and helped build a few.  I've also spent time out on the Trapeze wire on small dinghys like 505's, etc..  After doing that for 20+ years I retired 2 years ago and am looking forward to enjoying other aspects of boating, like kayaking.
•   I've participated in several safety certification courses (required in order to be racing crew in offshore events)
•   I’ve been involved in some rescues and dealt with boating disasters including dis-mastings, keels snapping off, and transoms being snapped upwards by the running backstays, and had to jury-rig same to get in to shore.
•   I used to race outrigger canoes in regatta and long-distance formats in Kona Hawaii, and used what we called "surf ski's" (I'm sure that's an old-school name now) for wave riding.
•   As far as outright Kayaking or similar experience:    In 1995 I went salmon fishing in tandem kayaks out of Bolinas and actually caught one!  I have kayaked recreationally on some trips like the Abel Tasman in New Zealand.   One of the sailing teams I was on had kayaking in the Hurakai gulf every two weeks as a cross training conditioning exercise for the two years we were down in New Zealand.  I also spent 5 days kayaking down the Salmon river in a sit-on top inflatable 2 summers ago and managed to stay upright except when I wanted to get wet. 
•   I can scuba and free dive.  At one point in the distant past I used to certify people to become NAUI scuba instructors, but that was a long time ago...
•   Surfed when my back was better equipped to do that - about 30 years ago.
•   Navigation isn’t my strongest suit, but I’ve done around a dozen coastal transports – most of them years ago, as well as some on the East coast and in the Med.   I'm looking forward to using a sophisticated GPS unit and getting to know all of the great coastal areas in NorCal.

Fishing Experience:
----------------------

I like almost any kind of fishing, though I prefer fishing close to the shoreline.  That being said, I generally have done the following in this state:

•   Flyfish for trout and stripers.
•   Spincast for stripers - mostly with larger surface plugs - and surf perch.
•   I haven't spent much time bait fishing but with the advent of circle hooks believe that I'll do a bit more, so I bought a Hobie bait well.
•   I practice catch and release much of the time but do keep fish to eat.  I set a personal punch card of about 10 stripers per year -  I like to keep them between 12 - 17 lbs or so, and release anything above or below that size.
•   I'm looking forward to learn about catching Halibut and rock fish, ling cod, etc – hopefully on a fly rod as well as with spin gear.  I have 8 - 12 wt rods with float and sink tips.

Will be at Dell Valle on Saturday, company welcome.

scott

Uuuhhhhhhh, Stu...you are already waay ahead of the curve bro!
Sounds like the only thing you really need to do is get that thing wet and catch some fish. And good idea about waiting to install the rod holders. It is very wise to paddle the boat first, and then decide where to mount them.
And I also agree that it is difficult to get motivated when paddling solo. It definitely helps to have some kayak-fishing friends. I'm confident you'll meet some great folks here.
Now go catch some fish!
(-;
PK

Will be at Dell Valle on Saturday, company welcome.

scott

Hey GB2, what's your target, or just going for the DV potluck/grand slam?

Will be at Dell Valle on Saturday, company welcome.

scott

Hey GB2, what's your target, or just going for the DV potluck/grand slam?

Martin - Going for trout till 11AM, then stripers, bass and crappie.

PK - I will be picking up a couple dozen jumbo minnows on friday so bring some live bait hooks and 1/2 oz egg sinkers and we can split them up when you arrive. Will be on 69.

Scott

Hey Scott we still on for Del Valle this Saturday.

Pat R

Scott, I'm going to Anderson on Sat. DV is an all-day affair for me (long drive) and I don't have the WAF for an all-day trip right now.

Good luck though. And good luck to Stu too! Hope your maiden voyage is a successful one!
PK

EDIT: There is a huge bass tourney at Anderson on Sat. So we definitely will not be fishing there. Probably fishing Coyote instead.