The Ditch Scenario

The ditch scenario is one of several “worse case scenarios” worth preparing for. Having to ditch your kayak can occur for several reasons both controlled and uncontrolled. A controlled ditch can occur if the weather turns bad and you have to make land before you make it back to your launch site or you ditch at sea because your kayak sinks. An uncontrolled ditch can occur when capsizing in strong current and you are quickly separated from your boat. In an uncontrolled ditch, you may not have time to get to your ditch bag unless it is attached to you so you will want to have some important equipment on your PFD. My ditch bag is attached to the back of my seat and very easy to get to. Here is what I bring with me…

On my PFD:
•   VHF radio in a dry bag
•   EPIRB
•   Whistle
•   Signal mirror
•   Flares
•   Knife

In my Ditch Bag:
•   Water bottle
•   Granola bars
•   First aid kit
•   Emergency blanket
•   Lighter
•   Compass
•   Flashlight
•   Wallet and keys
•   Cell phone

Thanks Scott, while I'm more prepared than ever, I'll probably make some additions or do some rearranging of stuff after looking at your lists.

good post. A ditch bag is something alot of people overlook in their preperations

I agree,thanks Scott I made up my ditch kit tonight and put it behind my seat.Great idea.

I need a PFD that can hold more...

There are also times where you may wish to ditch when landing, so as to avoid a hard landing or keeping your kayak from capsizing.  Though I've not done it myself, I have seen others bail out early to avoid riding their kayaks in on a large wave that they think will cause them to have a yard sale on the beach.

Something else I always carry in my ditch bag is a roll of black tape an some strong zip ties

You might have to ditch the yak with all that stuff you carry.

Under what circumstances would you be ditching your yak?

Kayaks sink.  They become like ice bergs with 10% of the bow above water and the rest below.  You could barely rest and get a gulp of fresh air if you bear hugged it. 
Everyone should have a bilge pump on deck. (Not in the hatch, in a bag, at the bow but right behind the kayak seat.)
Stuffing a kayak with pool noodles is smart.
I love a fully charged, water proven VHF radio locked to my vest on a carribeaner with a dive knife, chapstick in the pocket and six feet of bowline that should be in everyone's bag regardlessly.
Understand this too....  Look out for guys afraid to ask for help.  People get embarrased on the water and the machismo runs thick with watermen.
"I'm good bro."   Is a plea for "Stay right here until a boat comes by. Keep fishing, but keep him calm. Insist they drink water.
Be clear about this....  Your kayak can hold your weight but another kayaker without a kayak will make bubbles come out of your rod holders when they jump on your pony and sink you too. They can hold onto the stern handle and kick if they want a ride, but that is it.  Call for help before it gets to this point and don't be embarassed.  People want to help you.  Call for help.
 

Kayaks sink.  They become like ice bergs with 10% of the bow above water and the rest below.  You could barely rest and get a gulp of fresh air if you bear hugged it. 
Everyone should have a bilge pump on deck.

You didn't answer the question.

In fact you have made the argument as to why a kayak should not be abandoned.

Personally I think the scenario of losing the kayak due to an inadvertent capsize in adverse conditions (and then having it blow away from you) is more likely than a conscious ditching of the yak (surf landings exempted).

I do agree that a pump is like a paddle, all paddlers should have one. I store mine inside the hull attached to a leash that I can access through the behind-the-seat hatch. I also use bow & stern airbags. I'll add some noodles to the center area when I run across some on sale.

Ditch circumstances? I dunno, never encountered any yet. I would think that I'd stay with the boat even if there was only a fraction of it above water, unless there was safety nearby (shore I could swim to or other paddlers that could provide assistance).

Keeping a flailing swimmer off of your boat is another thing entirely. The one time I had to do this i just firmly told the guy to grab the bow of my boat, then wrap his  floating legs around it. This kept him feeling safe while I T-rescued his yak to get the water out of it. More importantly it calmed him & kept him out of the way.

Has anyone here decided to abandon their kayak? I'm honestly curious to hear the story.

Depending on internal floatation and equipment on board, a kayak can completely sink. Last year, a kayak angler in San Diego had his kayak completely sink and had to be rescued by a boat. I believe it was an X Factor and he had a livewell. The decision to stay with a swamped kayak depends on several factors but comes down to... will help arrive before you die of hypothermia, is the drift towards shore or away and can you swim to shore? I fish with a guy who had to swim a mile to shore after his kayak sunk so it has happened. See the post from littoral http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,2759.msg42059.html#msg42059

Last year, a kayak angler in San Diego had his kayak completely sink and had to be rescued by a boat.

Didn't the "sunken" and abandoned kayak float into shore soon after said rescue?  Or was that a different situation I'm thinking of?

Livewells do seem like a bad idea.

Not trying to be a pita here, Scott, but don't you think those situations all could have been rectified with a simple hand pump?

I realize hypothermia is The Killer, but the only situation I can see bailing is if I had no bilge pump, and no friends nearby and shore was close enough, within a mile or two).

To put yourself in that position, alone, far from shore, with no bilge, you've already made at least three mistakes.

wow, never actually heard of a yak completly sinking. I have had a SINK sweamp to the point where it would no longer float with my weight in it, but floated without me in it

Last year, a kayak angler in San Diego had his kayak completely sink and had to be rescued by a boat.

Didn't the "sunken" and abandoned kayak float into shore soon after said rescue?  Or was that a different situation I'm thinking of?

Not trying to be a pita here, Scott, but don't you think those situations all could have been rectified with a simple hand pump?

Eric -

I think that was Rhyak's boat that floated in after the rescue at Catalina. The guy in San Diego lost everything I believe. I can't find the article, but I believe he had a pump and tried to use it. He had an internal livewell which may have caused the sinking is what I remember. I do agree that a pump would rectify most scenarios.

scott