Near Tragedy at Point-No-Point 1/31/11

Oh ... then there was that time I went over while seal launching.  I didn't have my fly zipped up.  D'oh!!!  Killed a cell phone too.

  

Oh ... then there was that time I went over while seal launching.  I didn't have my fly zipped up.  D'oh!!!  Killed a cell phone too.
-Allen

you keep your cell phone where?
 

Allen like this?

http://www.whitecaprescue.com/images/equip/suits/suit_neckring.gif

Exactly.

If you're making one, make sure it is lose enough that as it moves up and down it doesn't keep banging your adam's apple.  BTDT.

-Allen

oh good call. yeah that would suck! thx. how stiff is the tubing? I have some plastic tubing that is used for ice maker water lines.

oh good call. yeah that would suck! thx. how stiff is the tubing? I have some plastic tubing that is used for ice maker water lines.

The kind that has the braided liner?  I don't know the name for it, but that's what my original ring was and what I used when I replaced it (the end eventually stretched and wouldn't hold the loops shut.

Make sure that the ends come together flush. Any gap could be sharp enough to nick your latex seal.  Or you may want to "debur" the edge just a tad.

-Allen

Oh ... then there was that time I went over while seal launching.  I didn't have my fly zipped up.  D'oh!!!  Killed a cell phone too.

-Allen

hey, i remember that. that was a brand new phone too.

 Aloha 

Food for thought here.  I once saw a friend of mine go overboard in the waters near berkeley pier.  ChuckE was there and we both assisted our friend getting back to his boat in choppy water. 

He was wearing a "dry suit" and it actually didn't look that easy for him to get back in his kayak.  The wind was blowing in, tide was moving opposite direction and the water was typical chop.

He told me later he could barely swim in the drysuit.  Warm he was, but out to sea he could have floated. 

I'm glad whoever this was is ok.  Chilling story.  I hope whoever reads this hears me well.  It doesn't matter what your wearing, you have to be able to self rescue your first try.  I've seen guys in all kinds of gear do it, I've seen a few struggle.  if your not in shape, not a good swimmer, or are intoxicated, you have no business in a kayak. 

The hobie pedal drive is a real bitch when trying to get back in your boat, as a matter of fact, I feel the hobie pedal drive kayaks necessitate self rescue practice when you first purchase it.  I owned one and speak from experience.  Well, aloha again, and until I get sick of island life, see ya....   jtf

I want to add a little on what JTF had said about the Hobie's. When I took the safety class at MBK, I used my Hobie Revolution rather than
my T13 because it sits much higher on the water. When I purposely
fell in the water to perform self rescue, it took me about three tries until
I was able to get back on. That is how high it is. I know for a fact that
I could have done this just once on my T13.

Jedmo

It may be a little harder to self rescue into a Revo due to the higher deck but these boats aren't the only ones that have decks at that height. I found that the added stability of both the drive and the rudder down into the water made it harder to accidentally flip the boat compared to my old OK boat. That being said the ability to self rescue is paramount so as JTF stated people that are weak or drunk should stick to the T-13 or other low deck yak. 

He was wearing a "dry suit" and it actually didn't look that easy for him to get back in his kayak...

... The hobie pedal drive is a real bitch when trying to get back in your boat..

...When I took the safety class at MBK, I used my Hobie Revolution ... it took me about three tries until
I was able to get back on. That is how high it is.

I read all this and realize it's been three years and as many kayaks since I practiced self rescue. Gear changes, a dry suit and I just bought a Revo that I was going to use for the first time tomorrow.

So I put the Revo in a pond, pedal around for awhile and jump out. The first thing that strikes me is the cold water pissing into my suit.  So I try the self rescue and discover everything on my PFD catches on the edge of the yak. Try again, nope. Third time's the charm with about a gallon of water divided between each leg. Note to self: Clean up PFD.

What I found frustrating was the paddle on the far side of the yak where I was gripping to get back in. What do y'all do with it?

The leak in my suit suit? Well, when you close the relief zipper, you need to make an extra tug to fully close it, or you leave about a 1/4" opening. Another item for the pre-flight check list ...

Ben

what comes to mind....


- have a whistle attached to your PFD (Fox 40 Pealess Whistles)
- if you can't self rescue, don't go out there
- everyone should carry a tow rope

I used to carry my Fox 40 whistle attached to the zipper of my PFD. Seemed like a good place, close by with no long cords to get caught. Wrong. While practicing reentries I had the whistle catch the side of the kayak and unzipped my PFD. It's now attacked to a solid spot on my PFD.

Does anyone carry a paddle float as a back up for reentry?

Mike

great read......story could of been tragic...number one priority....safety first!!!!

  No only was that guy lucky the sounds waves made it, if the tide was going out, his only chance would have been a mayday.
               JTF--Howzit in Maui?

Lucky that he survived dumb moves.  Why would you go out in 40 degree water and 40 degree air temps without a full wetsuit.  At least a 3 mm, 7mm with a 3mm top probably OK.  And a splash jacket.  Putting on a sweat shirt and a coat is only going to keep you warm if dry, and will weigh a ton when wet.  Dry suit nice, but a full wet suit would be less than a boat buck ($100) and add a splash top for $75-100 and you will more than likely survive.  I attach my VHF to my PFD.  Problem with that is it makes a bulge in the pocket and harder to climb back in.  But at least you could take off the PFD if in a wet suit and attach the PFD to the yak and then climb in.

It doesn't matter what you're wearing if you can't reboard your kayak.

Glad that X is OK

Was thinking the same exact thing when I read this. Practicing re-entry in what ever you normally wear while out kayaking is important. Do it a couple times a year usually toward the beginning of the season, also suggest hat everyone does this as well.

Glad he was with a reliable buddy.

"2 in 2 out"

RHYAK