RBCII The Day After!!!

Not second guessing here, but wanted to comment that it also pays to know other possible exit routes for use in an emergency.  It's something we should always keep in mind when on the water.  See that trail down to the water on that map, directly east of the rocks Al pointed out.  It could have cut your paddle by more than half.

-Allen

The time that SCAllen gave a free "Intro to Kayak Fishing" course at Aquan, he basically mentioned the same thing, and it has always stuck in my mind since.  I believe he said "I'm ALWAYS looking for plan B when i'm out with clients."  So when paddling around or fishing and looking at all the scenery, keep in mind, whats my plan B if the $hit hits the fan?

Bailing out some where else wasn't in my mind...Thanks Allen and Al see how that map the point looks something like Texas??? It all looks different OTW but I'm guessing we were where that last jog in the yellow line go's to those rocks you marked (South Wester tip of Tx) but way out or down towards the box that's in that pic...

So the 2nd exit plan is in my mind for further trips it only makes sence...when I was fishing Sekui I had bail out "what if's" if the wind did not do what was forecasted on NOAA...

We walked that whole area on the map looking the next day for his MIA kayak...looked harsh for putting out/in... "any harbor in a storm"  I did think if we get some where where we didn't plan on to roll with it and figure it out on the fly...because it didn't seem that we were ever going to get in....and Looking at that map with the flow of tide, it would have been easier to do as polepole suggests...but seriously I was so fixeted on pushing over/clearing kelp that all else went out of my head!!!  was talking with my dad about the Hyphothermia and his comment was "Been there Done that" Wyo logging in the snow!!!  He still thinks I'm crazy and worries but supports my jaunts on the Salty Blue!!!  And He is impressed with the support this Crew gives each other... and loves it when I bring some home

Been talking to Sledge lately and we agree that we feel like we've been beat up, total body bruising. Kinda like an a-hulls jump in, right andy

Really glad you guys are OK and that this thread is getting so much traction.


The biggest impact of this ought to be to impress on everyone the need to do your prep work. So while second guessing isn't productive,,,,, it does point out that your prep work ought to include some mental exercises as well as equipment choices.

I got lucky,,,,,even after being on the site for a few years I still ventured out on the salt, alone, I always wore my wetsuit and pfd and did have a compass BUT no noodles, no vhf, no pump, no whistle, no extra paddle, no flares.

Then I had my "awakening" in a yak that had never had a problem and it was a FAC day.  I launched and paddled probably a little over 20 min, when something didn't feel right, popped the hatch, found the hull about half full of water, at this point I was within minutes of swimming, I was in a slough with heavy vegetation on both sides, but made the decision to paddle as fast as I could back the way I came, lucked out and found a landing spot about 100yds away. Found a crack in the hull, figured it took this far out to fill so if I emptied the yak I ought to be able to make it back to the launch, and I did.

So I already knew what I should have on board by reading so much here at NCKA but hadn't gotten around to taking it seriously.

Figured I got my warning without any real consequences,,,,,and did the what if thing in my head,,,,,

Next outing I did have, 20 noodles in the hull, a bilge pump, vhf, FF w GPS, compass, whistle, airhorn, flares, AND a spare paddle.   Sometimes it feels like overkill, then we get a story like this. 

On that outing I did need the bilge pump too,,,,,,the boat was replaced free by the manuf. and the new hull had a little void hidden up in one of the scupper holes,  it was small enough not to ruin the day as I had the pump, but still another reminder that even a new boat is no guarantee.

So even with all that this story is going to get me to change it up again, I've never thought a 3 mil would save your ass, but didn't want to paddle in a 7 mil so I settled on a 5, think I'm gonna have a 7 by next spring.

So Thanks to Joe and Sledge for putting up an example for all of us to learn from.

I think I'm going to bring my dive fins with me from now on. I'm glad lessons in safety are coming from this. Thanks to all you guys who are kicking down the safety tips.

That looks about right, Al. I have never put in or know where that trail is though. Will have to check this out!
I have explored quite a bit of the stretch and found mostly rocky coastline. We were trying to avoid that.

That looks about right, Al. I have never put in or know where that trail is though. Will have to check this out!
I have explored quite a bit of the stretch and found mostly rocky coastline. We were trying to avoid that.

agree with you on this.  Landing sooner but bashing against rocks is dangerous.

Glad to hear that you guys survived this and thanks for sharing your ordeal with us. Kudos for working together to get back to shore. We can never be prepared enough for an unexpected circumstance like the one you guys had.

Joe, just exactly where were the holes in the kayak from the FF? There had to have been a crack. Dont you think? Were you taking waves completely over the deck of the kayak continuously? Im just trying to get an idea where that much water could have come from. Did you have the old rod pod cover on the kayak? Thanks buddy. Again Im glad you are OK. Just tell Mels to cough up a rental for you, no? I have a nice Caper you can have.

i'm glad you guys are OK.
seriously tho...

good thing is that hominids often learn from near-death experiences,  sometimes even those of others...

I am very curious also. Were the ff holes below the waterline? Even with leaky hatches, you would have to take a lot of water over the bow to sink like that. It was pretty calm that day. I am thinking that leak had to be below the waterline. How long had you been on the water before you realized you were taking on water?

I am very curious also. Were the ff holes below the waterline? Even with leaky hatches, you would have to take a lot of water over the bow to sink like that. It was pretty calm that day. I am thinking that leak had to be below the waterline. How long had you been on the water before you realized you were taking on water?

Maybe you missed this part.

While in the process of swapping kayaks, Sledge and I were for a moment, both on my kayak. It took a while to get situated to make the swap and I noticed water coming over the edges of the kayak. I didn't think much of it until I start hearing a bubbling type sound and can see water being forced into the hatch. We bail off the kayak to assess the scene to find that the kayak had already filled about almost half way inside the kayak. When water had entered the kayak it was really hard to keep the kayak upright. With the weight of gear and rods, the kayak kept wanting to tilt over and flip upside down. Sledge and I tried a few times to flip it around and get it stable to try to bilge some water out. The kayak felt very heavy and was at the point of no return. The kayak flipped upside down and started to nose dive, no shit. I even asked Sledge if he ever seen a kayak sink, me neither.

-Allen

Was on the water a couple hours before I noticed. When I finally noticed, I jumped off the kayak to assess and the bow, hatch and all was underwater.

My bad, I must have glazed right over that.  Which hatch was it gurgling into?  The rod pod hatch?