RBCII The Day After!!!

Ok I see now. The kayak was overloaded to the point that the hatch was taking on water. I have schleped water over my deck alot and never had more than maybe a cup TOTAL for the whole day. The old cover was not the best design for waterproof hatches. I think this was acknowledged by OK with the new design hatch which will NOT leak under suggested load capacities. The T series actually is one of the highest and driest boats on the market. Coupled with the bow design water sheds to the sides more than the other boats.

     It was nearly 10 years ago, but I remember what a SOT kayak feels like when it starts to fill with water.  It's  pretty much impossible to keep upright.    AND  I havn't forgotten the grilling about "bilge pumps and sinking kayaks", some of you gave me back when I joined ...
      So for everyone who thinks there's too much stuff to load onto a kayak...  Don't skip out on the bilge pump.   It should be permanently installed at an accessible spot.      No matter what type of kayak you paddle.
   
 http://www.bluewaterkayakworks.com/bluewater-kayak-works/products-freedom-500.html
   
   I saw one of these battery powered units  a few months back.  The new version they have coming out is completely sealed, using a magnetic switch.   It's very expensive.   If you have a battery for  a FF  anyway,  it wouldn't take much to rig a permanently installed emergency electric bilge pump somewhere into the bowels of your boat for a lot less.  They weigh less than a hand held type and will move more water leaving your hands free to do other essential tasks. ( like using a VHF )
 
  It's cheaper than replacing all that gear after the fact, or worse.

  I'm donating my bilge pump to bloodbath.      Sledge,  let me buy you a beer !

 See ya at the Tiki   
 
   

   

     It was nearly 10 years ago, but I remember what a SOT kayak feels like when it starts to fill with water.  It's  pretty much impossible to keep upright.    AND  I havn't forgotten the grilling about "bilge pumps and sinking kayaks", some of you gave me back when I joined ...
      So for everyone who thinks there's too much stuff to load onto a kayak...  Don't skip out on the bilge pump.   It should be permanently installed at an accessible spot.      No matter what type of kayak you paddle.
   
 http://www.bluewaterkayakworks.com/bluewater-kayak-works/products-freedom-500.html
   
   I saw one of these battery powered units  a few months back.  The new version they have coming out is completely sealed, using a magnetic switch.   It's very expensive.   If you have a battery for  a FF  anyway,  it wouldn't take much to rig a permanently installed emergency electric bilge pump somewhere into the bowels of your boat for a lot less.  They weigh less than a hand held type and will move more water leaving your hands free to do other essential tasks. ( like using a VHF )
 
  It's cheaper than replacing all that gear after the fact, or worse.




 See ya at the Tiki   
 
   

   

Right on Bro...chk G-Whiz's ride @ Tiki!!! Rocks!!! I will take U up on the brew Bro!!!

   
      So for everyone who thinks there's too much stuff to load onto a kayak...  Don't skip out on the bilge pump.   It should be permanently installed at an accessible spot.      No matter what type of kayak you paddle.
   
 

+1

I got mine lashed right inside the rod pod on my T15....right next to the 20 pool noodles I have stuffed into the hull.

Sincerely,

Jim

Do you guys leave room between all the noodles for putting your rods in through the rod pod?

Do you guys leave room between all the noodles for putting your rods in through the rod pod?

I have them on the sides, with plenty of room in the middle for rods, spearguns, fins, hawg trough etc.

I just kept on shoving them in there and there was room for way more than I thought!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

thanks for sharing everyone..

my take away from Sledge's writeup  is the review of ones symptons to hyperthermia...
like hypoxia for flyers, Nitrogen narcosis for divers,  impaired judgement , and the sense of euphoria can really be pretty scary, compounding the initial problem.

glad you guys pushed thru and perservered. and by sharing this experience so that others can learn a thing or two really is what this organization is all about.

as an alternative to the noodle route, I went with I think Seattle SPorts rescue kit from West Marine..it has a blow up sack with 2 separate chambers and valves that I inflate inside my rear hatch. this along with the included bilge pump I incorporated after taking in a couple gallons of water at Albion '10. the kit also has a strobe, whistle, paddle leashes..it was on closeout for $49 or so..

I also like that comment about testing Ch 16.. yeah I carry a VHF but how do I really know CH16 will work when I need it. does anyone know the procedure or protocol for testing my marine VHF?
often times just chatting on Ch69 reveals limitations on my Cobra brand radio.
Paypal enroute joe.
dave

Wow.   What a harrowing story.   Glad you guys are ok.   Way to stick it out and hang tight when the going gets tough.  I surely made the difference.

And thanks for all the safety comments from everyone.   There is some remedial action I need to take.  Your experiences and comments could have saved lives.

    Good tips on how to use a VHF radio.

http://www.seakayak.ws/kayak/kayak.nsf/1/55C2AC6DE56618898525735500740A6E

Holy Crap! I missed this thread somehow until now. Man, I am glad it turned out OK for you both.

I just caught this one and the donation thread.  Glad everything is ok too. 

We did alittle test on the American River today with a T-11 with the new rod pod cover. When the water level in the seating/ leg area comes up and over just a bit at the rear of the cover water comes in. This is only with the kayak overloaded. With the kayak below its designated weight limit the feet and seating area are pretty dry. Water does not come up through the front scuppers when the load limits are followed. So if both of you were on Joes kayak for anytime at all you were taking on water through the rod pod  hatch cover. After a short test of approximately 30 seconds there was at least 2-3 cups of water. We repeated the test after the water was towled out and tried it again. It leaked. I could only imagine the rush of water coming in with the old cover.  Were you both on top of Joes kayak at some point in time. For how long? Please correct me if Im off base here Mike or Joe. Following the manufactures specifications are paramount.

So, I guess my concern would be with surf launches. It would seem that,even when the boat is not overloaded,if a guy miss-timed his launch and took a few waves into the cockpit with that leaky cover, it could be a bad situation. As many boats as they sell, you would think they would take the time to make hatch covers that don't leak like that. If not on the first try, at least by the second try. Have any of you pro-staff guys tried talking to them about this?

If not on the first try, at least by the second try. Have any of you pro-staff guys tried talking to them about this?

Yup!  And that's why they have the gen 2 rod pod hatch.  I have not had any problems with surf launches with the newer hatches.  I have had problems with the older hatches.

-Allen

So, I guess my concern would be with surf launches. It would seem that,even when the boat is not overloaded,if a guy miss-timed his launch and took a few waves into the cockpit with that leaky cover, it could be a bad situation.

I got dumped on a surf launch at Limekiln last year in my T15 with old rod pod hatch. The boat was upside down as I pulled it out of the surf which was receding. When I re-launched I made it out clean but the boat was unstable. I opened the rod pod and found 2-3 gallons of water. I got the new hatch cover but haven't tested it yet.   So with the old hatch, if the boat is upside down in fast moving water, quite a bit of water can leak into the hull. I will surf test the new hatch cover this winter on one of my crab trips. Will post up the results.