Needed a CG Rescue Yesterday at Doran Beach

3) Agree that Fish Hunter's advatar is disturbing.  :



Scott
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+1

I have the similar in-the-minority opinion of the tone of the post, especially the calling out of another member, but +1 on moving on.

The one thing I take from this post is to pay more attention to the forecast before heading out. I was packed and ready to fish Doran that same day but decided to cancel late Sunday night after seeing how iffy the weather predictions were.

3) Agree that Fish Hunter's advatar is disturbing.  :



Scott

+2,     I actually Gasped this morning... My wife says... " What's Wrong???" 

     " You  don't want to know..."   

      but if anyone could pull it off, it's the Hunter!!!

 I keep tell ya... Hollywood Hunter... Hollywood!!!   

Where are the complaints about that?



2) Comparing Spike to a TV pitch man, is not a fair comparison. Dennis is a pioneer of kayak fishing.

Just calling it like I see it Scott.  Dennis asked for feedback on his contributions.  I'm well aware of his long standing reputatation in kayakfishing but that doesn't mean he can't employ a bit more tact here.  Pitching his boats in a full on CG rescue, shark shields in gw shark posts....it's a little much. Whether its intentional or not, I'm not sure.

The complaints are not new either and they're not limited to one poster.  There's been alot of discussion in the moderation group about how to handle the delicate balance between advertising and promotion, I tend to lean on the side of purity.  I am, however, aware that the members benefit from whatever sales are being plugged, special ncka discounts or equipment that is being donated for events, even members starting their own businesses and giving them a shout here, we gotta show some love back. I'm just over the overt marketing, over-commercialization is the quickest way to kill something cool.   

Eitherway..............Glad That Your OK Spike

Newbie response here!

I see more and more stories of "seasoned" kayak anglers who not only set out in questionable conditions but, often times alone as well (or separate from their wingman).  I can tell you that as a firefighter for over thirty years that the two most dangerous firefighters to be around is the newbie and a guy with 8 to 10 years experience that has had no "close calls". Why? They get cocky and they think they know it all and forget about SA (Situational Awareness).  In my humble newbie opinion I think all the safety gear in the world and the best boat ever do not make up for your number one defense against fatality.....that space between your ears.
All of us accept different levels of risk and that's as it should be.  Just an observation and a reminder is all.
No offense intended.

Newbie response here!

I see more and more stories of "seasoned" kayak anglers who not only set out in questionable conditions but, often times alone as well (or separate from their wingman).  I can tell you that as a firefighter for over thirty years that the two most dangerous firefighters to be around is the newbie and a guy with 8 to 10 years experience that has had no "close calls". Why? They get cocky and they think they know it all and forget about SA (Situational Awareness).  In my humble newbie opinion I think all the safety gear in the world and the best boat ever do not make up for your number one defense against fatality.....that space between your ears.
All of us accept different levels of risk and that's as it should be.  Just an observation and a reminder is all.
No offense intended.

I could not agree more.   I'm a safety first guy and won't go out alone.   I think your analogy is valid.

The other question I have for Spike is,  did that Dolphin have a rudder?  A rudder as we all know makes an unbeliable difference on a windy day.  My point is that if that Dolphin had no rudder,  the comparison between the RTM and the Dolphin is not valid.   

I also read the original post as you left the guy behind.  I hope that was not the case.   

I do think that RTM boats look solid and well laid out so in no way am I picking favorites.  Spike, I have meant no offense by the tone or character of my posts, but rather I'm just expressing my opinion as I'm entitled to do.  In fact I have signed up for your tourney in October and can't wait to meet and fish with you.  Enough of this for me on this thread,  I'm going to check out the x rated images of pac butts and monster sea bass that have been showing up on my computer today.

People are talking about the stuff they use out on the water all over this board. Just cause Spike sells the cool stuff he uses doesn't bug me in the least. I've bought more gear that you folks talk about than I would like to admit...and nobody was selling anything 

A blatant pitch would not be cool, but talking about what works or sucks is just plain ol informative IMHO

I'm glad you guys made it back safe and sound.

All great responses, all appreciated and no offense taken anywhere.  It's an informative thread.

Morgan, I was wondering what Shasta thought of all this as I pulled away when it really started howling I stayed ahead of Shasta to pull him forward and better gauge our progress and kept him in accessable range until I saw the cutter tower coming out the harbor several hundred yards ahead of me.  Looked back to see Shasta's paddles up and moving so I made a radio call that I had a visual on the cutter and to please tend to the yellow kayak (his) and then dug my paddle in.  The cutter still came to me first as they passed since they had him in their glasses in no distress.  As a note, CG dispatch had asked me what color the kayaks were and (long pause/lost momentum) I had to look back at Shasta to see before I answered.  Good thing to note when launching.

Implying a comparison between the Abaco and Dolphin was not intended, it just came out that way.  The Dolphin is long out of production.  I feel it would have been unprofessional and insensitive of me to have specified a current model in my report had it been one.  Nonetheless, the Dolphin is historically one of the better touring style kayaks ever modified for fishing IMO and a better performer than many models that followed.  It only fits lighter weight anglers though.

Unfortunately, in 15 years of owning it, Shasta has never considered the rudder an advantage on the water.  He said he's had feedback that it is a liability to performance on the Dolphin by creating drag and slowing the boat while keeping it straight.  He also said it has always been a sticky, difficult rudder assembly.  Anyway, he never deployed his rudder for this run and said he didn't think it would have made the difference.  My Abaco had no rudder and ran straight as an arrow even when the wind gusts had me down to the speed of a banana slug. Shasta said he went to feather his paddle, lost a stroke doing it, got spun around and took 50 strokes to correct course in the wind. 

Add to the rudder discussion-Rudders don't improve performance on all kayak models.  We don't see many on Scuppers although they were available to the traditional paddler buying a sit-on-top who "knew" they needed one.  For 20 years or so, traditional kayakers continue to argue that
1. a rudder is only there to improve a poorly designed hull
2. rudders improve performance across the board.
In my experience so far, I think the facts of performance lie somewhere inbetween and vary from model to model.
Thanks All!

Spike was pretty much in sight the whole time.  I was probably half way between the jetties and the buoy when the CG came.  The dolphin bounced a little in the chop, but I am 68 and this was my first ocean trip this year, so fitness was a factor.  Yeah, I should have had my radio too, but I could have reached the CG by phoning my wife on the beach, or 911.  I had a little more wind resistance, with surface mounted Scotties and the net vertical in an old tube until near the end, plus the fish screen.    Spike actually suggested staying close in and bottom fishing, but I had done that the last two days and wanted to troll for salmon.  My paddle can be shifted to feathered position, but I haven't practiced this and actually did worse after I switched. 

Interesting thread fellas...but I gotta say, when I'm browsing the "safety first" section, I don't really want product plugs.  $0.02 and all....other than that, I'm happy that everyone's safe and griping about Billy Mays on the forum!

Spike! Glad everything worked out and everyone safe. Way to go with the emergency procedures.

good to know everyone is safe..