Mooch was watching over us, or teaching us a lesson...

  When I bought my kayak from Mooch back in February, he gave me some advice - Be a kayaker first before becoming a fisherman. I thought I was ready to be a kayak fisherman. I’ve tried self rescue inside the harbor at HMB. I’ve taken class in kayaking back in the 80s.  I guess you can see where this is going.

  This weekend, Vin60 & I headed out in thick fog. Neither of know how to use the GPS features. Around noon time, near the green can, I flipped my kayak. Think no big deal, here goes myself rescue quiz time. Then my legs got cramped right as I’m kicking to get my chest into the kayak. So I waited to Vin to hold the kayak while I get back in.  Thinking problem is over, Vin falls over.  Within 3 minute, Vin was in trouble complaining being very cold in almost a panic mood (he was wearing dry paints & splash jacket only). He was not in any condition to flip his kayak back, or to climb back in. When I looked up, a fishing boat was with 50 yard from us (which never happens, we usually not that lucky). Vin took ride back in the boat, while I paddled my way back.

   After they left, I realized I’m up the creek. I don’t know how to use the GPS, or the compass feature on the VHF. It was really hard following the fog horn when my mind is playing trick on me. I also had my stringer tangled too far back of the kayak & in the water. So the trip back took over an hour and a half.   When I hit land, Vin was still freezing, nauseous, and still in bad shape. I think Mooch was either looking over us, or trying teaching us a lesson. If he was teaching us a lesson, we got the lesson.

Here are a few thoughts for us newer guys.
•Vin didn’t have a wet suit on. Even though my suit was 3 mil, I was in much better shape.
•Need to be absolutely sure I can do a self rescue. Also what if I'm not in the best of condition, or hurt.  Is there another plan or tool (such as using a paddle float) to help.
•What good is a VHF tied up somewhere on the kayak, I may not be thinking straight. What good is GPS and compass features if I don’t know how to operate it. Is there a back up unit, or plan???  I bought it 3 months ago and never read the manual. Vin can't use his GPS on his fish finder either.
•Why are there no flares, smoke flares, or mirror on my kayak (just because it is not required)? Of course we can wait for the coast guard, but Vin may not have that long.

I’m hoping this will get you thinking just a bit before you run out there.   As Mooch said – be a Kayaker first, then be a fisherman second.

                                                                               Herb, Ling A Ding

Thanks for sharing your experience Herb.  Glad you and Vince are OK.  This is why dress for immersion is so important and bring reminded here from time to time.  If you fish from kayak long enough, you'll fall off from the yak, it's just a matter of time.

Jeezuus...glad you are OK.

Remember a dry suit ( or top/bottoms), does nothing but keep you dry. You are still surrounded by ice water. Whats underneath counts just as much - fleece, etc-wool or synthetic...

Thanks for sharing the experience. I bet on some days the wind can blow my kayak faster than i can swim. I feel better having my radio tethered to my life jacket. Also a whistle in the pocket. A waterproof orange smoke canister could be a life saver. I'm going to look into that.
Rob

Thanks for sharing.  I'm glad you guys made it.

You're lucky that it didn't turn out ugly.  Thanks for sharing that event with us.  There is nothing worse that getting baptized in the cold Pacific.   

Herb, glad to hear you and Vin made it back safe.  Thanks for reporting your mishap and the lessons you learned from it.   I think I'll start practicing my self rescue again.  How were the swells and it's frequency then?

Rey

It was pretty calm.  Not much swells or waves.  But practice self rescue at the harbor while I was fresh, and using it at the end of the day with a little bit of waves is not the same.  I was not expecting cramps.  Vin’s radio, while in his pocket of his pfd pooped out as so as he hit the water.  I think have a plan B for all emergency scenarios are important.  I thinking another radio is a good idea.  A paddle float would be good to have.  An extra compass is good idea too (the VHF may be out of battery, or the functions may have failed).  But the cold water is definitely an item to be prepared for.  You can’t think straight when you are cold (reasoning and logic goes right out the window). I supposed if I was in the water longer, 3 mil may not be enough. 

Thanks for sharing this.  I'm glad you guys are OK.

Thanks for sharing your story guys. That right there takes guts. It's a good reminder of how dangerous the ocean can be...and how to prepare. You're right--the water temp plus adrenaline will cause your legs or arms to cramp up, and then it's way harder to get back on your kayak...especially if you're by yourself.

Thanks for sharing, glad you guys made it in safely and learning experience for you guys that hopefully others will try and learn from.

Wow...

  That was close,  glad you guys made it...  The Big Blue does not give many second chances...

wow, thanks for sharing this. Definitely makes you think twice about how to make sure that you are able to correct the mishap and better your odds of getting out safely. thanks for sharing, glad you two are ok.

This posting seem kind of dumb when I was thinking of posting the experience.  But when I was talking with some of the guys to get them to practice self-rescue, I’m getting lots of resistance.  A lot of us think we have a kayak that will not tip over because we have a better designed kayak, or we paid a lot of money for this kayak.  My advice is to try and tip it over on purpose, and you will realize there is no such thing as a kayak that will not tip over.  The trick is to get so use to tipping over, executing self-recovery that it is no big deal – as I was taught in kayak school.  The next time may not be so lucky…

Herb thanks for posting a good reminder for the new guys and the old guys here. Suggestion:

Start at the end of this board and work your way to the first page.  You will see the same message over and over again.

Or, just read the article at the top of the page.  Stickied.  By agarcia.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=27534.0

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