Hard Lessons

very scary story.  every time I roll out in my truck I wonder "is this the time when one tiny mistake is going to turn into a catastrophe?"  I fell off in the delta while fishing standing up (alone)  I popped out of that water so fast I barely got wet.  but my glasses had come off under water and I am blind as a bat.  I started thinking of Bear Grylls scenarios and I was 20 miles from my home.  This hobby certainly has very real dangers.  I think it's important for people to share stories like yours whenever possible so less experienced kayak anglers like myself can learn from your mistake before making it themselves.  I agree with the post that said "Hug your family tight" cuz without that sailboat the story might have had a different ending.   I have been planning an epic float & fish from Sac to the Golden Gate and one thing I've heard of was to beware of the various mud flats & tidal shifts throughout the whole bay system.  because of this post I think I will certainly buy a waterproof vhf before I try it.

very scary story.  every time I roll out in my truck I wonder "is this the time when one tiny mistake is going to turn into a catastrophe?"  I fell off in the delta while fishing standing up (alone)  I popped out of that water so fast I barely got wet.  but my glasses had come off under water and I am blind as a bat.  I started thinking of Bear Grylls scenarios and I was 20 miles from my home.  This hobby certainly has very real dangers.  I think it's important for people to share stories like yours whenever possible so less experienced kayak anglers like myself can learn from your mistake before making it themselves.  I agree with the post that said "Hug your family tight" cuz without that sailboat the story might have had a different ending.   I have been planning an epic float & fish from Sac to the Golden Gate and one thing I've heard of was to beware of the various mud flats & tidal shifts throughout the whole bay system.  because of this post I think I will certainly buy a waterproof vhf before I try it.

Be sure that your waterproof VHF is readily accessible FROM THE WATER, either on your body or in a container above the deck.  Mine was in a dry bag inside a hatch under the capsized yak.  I would have tried to retrieve it as a last resort but I don't know whether I would have been successful.  Two other safety-related items:  1) I have reflective tape on the back of my paddle blades which helped the ranger keep track of me; 2) the sailboat crew said they noticed my capsized kayak because it looked like a floating banana (it's mango colored).  I would never get a kayak with a camouflage or other hard-to-see color.

Glad you made it out OK to tell the story; good safety reminders, thanks for posting.

You wrote "9' Malibu Stealth." Is that correct? If so, you might want to think about getting a bigger boat for the salt.

BTW, I hate the mud. BTDT.

I fell off in the delta while fishing standing up (alone)  I popped out of that water so fast I barely got wet.  but my glasses had come off under water and I am blind as a bat.  I started thinking of Bear Grylls scenarios and I was 20 miles from my home.  This hobby certainly has very real dangers. 

Do you have an eyeglass keeper now? I always put them on my glasses in case I go in. I can see well enough to make it home, but I wouldn't want to pay for new glasses.

 

  I too have SOLAS tape strips on each paddle, as well as all over my OB's hull.  I recall years ago, being OTW with my dad in his jon boat at Elkhorn slough, (Bow fishing for shark's and skates) we almost got caught on the mud flats as the tide went out.  We were able to push off the flats with out pushpoles and get back into the channel.  Another few minutes and we'd have been waiting for the tide to return.
  I am glad I didn't have to read another story of a fallen kayaker!

  I too have SOLAS tape strips on each paddle, as well as all over my OB's hull.  I recall years ago, being OTW with my dad in his jon boat at Elkhorn slough, (Bow fishing for shark's and skates) we almost got caught on the mud flats as the tide went out.  We were able to push off the flats with out pushpoles and get back into the channel.  Another few minutes and we'd have been waiting for the tide to return.
  I am glad I didn't have to read another story of a fallen kayaker!

Yeah, mud flats can be very scary places. In Alaska people or animals perish annually in the big tidal flats, and ATVs and trucks are also lost each year. Pretty gnarly for such a 'hidden" danger.

@traildad
yes I did finally get a nice set of floating glasses keepers but it was a 200$ lesson!