really bad

I have taken my OK T-13 out 3 times to date since I bought it . Twice with out any gear ie.FF,rods/reels, only myself ,PFD and the paddle. Over the last month I added FF,upgraded the seat,added a plano box and a milk crate..

This morning was going to be my real first day OTW fishing.

I stayed up late last night making sure I had everything ready,went to bed about midnight ,around 6 am this morning decided  I`d go to Lake Sonoma.

I should have stopped there.

I was way too excited this morning . I dropped the kayak onto the gas meter outside the house, I did not use the wheelez cart. I took a quick look with a flash light did not see any damage to the kayak.Loaded it,tied down.Took off.

Arrived LS ,got to the Public ramp ,as I untied..I looked up and saw my rudder system was bent. yes bent and cracked from the drop .Strike two.

Ok expensive lesson learned use the damn cart to get the yak to the trailer or load it with help the night before. i decde to fish anyway I just wont use the rudder.

I should have stopped there.

I load the kayak,I suit up. PFD on. Paddle out.I get out about 50-75 yards. I capsize to Port side.

After breaking the surface I try to flip it back over by getting on the hull to the far handle. No way it wont flip.Try twice. No way again .The kayak feels way  too heavy at this point.

So I swim it back to the ramp kayak in tow.

I lost two rods which I thought were secure and my floating net which probably got tangled with the rods.I also forgot to put my Cell phone in my waterproof storage.

By now the kayak is full of water. I get it on the ramp flip it,bend the rudder more, unplug the drain lift and tilt starts to drain.

Only two lost rods and a net. I still have my life  Thank you PFD.

I unload  the kayak. I load up the truck and trailer .I go home.

After unloading everything. I inspect the kayak ,yep rudder F`d up...I start thinking too much gear probably , crack or hole ? could be..put the kayak up on saw horses fill with H20..see dripping..find dripping...

A crack or crease in one of the scupper holes under the seat Starboard side..Guess i smacked that gas meter that hard or after a dropped the kayak at the ramp ?

Equipment list from bow to stern  :12 v, FF console, 1 rod holder on the Rod-Pod, small kill bag in hull with maybe 5# ice, Large Plano box with two boxes various tackle,Milk crate with soft sided cooler with about same amount of ice.water bottle ,3 rods and net.

I have capsized before In my aqua-pod which is heavier than the kayak and gotten it back over with the same amount of gear maybe more..I`m embarrassed, humbled,angry and lucky and feeling like a complete idiot...

Damage : Rudder, Kayak,Pride,Cell Phone, FF console wont operate.

Dx: In a hurry, too much gear, damaged kayak before even hitting water (rudder for sure) Crack ? probably

Rx : Slow down, Less gear. Dont drop Yak moron !!! replace rudder , and find out what to do about that crack

Oh and i`m changing my name from VK to F-ingMoron

I`m trying to wrap my head around this I cant see how such a small crack could allow that much water to get in, if it even did...I was just paddling, stopped to look at something and started to go port side...

Well no that I`ve made myself vulnerable and at the risk of being being ridiculed  I`d really like some input....i`m so dumbfounded and beating myself up i cant think straight

Thanks Vic

P.S. you can move this to: What not to do

somebody has to have some scuba gear to retrieve your missing items, I think you are about 1.5 to 2 hrs away from me.
is there anyone closer willing to help?

sorry about your bad day, go to bed and let start a new day tomorrow.

VK, I am truly sorry to hear you had such misfortune. I understand you are angry but get that crack repaired and get back out there. I would be happy to go with next time, no pressure no worries. Resident experts will know how to fix the plastic. I am local and would be happy to buddy system gear, you wont go too fast with me slowing you down. Hang in there.
-Amos

Sorry to hear about your mishaps.  Thanks for sharing the story and glad you're OK Vic.

How much water did you take on? Didn't sound like you were otw very long. Could your load have shifted to one side to throw your balance off? You can use a heat gun and scraps from modifications or old Junker yak to patch the cracks. I have seen demo of it being done on utube.  I am sure there are a few folks on here that have done that before and could help you out or give you tips on doing it right. Just put a call out for the local crack heads to help you  Bottom line is it's all "stuff" could have been worse! Glad you are OK!!!

Good meeting you at the ramp Vic My bad I should have waited for you to get on the water, I thought it was just your rudder. sorry for your damage and loss.

We've all been there one way or another, and probably will again.  Don't be to hard on yourself,  those were some tough lesson today…

  Lick your wounds, saddle back up and get out there!!!

I think you're being a little too hard on yourself. Sh*t happens and obviously you like to learn from mistakes. Morons are the ones who refuse to learn!

The main thing you should have done differently was to check for leaks before even paddling out. Sit in it at the launch for a few minutes, open a hatch & look for water. I always check for water in the hull after a few minutes of paddling, just to make sure.

Sorry to hear about the misadventure but the leak should be repairable. It sucks to break & lose stuff but in the end, it's replaceable. Thanks for not being afraid to share your story.

ps: you might want to check that gas meter, too -- sounds like you knocked it pretty hard. 

Glad you are okay.  Thanks for posting.  Every time I hear a story lime this I try to think of ways I can be better prepared OTW and it keeps me from being complacent.   

I have a box of spare rudder parts Vic. I cant really tell what you need from the pics. If I got what you need you can have it for free. Come down to Petaluma after work if you can this week with the kayak. Lets check it out. Craig. PM me for address.

Thanks for telling your story.  I have been out only a few times and feel fortunate that I have not had a catastrophe of some kind. Your story and the replies will help me be more careful and alert.

Glad you came out ok.  I had a similar incident when I first started kayaking in 2006. I was starting off with lakes to build my confidence. I was at San luis reservoir and I had failed to completely screw tight a hatch that was below my seat. It had slowly leaked through out the day. I to noticed that the kayak was unstable as I moved my body from left to right and that it wanted to tip over. I checked the hatch and it was loose. Luckily I was near shore. By the time I did make it to shore , with my last paddle I did flip in about 2 feet of water. It was a son of a gun to empty it. The point brought up about sitting in the water for a few minutes and checking the inside of your hull for water is a great reminder.
I always take it for granite that everything is ok. I will be more observant to do this each time I yak!
Posting something like this is great in that it brings a lot of precautions we should take before just venturing out.

Glad your ok !!!

Lol. Dont get me started.  Try trailering boats for 20 something yrs. You should experience some of the shit that happens with that. . Hura! 83 to 86. My best backup at the clubs was a Corpsman. 2/7 3rd mar div.

I think you're being a little too hard on yourself. Sh*t happens and obviously you like to learn from mistakes. Morons are the ones who refuse to learn!

The main thing you should have done differently was to check for leaks before even paddling out. Sit in it at the launch for a few minutes, open a hatch & look for water. I always check for water in the hull after a few minutes of paddling, just to make sure.

Sorry to hear about the misadventure but the leak should be repairable. It sucks to break & lose stuff but in the end, it's replaceable. Thanks for not being afraid to share your story.

ps: you might want to check that gas meter, too -- sounds like you knocked it pretty hard. 


+1  vic, my first trip out I was getting cocky and was paddling backwards in the wind when a wave hit me and knocked me over backwards!  When my head popped up out of the water and I realized the pfd worked great I started picking up all my floating gear. Then the cold hit, we were fishing Shasta lake in Feb. Damn that water was cold. I had to drag the bottom for my fishing rod, and only lost a pair of two day old RayBan prescription glasses,  my wife was a little hot after that! While I was wet I decided what better time to practice self rescue.  I did and looked like a beached whale but was able to do it pretty easy,  and of coarse my NEW NCKA buddies video taped it!!!! For me like you it was a lesson,  all my stuff now has flotation on it, or tied up somehow. And I ALWAYS where a floaty chum for my glasses. I gets better my brother !!!!
Jeff

Vk, what model ff did you have on there? 

Bill