A Learning Experience on Big Blue

Thanks for sharing and really glad you made it back safe.

+1

It is easy to get disoriented in fog without instruments like compass and GPS but even without electronics in thick fog there are some visual surf/beach clues to help guide if one has had multiple exits and entries of coves like TC.  Fishing alone may not be the best idea but most of us  will do it from time to time in places we really know well. The key is to build up a mental memory bank of rock projections in and out of the surf edge. Just a couple clues can tell one where the cove entry is in relation to the kayak on the sea.

Thansk for sharing, and really glad you made it home OK!!

Great job staying calm and using VHF (and having a working VHF!!) to get the help you needed.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Thank you for sharing your experience. That was a very thoughtful, detailed explanation of what happened. It could definitely help someone else in the future too.
As a backup to my fishfinder GPS, I now use a free app called Map My Ride. It's designed to track your route as you run/bike/etc. Right before I launch, I open the app and hit begin run and it'll track my route and display it on the map. This could be helpful when trying to find your way back to the launch.

Good to know you made it back safe.  Its time to invest in a GPS / FF combo and always turn the track feature on.  My motto too is never go out alone in the ocean.

Excellent information in there, this is a thread that every newbie (and vet) should read.

That's a pretty intense story, and I thank you for sharing it.  It will most certainly help others to understand the various factors to consider when heading out on the ocean.  One other thing I would recommend though is that you always fish with a partner, especially when in places where you might just be the only one(s) out there. 

I'm glad you made it home safe. Certainly a tough way to learn things.
I go out by myself all the time, but I am familiar with where I'm going, have a couple years experience, and have a working GPS. I also have a compass that I know how to use. Every little thing matters.
I'd of been wetting my pants if out after dark and lost.

I think it's extremely important to carry an old-school compass no matter how many other electronics you have. Electronics can fail.

As others have said, thanks for sharing this and glad you made out OK.

I'm glad it worked out ok. At least you had the radio. Does your phone not have google maps or an equivalent? If you open up Google maps when you have cell service it will show your location on the map even without cell service.

Sometimes, but not always.  GPS is kind of spotty without cell service.

Not to threadjack, but I've had good results using the gps in my phone. Load the map before you go and let it run in the background. I wouldn't use it to hunt geocaches, but to find your way it works well. Better than nothing and a good backup in case of FF failure.

Glad to hear you are back safe and sound after all the ordeals.

Good post and glad you are okay. every little thing must be planned just in case. Me, being as scatter brained as I am, have a hard time remembering to hit my way point before heading out to the old blue. But I keep reminding myself to always do it when I look down at my FF when I head out. I should make myself a checklist like I had when I flew, makes life a bit easier.

 

 Thanks for sharing your ordeal.  One thing I haven't been too concerned about is reading my VHF's display after dark?

"My radio displays GPS coordinates but the numbers are very small and the screen on the radio is too dim to read them in the dark"
  I've only used it during daylight hours and never thought to turn it on after dark to se if I could read it.  It seems I would be able to as the display is pretty bright orange.  (My radio doesn't have GPS, my FF does however) On this note, I have no idea how my FF lights up after dark? Would I be able to read the GPS without my headlamp or flashlight?  Something else to play with now.
  I always have a head lamp with me or my mini-mag so light for me wouldn't have been a problem.  Glad you finally got back!

Most FF units are backlit all the time (if its color).  B&W units, depending on brand, is generally a matter of pressing the Power button to activate a backlight or some form of menu to turn on backlight (for B&W units).

Scary as $hit.  Seems the coasties believed an operative phone could have helped vector you home, or them to your pos, quicker? 
Additional learning point - Get and use a waterproof case!

Glad you got home in one piece, and told the tale.  enjoyed the well written, factual, no bs recitation

Glad you ended up alright but the information is out there on how to avoid these kind of things.  Look it up through the search function. Can't solely rely on GPS either. I've got 2 on board along with a compass. Know which way the drift is taking you. Know the coordinates you launch out of, how deep you are and have an estimate on how far south or north youve gone. The fog comes in damn fast and thick. Its a fun thing to navigate through it when you know how to deal with it appropriately.