A tragic reminder to never wear waders on a kayak.

That "Dushbag" is Jim Sammons, and actually a great person who preaches safety and responsibility.

I know who he is.  Doesn’t change anything. His video is full of condescension and snark.  That’s a terrible attitude for a teacher/preacher and it’s going to get people killed.

Im going to throw this one out there. Carry a hand pump as well. When I first got into this I bought a kit that had a bunch of safety gear, including an NRS hand pump. I always stored it in my hatch. Never thought I would actually use it. However, the last 2 trips I've been on, if I didn't have that hand pump. I would of had to call In for a rescue. Somewhere along the way, my kayak has developed a slow leak that is causing my hull to fill with water. I was fishing in southern CA In warm waters and literally surrounded by 100s of boats and kayakers (La Jolla), so wasn't too worried about my life being in danger but that could be a different story in some of the more remote places I fish. The way I approach it, you have to have the mindset that you could be submerged, or your kayak sinking, or a shark knocking you off, and understand that all these things could happen. So I play those scenes over in my head and try to be best prepared for when it does happen. Have a plan A,B, and C.

Im going to throw this one out there. Carry a hand pump as well. When I first got into this I bought a kit that had a bunch of safety gear, including an NRS hand pump. I always stored it in my hatch. Never thought I would actually use it. However, the last 2 trips I've been on, if I didn't have that hand pump. I would of had to call In for a rescue. Somewhere along the way, my kayak has developed a slow leak that is causing my hull to fill with water. I was fishing in southern CA In warm waters and literally surrounded by 100s of boats and kayakers (La Jolla), so wasn't too worried about my life being in danger but that could be a different story in some of the more remote places I fish. The way I approach it, you have to have the mindset that you could be submerged, or your kayak sinking, or a shark knocking you off, and understand that all these things could happen. So I play those scenes over in my head and try to be best prepared for when it does happen. Have a plan A,B, and C.

I totally agree!! I have not had to use mine yet but I leave it clipped behind my seat so I can grab it easily. As we know its hard to stay upright in a swamped boat

Plan "A" should be faulty gear = NO-GO!
Heading out with faulty gear is just asking for trouble.
You will either put yourself or those who have to assist you at an unnecessary risk.

Plan "A" should be faulty gear = NO-GO!
Heading out with faulty gear is just asking for trouble.
You will either put yourself or those who have to assist you at an unnecessary risk.

100%

Also don’t leash yourself to your kayak.  Dress for immersion, keep your knife on your PFD and be able to grab and use it with either hand. Keep your radio in your PFD.  Make sure it has a belch function or otherwise is designed to work after submersion or else you might be unable to transmit if your radio is wet.

Q: How fast can you swim? Have you ever tried to swim to your boat with an 8 mph wind?

A: Not as fast as your boat can drift/blow away from you!

YES use a leash and connect yourself to boat if out alone.
Can always cut it.

I leash to the paddle. If I ever go in always hold on to paddle.

Q: How fast can you swim? Have you ever tried to swim to your boat with an 8 mph wind?

A: Not as fast as your boat can drift/blow away from you!

YES use a leash and connect yourself to boat if out alone.
Can always cut it.

If solo in big wind and/or surfing your kayak is your jam, use thigh straps.  Make sure you use a paddle leash and don't let go of your paddle ever.  Not a chance in hell I'd leash myself to my kayak.

I just want to say that IF you find yourself or a fellow kayaker in this position (in the ocean with waders full of water), DO NOT TAKE YOUR PFD OFF.  You can usually unbuckle the shoulder straps underneath your PFD and shed the waders...this is fairly easy in bootfoot waders...but its much harder if you have stocking-foot waders with wading boots on. If you have to wear waders, try to avoid wading boots. And use a belt and put your paddling top over your waders.

Q: How fast can you swim? Have you ever tried to swim to your boat with an 8 mph wind?

A: Not as fast as your boat can drift/blow away from you!

YES use a leash and connect yourself to boat if out alone.
Can always cut it.

I disagree with this. Rather than putting yourself in more danger by introducing a leash to tangle with, I recommend dressing for long term immersion and keeping your VHF attached to your PFD. Even if you do get separated from your boat, you will be alive, able to float without expending much energy, and you will be able to summon help.


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Waders just aren’t appropriate attire for ocean kayaking in Northern California. Period.

Let’s please stop entertaining these “If you must wear waders, do XYZ....” tangents.

If you “must” wear waders, you “must” reassess your priorities and wait until you can afford proper gear.

You can score a Farmer John wetsuit for about $100. There just isn’t any excuse to skimp out on one of the most basic and essential pieces of gear.

Know a dude who almost died wearing waders on a Hobie tandem.  These guys aren't ocean newbies, he's a commercial salmon/crab fisherman and was on the tandem with another commercial fisherman (who also spearfishes and dives, so guy#2 was wearing a proper wetsuit).  Wader guy might not have made it back on the boat without help.

He told me the story before I started kayak fishing, so waders have never been an option for me. 

+1 for farmer john (mine's 5mm) and underarmor/paddlejacket or fleece/pfd etc.     

Another +1 for farmer johns.  Those 3mm NRS suits are perfectly comfortable and are great here in the Bay Area.  With a long sleeve wetsuit top, they even work for January crabbing.  I've been crabbing when the car thermometer read 35 degrees, and, with a little peddling, I was perfectly warm.  Hot summer days have required unzipping the front a bit.  I am sure the drysuits are a bit more comfortable, but I am just the kinda guy who would forget to zip up after relieving himself, so I haven't bothered to mess around with one. 

I had a lengthy swim in surf zone + rip tide this last weekend.  Tons of lessons on what not to do and I tired myself out pretty good, but with farmer john, PFD, radio, and a buddy nearby I didn't feel like I was ever in serious danger.

I'll also admit, as someone else also did on this thread, that I was less than safety conscious in my foolish youth (really, my young adulthood).  I kayak fished Monterey and HMB in shorts and t-shirt.  Had a buddy and a PDF, but no radio.  Seemed reasonable to me at the time, but, not, in retrospect, a great decision.

My condolences to the family of the young guy who passed away. We don't really know what exactly happened. Let's just pray for him and his family.

As a former swift water rescuer and growing in the islands as a scuba diver, my number rule in the ocean is the BUDDY SYSTEM. I was taught never to go out alone in the ocean at any time, no matter how nice and calm it is. I know some people do go out but this is just me. From experience and training, I've seen quite a bit of rescues, accidents and "interesting" observations out there.

I won't go into what to wear and not to wear, a lot of good points has already been given.

Just be safe, we all have families and loved ones. If you have doubts of launching out OR you forgot to bring the right safety gear, don't risk going out in the ocean. There's a lot of fish in the ocean just go out again next time.   

Be safe everyone.

Q: How fast can you swim? Have you ever tried to swim to your boat with an 8 mph wind?

A: Not as fast as your boat can drift/blow away from you!

YES use a leash and connect yourself to boat if out alone.
Can always cut it.

If solo in big wind and/or surfing your kayak is your jam, use thigh straps.  Make sure you use a paddle leash and don't let go of your paddle ever.  Not a chance in hell I'd leash myself to my kayak.

Here's a counter point:

If I'm going over, I'm focusing on maintaining contact with the boat. Screw the paddle. I can do 2-3 mph with just my hands while I look for the paddle, or just head in to shore. Without a boat? Not nearly so much. And yes, this is from experience. Somewhere near Fort Ross, someone hopefully wound up with a nice Werner fiberglass paddle that came loose from its tether while I was ab diving. I spent a fair amount of time searching for the paddle down drift, just paddling around with my hands, then called a lost cause and headed in. Easy peasy.

That said, if you wind up with the paddle away from the boat, you can "freestyle" swim using the paddle instead of your arms. I don't know that it's faster than if you were swimming without a paddle, but it's one heck of a lot faster than swimming with one arm while the other holds the paddle. And yes, I've tried it though never needed it. Bay and freshwater. Won't speak for it in 8' seas.