Guide for a Dux salmon trip

I have never owned a PA, but here is my opinion.  If you can be sure to recover from a yard sale with your PA, I would say more power to you.  Just remember, even with a guide, if you tip on the surf, you are 99% on your own (and dont forget the guide will also have to land as well).  A yard sale with injury and losses will be sure to ruin your day.

My advice would be to choose another location.  Launching/landing a PA14 at Bolinas is just a bad idea.  Not saying its impossible, but it will definitely be trickier.

+1 not a suggested PA launch especially with these big tides

This 100%... I've launched the AI from the beach a few times and it's pretty damn scary.

Its pretty much like this launch but 10X



Stay safe if you do and never place yourself between kayak and beach. Goodluck 

Lol this guy in the video was moving in slow motion no urgency at all what was he thinking?!?

My advice would be to choose another location.  Launching/landing a PA14 at Bolinas is just a bad idea.  Not saying its impossible, but it will definitely be trickier.

+1 not a suggested PA launch especially with these big tides

This 100%... I've launched the AI from the beach a few times and it's pretty damn scary.

Its pretty much like this launch but 10X



Stay safe if you do and never place yourself between kayak and beach. Goodluck 

Lol this guy in the video was moving in slow motion no urgency at all what was he thinking?!?

 

There was a video from many years ago (still can't find it) where a guy launched his kayak in Big Sur and it was absolute chaos from the start lol. The spot where they filmed it is probably one of the craziest launches I've ever done. Sitting at the surf before heading in hearing the loud waves crash one after another.... yeah that will get your heart pumping!

#1You will have to lift your PA. Over the gate.#2  My outback is slow,makes timing the waves,very important.  I am 2 for 5 landing intact.  #3 the bigger the kayak the harder they crash. I am on my 2nd yak in 3 years. Luckily my warranty was still current. I have busted my seat,net,rod holders, lost rods,hats,plyers.etc.

#1You will have to lift your PA. Over the gate.#2  My outback is slow,makes timing the waves,very important.  I am 2 for 5 landing intact.  #3 the bigger the kayak the harder they crash. I am on my 2nd yak in 3 years. Luckily my warranty was still current. I have busted my seat,net,rod holders, lost rods,hats,plyers.etc.

+1 Bolinas is not forgiving this year. I had the same reel sent back to service due to sand damage 2 times already due to Bolinas beach(probably my own problem of not removing the reel before landing).

Thanks for all the info and advice. I'm going to try a different spot.

You should really read my posts... I love sand!!   

My friend busted his nose open at the wall and broke his rod and wheels. Bolinas is not a good place to launch with the beach gone even if you are experienced. Maybe Bolinas lagoon but I would work your way up and try pillar point first before you go for one of the toughest launches in the Bay Area.

This is what happens when I go to Bolinas:

Nice video NWM  and thanks for the visual

Yike! Ima put Bolinas on my "never even gonna think about trying that" list lol

This is what happens when I go to Bolinas:

To yard sale in the middle of the water looks miserable. Cool video though

This is what happens when I go to Bolinas:

Surf launches are exhilarating. Really enjoyed watching this video, I don't have video of any of my surf launch oopsies (or successes).

I noticed you weren't peddling in the seconds leading up to that wave... Back when I did surf launches it was with a paddle SOT; my approach when paddling into a wave that was close to breaking was to gain as much momentum as possible. Do peddle folks do it differently?

Also, you were perpendicular to that wave, yeah? Almost looks like you weren't but that could easily be a feature of the camera.

Dang that was an impressive wave breaking right on top of you, must have been some serious force. Good job righting, self rescuing and then heading back out!   


Here is a launch in SC that I did a while back with SCTrace, we only barely made it 

This is what happens when I go to Bolinas:

I watch this and Chet's at the beginning of every salmon season to remind me of all the risks.