Bean 9/1 - pea soup

Ramon!  Sounds like you did the same thing as me the first time we went out at Bean!  I know all to well what you were feeling out there.  But you should have learned from my mistakes...  You know I went right out and bought a VHF and GPS immediately...  and it's not because I have too much money laying around....  They are essential, imo. 

But on a positive note, you faced a challenge and came out alive, with lessons learned.  I bet you won't get lost again!

Garmin Garmin Garmin.

...fog is a BITCH to navigate through(impossible w/o electronics), although reading the swell direction is failproof(kinda) I got lost in the Carquinez Straight(you can practically throw a rock across it) for three hours in a PB, doing circles until the fog burned off. Didn't want to look at compass because "I KNEW" exactly where we were....LOST IN THE FOG.

Hard not to feel a little worried when you can't see the shore,sky or 50ft in any direction...wait for it to lift, then decide if it's a go.
and remember...Mooch is "always" right(safe)...just ask around.

You are totally right Fish Hunter! but after all, good experience is part of a bad experiance!  Accidents happen, when is your time is your time   I'm so glad I got out ok. When I landed on that beach I felt like I born again ! as a new fisherman of course!!    Didn't you Eric ???

When I landed on that beach I felt like I born again ! as a new fisherman of course!!    

i've experienced that wonderful feeling before (not in the yak yet)

Didn't you Eric ???

Absolutely.

I had similar situation at Gerstle Cove (Salt Point State Park, Sonoma Coast) last year with 10' viz in the fog and had no clue of my bearing (north,south...???) since my ff/gps died out on me.  And in my experience, you can NOT rely heavily on electronics (I was carrying marine radio too) since it will eventually fail one way or another when you run out of battery juice.  So now, I also carry a $14 compass that sling on my neck and installed another compass mounted on my deck.  It never hurts to have dual equipment with you when you're out there esp the one that will give you directions to get back.

In my case, I paddled out when it was already foggy so I figured I  just paddle against the wind and swell and drift back.  what I failed to  anticipate was the thick fog blanketing me in the middle of the ocean (I only had 10 foot viz in any directions!!!).  I drifted back on the the swell but still a struggle since it was like paddling in the dark w/ no clue if I was nearing or passing the cove....  so my suggestion to everyone is carry a $14 compass and read your bearing before you launch...  and you'll feel a lot secured in case your ff crop out on you.

-Ron

That sounds like a scary day. I'm glad everybody got back and in one piece. Be safe out there peoples.

FF

How effective a compass is ? in situation like this one..  ( lost in dense fog )  I mean, We all know a compass will help you to find where the shore is: N,S,E,W, but what about finding the exact spot where you want to go.
is it possible?

How effective a compass is ? in situation like this one..  ( lost in dense fog )  I mean, We all know a compass will help you to find where the shore is: N,S,E,W, but what about finding the exact spot where you want to go.
is it possible?

I used compass to get bearing of where I started and use the compass to get back.  If you want to use compass where you plan or plot to go, then you need a map of area to use with the compass.  But I don't use the compass to plot where I go; that's the job of my ff/gps which sadly to say, failed my expectations many times due to fogged up screen or insufficient battery.  But definitely, if it's foggy, I bring my compass with me as standby tool.

How effective a compass is ?

yoda, I suggest you just use the force next time!

I had similar situation at Gerstle Cove (Salt Point State Park, Sonoma Coast) last year with 10' viz in the fog and had no clue of my bearing (north,south...???) since my ff/gps died out on me.  And in my experience, you can NOT rely heavily on electronics (I was carrying marine radio too) since it will eventually fail one way or another when you run out of battery juice.  So now, I also carry a $14 compass that sling on my neck and installed another compass mounted on my deck.  It never hurts to have dual equipment with you when you're out there esp the one that will give you directions to get back.

YES!!! YES!!! YES!!!

How effective a compass is ? in situation like this one..  ( lost in dense fog )  I mean, We all know a compass will help you to find where the shore is: N,S,E,W, but what about finding the exact spot where you want to go.
is it possible?

A compass would work well enough such that when you do get in sight of shore, you have a much better chance of turning in the correct direction to actually find your landing. A compass and topo map would make it almost a certainty that you'd be able to correct a mistake once you got within sight of shore and had started to head N or S.

Regards,
Scott

I actually bought the $14 compass last week and had it around my neck while in the bean soup.  I referred to it very often paddling out - while out - and while coming back.

Without a visual reference - it only helps so much - but it definately helps.

We paddled out in a NW direction which was roughly 2 oclock to swell.  Then wind drift was at a different angle to swell.  So - the comass helped me point toward shore on the way back in - but the fog dog (faint sun) helped as well.

Interestingly - the loudest break is what I aimed at - and it turned out to be the flat rocks at the north side of the jaws.  When I've been in thick fog at Capitola- the car sounds and dogs barking have been very comforting.

Even with a compass - I can imagine it would be quite disorienting to be in thick fog without visible sun, out of sound range from shore.

Gordo

I actually bought the $14 compass last week and had it around my neck while in the bean soup.  I referred to it very often paddling out - while out - and while coming back.

Without a visual reference - it only helps so much - but it definately helps.

Even with a compass - I can imagine it would be quite disorienting to be in thick fog without visible sun, out of sound range from shore.

Gordo

I've used handheld $14 compass and topographic map (land mass) on pig/deer hunting a lot so I am more comfortable using the 'handheld' compass when paddling back shore on heavy fog at sea.  Unfortunately, paddling both hands and checking bearing in the 'handheld' compass every now & then is 'very' inefficient.  So I installed a more expensive compass on deck that has liquid in it and the pointer is floating up.  I have no idea whatsoever and I tried researching to no avail on how to use 'floating' compass---it's just too confusing.  So now, I plan to buy another $14 'handheld' compass and 'permanently' glue it on deck.  I just turn the dial and make the 'white' arrow point at 90 degrees in the direction I plan to 'exit' from the beach; coming back to beach/'starting point', I follow the 'white' arrow to go to the 'red' arrow box at 270 degrees.  simple device but it works!

Gordo, I'll paddle with you anytime.

-Ron

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Gordo, I'll paddle with you anytime.

-Ron

What about me Man ??

What about me Man ??

[/quote]

Well, I'll paddle with you too but I'll show you how 'every' single piece (rod, tackle box, etc) on my yak are clip-on with 'very short'  6-8 inches lanyard.  So in case of overspill/capsize (I enjoy getting wet; 7mm wetsuit is too hot on me when it's dry , nothing gets loss.   

-Ron