Safety Gear Is Like AMEX..Don't Leave Home without ALL OF IT!

[GBF]

Had a bad experience tonight. While kind of embarrassing, it might help someone in the future so I'm going to share my experence that just happen tonight.

I got married about 3 weeks ago. I introduced my wife to kayaking about 6 months ago and she loved it. In the beginning I put her in a Tarpon 140 and that's what she learned on. She's had 6 or 7 trips under her belt all in the harbor and she had gained a great deal of confidence. I purchased her a Tarpon 140 and she fell in love with it and kayaking as well. She's not a great swimmer but we booked a refresher course for her and purchased the best PFD available for her. I took her on a gondola ride last week and the bay looked like a lake. I also booked a trip with THE DARKHORSE for Sunday and spent the last week preparing. I mentioned going to the bay to fine tune my bait tank and re-acquaint myself with my Calstar J10 and Newell 332. After testing my bait tank and ripping off a few casts we settled into a nice cadence enjoying the bay. I didn’t bring a rod leash nor a life jacket because we were not going to be out long and I just wanted to work on my gear and paddle with my wife. She was about 30 yards away from me and the next thing I heard was a big splash and when I looked over the kayak was upside down and I did not see her. Immediately, I was in the water trying to get to her as fast as I could. I'm a strong swimmer and after I hit the water I saw her. I got to her very quickly and she was freaked out big time. I tried to calm her down, which took about 30 to 45 seconds. After she calmed down I wanted to get to her kayak as quickly as possible and tried to get her in by holding the other side while she entered the kayak from the opposite side. She was getting in and lost her balance again but this time, and her and the kayak flipped over on top of me. I got hit with the inside corner of the kayak where my neck curves into my shoulder and I was in big time pain. The current was moving pretty good and when I turned around my upside down kayak was not in sight. I thought, "My bait tank and Jig Stick with reel were gone"......The next second I was just happy that she was ok and that we were safe and the situation would work it self out in short order. I got her back into her kayak with paddle in hand. It was about that time that a guy pulled up in a small whaler. I could not get my arm over my head much less pull myself up. They got us on board, tied her kayak to their boat and we then went looking for and found my kayak and found it. When we flipped the kayak over the rod was still in the holder!!!.......Bait tank was gone but, I still had my jig stick!!! (Happy Days…No Mini Yard Sale”).....Then I noticed my Camano Paddle was gone. My kayak has paddle holders on both sides and I let my guard down for one second and I got bit!!. The guy in the whaler gave us a ride back to the beach with kayaks in tow. After thanking them we went about putting the kayak's back on the car, which was the most pain I had experienced in my life. During the ride home I remembered one thing I did not do with her that I will do on our very next outing. HELP HER GET TO KNOW HER KAYAK!! I know better........stuff like How to enter and exit the kayak in deep water, letting her move all around her kayak in shallow water (as I had done when I got started) so she could learning how far she can lean without flipping. Letting her pull equipment out of the front hatch and moving all the way to the back of her kayak to know it's limitations and her limitations as well.

We are home and showered and I cannot believe the pain I’m in. She says she's ready to get back into the kayak. I just hope I did not injure myself too bad. I am in so much pain I know I need to go to the Doctor but I'm going to wait until morning. Lesson learned. I’m going to order another paddle in the morning and get to my Dr as soon as his doors open. The lesson........Don't ever get in the water without every last piece of safety gear. Including but not limited to, paddle leash and PFD. If you are taking a new person out, let the first few trips be "Getting to know your kayak trips in waist deep water!!"

Hope everyone's next trip out is a safe one!! Don’t take any chances or let your guard down….Not even for a minute!!

See you all out on the water,


GBF

[jorluivil]

Sounds like you're a little bruised but OK nonetheless. When I bought my kayak the first thing my buddy and I practiced was tipping and boarding the kayak(s) and it wasn't in knee deep water. I can assure you that I know how hard it is to get back on that thing. We did the tip and board thing three times each, when I got home I was drained. I couldn't believe how much energy it took just to get back on.

Anyway, hope you're OK!!!

[Gino]

I got married about 3 weeks ago.

Didnt get a full sentence in and i saw your first mistake


Glad you and your Lady are alright. you musta got hurt pretty bad. hopefully its just some swelling. Its alwasy pretty important to get to know your kayak before you even take it out into open ocean. You guys were just in the bay. If the kayak the right fit for her? I know Tarpons have alot fo side to side give, but a strong secondary stability, So you cant lean over to much.

Glad it all went ok.

[bigbarrels]

glad you're only bruised up and your wife is ok as well! Being prepared is crucial on the water and some of us learn this from our experiences OTW and hopefully others will learn from this by reading your post. Thanks

[WahooUSMA]

I had a Tarpon 160i once and the first time I went out in it, I was upside down. I still think Premo and Kent tipped me over, but that's a whole other story.

The daughters boyfriend was using my Revo and I had the Tarpon as an extra yak. He had never been on a kayak before and I had never used the Tarpon. I made sure he had everything leashed, PDF, etc. I was going to be 'OK' since I thought I was an experienced kayaker. LMAO because the kid got hooked up with a nice T and fought it for what seemed to be too long. Anyway, we all caught up to him, Premo, Kent and I and the next thing I know is that someones line (mine) got wrapped around my rudder as the kid was bringing the T to the side of the Revo. Not to mention seeing the boy get tail slapped by the T in the process. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

Long story short - as we are unhooking the T and the wrapped fly-line line from around my rudder, I looked over my shoulder to see what was going on and the next thing you know, I was upside down with the Thresher. Its amazing how quickly my fat ass righted that yak and got back in. I lost a nice Avet and Seeker combo, pliers, and some other small stuff. Did manage to keep one rod and reel since that was the one that was wrapped around the rudder.

[Jzo]

Thx for sharing, learned a lot, great that you've made out ok.

[THE DARKHORSE]

The good news is you and your wife are safe. We'll get out there when the time's right, Lenard. La Jolla and I aren't going anywhere.

Not to mention, with heavy bruising and muscle strains in your neck---the last thing you want is sore arms, too

[bellcon]

Is this the same Lenard from baytubers?
Thanks for sharing your story big guy... people can benefit from it!

I took my daughter out awhile back
she has been yakking many times, but this time was a little farther than most her trips

I was constantly checking on her
one time I looked back and she was in the water...
I started to paddle towards her
Like Whizz Bangs story, she was just taking a pee
It made me feel a whole lot better knowing that she could get in and out of the yak with such ease... probably better than most of us...


Now she ask when she gets to go fishing with that DARKHORSE guy...
she thinks catching bass etc. is fun, but wants one of those big fish in LJ

I guess she has out grown me and wants a "Real Guide"

[GBF]

Yup....................I'm a Baytuber also....Don't tell Kiyo. His kids think I'm SHAQ!!

GBF

[BT]

Been a while since I have posted but saw this and figured I would share my experience.

My last yak I had I was to big for and twice found myself upside down. Once in the calm bay hooping early lobster season, and once in LJ. Got back in fine in the bay (light clothing, warm night), but the time in LJ it was winter time, and I had on layers and waders. I had a hell of a time trying to get back in my yak. A guy came over and told me to get on from the bow. Basically push the nose down and shimmy on back to the seat. Worked like a charm. Dont have to worry about tipping back over, just any accessories you have that may get in the way that you may want to remove prior to boarding.

I now paddle an X-Factor which is much more stable than my last yak.

And on the paddle losing note, I always use a leash, especially since I spent good money on a Werner. There is actually a guy on this board (who will remain nameless to protect the innocent), who when one night we were hooping the big bay I hear him yell his paddle floated off while pulling up a hoop. We searched for a bit, and he actually found the black paddle at night. lucky man!

BT

[Gigafish]

Take it slow. Kayaking can be brutal. I am suprised I haven't heard of a report of a kayaker being struck by a boat as so many things can go wrong in open water. Stay safe.

[Kiyo]

Originally Posted by GBF

Yup....................I'm a Baytuber also....Don't tell Kiyo. His kids think I'm SHAQ!!

GBF

Glad you guys are ok!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjixjVoDJSk

[wiredantz]

lol classic

[wiredantz]

Originally Posted by Kiyo

Glad you guys are ok!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjixjVoDJSk

Shaq- so funny

[Aaron&Julie]

Sorry to hear about your losses, injury, and rough experience. Glad it wasn't any worse.

The only time we had a flip, other than landing in the surf, was early on in our kayak experience. It was our first trip using trolling motors and 60lb marine batteries, Julie flipped near the Southern reserve buoy markers at La Jolla. I was just a little in front of her, turned my head back, and she was gone. Well, actually, she was clinging to a buoy with her yak next to her. We hadn't practiced this event. But, when I got to her, I could tell she was freaked, too, like your wife. I jumped off my yak, and she boarded it fairly easy. And even though her Fish 'N Dive had the battery, motor, rods, bait tank, gaff, etc. I was lucky enough to flip it back on the first try, and boarded it. I don't believe we lost anything. But, we still called it a day.

In hind-sight, and for future kayakers of the world, we'd definitely recommend a no gear day where you intentionally flip your yak and practice what is necessary to save the situation. It would lessen any fear in an actual flipping.

Congratulations on your recent marriage. It sounds like you have a trooper, and future kayak partner, there. May you experiences ahead be wonderful like ours.

[Jimmyz123]

Being new to the sport of Kayak fishing this is one of those lesson posts that I like to read and think what would have done. I have been around boats and fishing my entire life and the interesting this is I have not yet, and I say Yet, falling in. I know someday it's going to happen but I am going to be darn sure that I'm ready if it happens. The reason I have not yet launched from La Jolla yet is because I don't fee I have all the safetly gear I need, and I have not practiced getting in and out of the Kayak yet, I'm waiting for the water to warm a little, but I plan on working on that soon.

I'm glad the originator of this thread is O.K. and that he and his wife are safe, and I think we all have learned a lesson and at this point. We only have one life here on this big blue planet let's not make it any shorter than it already is.

[StinkyMatt]

Just my tw cents worth:

Practice flipping your kayak with a bait tank/ or crate and one or more attached poles. The resistance that the tank/ crate creates makes a difference. Make sure that you wear your waders when you practice.

The first time I practiced was in my parents' pool, empty kayak, in shorts, etc. My Dad called me out and said that "There ain't no phoooking way I could do all that with all my gear, tank and waders in an ocean in 57 degrees" Trust me it is a LOT harder to do it all geared up . A LOT harder!

Matt

Originally Posted by Jimmyz123

Being new to the sport of Kayak fishing this is one of those lesson posts that I like to read and think what would have done. I have been around boats and fishing my entire life and the interesting this is I have not yet, and I say Yet, falling in. I know someday it's going to happen but I am going to be darn sure that I'm ready if it happens. The reason I have not yet launched from La Jolla yet is because I don't fee I have all the safetly gear I need, and I have not practiced getting in and out of the Kayak yet, I'm waiting for the water to warm a little, but I plan on working on that soon.

I'm glad the originator of this thread is O.K. and that he and his wife are safe, and I think we all have learned a lesson and at this point. We only have one life here on this big blue planet let's not make it any shorter than it already is.

[Jimmyz123]

Thanks Matt that make so much sense to me. I do have access to a pool that I can do this on also, and I'm sure my In Laws will get a great laugh at watching me do this. If it means being able to save my life while on the water, you bet I'm going to try this. I'm like 99.9% ready and to hit La Jolla and am looking forward to doing so.

Originally Posted by StinkyMatt

Just my tw cents worth:

Practice flipping your kayak with a bait tank/ or crate and one or more attached poles. The resistance that the tank/ crate creates makes a difference. Make sure that you wear your waders when you practice.

The first time I practiced was in my parents' pool, empty kayak, in shorts, etc. My Dad called me out and said that "There ain't no phoooking way I could do all that with all my gear, tank and waders in an ocean in 57 degrees" Trust me it is a LOT harder to do it all geared up . A LOT harder!

Matt

[dorado50]

don't underestimate the pacific ocean. If you are going to practice self rescue do it in the ocean on a windy and rough day. Only then will you know what u r made of...