Self Rescues-My Journey- My Practice- the emergency? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

wiredantz · 09-09-2012, 08:02 PM

Hello everyone,

Everyone that knows me knows that i have never practiced self rescued since i have been paddling my kayak since late 2010.

I am 6ft one 160lbs, have a 6 pack and have muscles ranging from head to toe. A magnificent human i am...

well not really... im 6ft 283lbs now(damn Carl jr Banana shakes), have a nice 1 pack, and barely have any upper body strength except for the muscles that i have gained from paddling so much.

I had a nice 8 mile paddle on Sunday, by myself, which had me thinking: what if it happens, what will i do, can i get back on....

So today was too beautiful not to go to the beach... I took my family and i brought my kayak...

Today was the day, i was going to going to FINALLY practice self rescues...

I don't own a swimming pool and nobody wants a Mexican inside their pool so the ocean it was...

I broke through the waves multiple times to practice going in and out of the surf in 1-3ft waves... all were successful... my wifes even said you looked like you knew what you were doing....

Well, i went out past the surf in about 15 ft of water.... and i rocked my x-factor back and forth so i could tip over..... didn't work...

X-factor was so stable couldn't flip her....so jumping off it was...

jumped off... my pfd was way too loose and was interfering with my visibility....

So i pulled down my pfd and pulled the straps as hard as i can and luckily it tightened.

My first mission: to get back back on my kayak without relying on my safety equipment.

Talking to myself...
Alright frank, YOU CAN DO IT... Just like in you tube.... kick as hard as you can and pull yourself on your kayak.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCDyq4KWBVg

The results: Failed

.... Capsized twice

(out of breath)

Flipping the x-factor in the ocean was easy... just grabbed the opposite handle and pulled on it while pushing the handle that was close to me up.

had my kayak right side up in no time.

Ok... since i can't get on the side of my kayak... i am going to do the ladder...

Everyone knows the ladder right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCC-oX-OsWg

The results: Failed
Could not get the bow of the kayak under me stomach....

So i had no choice....

I grabbed my paddle float...
http://www.amazon.com/Seattle-Sports...s=paddle+float

It took me a few seconds to catch my breath...

Inflated a little bit and slid one end of my paddle and finished inflating the paddle float ....

A surfer had come down to see how i was doing.... I told I am ok... just practicing self rescues.... If i can't get back on I will swim back....

He stayed around for a few mins to make sure i was ok.... I looked at the beach and saw this Lifeguard jeep racing down the beach from 3 life guard towers down....

(i said to myself..." franky my boy, if you don't want to be humiliated i better get back on kayak)

So i put my paddle perpendicular to my kayak next to the ram ball so it would not slide and with the last remaining strength i pulled up...( my kayak is tipping, will i make it... It does not look like it) and MAKE IT!!!! the paddle flat did not let my kayak tip over....

Finally, back on my kayak.... !!!! YES... I look toward the beach.... and the lifeguard jeep is parked and looking straight at me from the beach... Give the thumbs up and they are back on their way... I sit down for awhile and catch my breath...

paddle back to the beach make a successful landing and throw myself next to my wife on the blanket.

My wife looked at me....

Frank, you had everyone nervous... nobody knew what you were doing... everyone was looking at you...

Well i said... i have to practice...

So about 30 mins later i go back out again....(this time i inflate my paddle float and wrap it around the paddle, saves time since im practicing)

Then i said to my self... I wonder if i could stand up on my x-factor...
Stand up on my kayak and fall off....

Swim back to my kayak and put the paddle next to the ram ball and back up on my kayak in one try....

Well... Several things go to my head...

(What if the paddle float rips or my paddle breaks)

So I told my wife... Without the paddle float i can not get back on my kayak.. So i will keep a second one inside my kayak just in case the first one burst...

So all in all, Now i have practiced self rescues if , i ever get tossed by a whale.... or something like that....

I have never capsize or fallen off my kayak in the middle of the ocean... except in the surf....(and i don't plan too) but if it happens I will be ready...

Here is a little video of me practicing in the surf...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDveg...ature=youtu.be

No real emergency, but i might of created one if i could not make it back on...

Hey where is Frank?

ful-rac · 09-09-2012, 08:28 PM

Im sure you could get back on your kayak without a paddle float. You just have to practice more. Frank you really should have had someone standing by next to you just in case. Glad you Did the drill and made it!

No you cant use the pool!

GregAndrew · 09-09-2012, 08:36 PM

Entertaining as always Frank.

bus kid · 09-09-2012, 08:38 PM

Frank, after reading all that, you can use my pool anytime to pratice.

roby · 09-09-2012, 08:42 PM

I want to be a Frank when I grow up....

StinkyMatt · 09-09-2012, 08:43 PM

Hey Frank, glad you took the time to practice.

Now imagine that you are out in:
Winter time
Waders and heavier clothing
A full bait tank
Rods and leashes all over the place.

I did this in the pool (no, you can't use it). It was very difficult to flip theyak over with the rods and tank.

I now always have a rope tied to one of the side handles. In the event you need to turn over your kayak, you just throw the rope over and pull, HUGE help.

ericko · 09-09-2012, 09:05 PM

Bus kid didnt you read his post FRANK Is XXL he wont fit in your kiddie pool!!!!

kidding frank do you have room in your X-factor for anything else?

wiredantz · 09-09-2012, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericko

Bus kid didnt you read his post FRANK Is XXL he wont fit in your kiddie pool!!!!

kidding frank do you have room in your X-factor for anything else?

I decided to stop bringing my easy bake oven
Now I have more room

PE.rider · 09-09-2012, 10:23 PM

Frank,

Do you have a sit-in or sit-on top?

The videos you showed in your links were sit-ins, which are more challenging. I learned my technique on sit-on-tops from watching this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8skBpGsNNp4

I especially like the "stirrup" idea with the paddle float. Also, you may want to try in calmer waters such as a harbor or inlet area... preferably near a kiddie beach... much safer.

I've found pushing down on the kayak -sort of like the pulling-down action of a rolling metal door found in storage spaces while kicking gets you in the driver's seat faster.

Imagine the scenario where you fall out of the kayak due to a concussive blow from under the boat by say... an 18 foot Great White... You probably want the ability to get in the cockpit ASAP or within 10 seconds.

There's always yak stabilizers too! Good Job!

View Poll Results: Have you practiced Self rescues?
Yes	24	57.14%
No	18	42.86%
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll

09-09-2012, 08:02 PM	#1
wiredantz Currently @ MLO Territory Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Under the Shadow Posts: 2,290	Self Rescues-My Journey- My Practice- the emergency? Hello everyone, Everyone that knows me knows that i have never practiced self rescued since i have been paddling my kayak since late 2010. I am 6ft one 160lbs, have a 6 pack and have muscles ranging from head to toe. A magnificent human i am... well not really... im 6ft 283lbs now(damn Carl jr Banana shakes), have a nice 1 pack, and barely have any upper body strength except for the muscles that i have gained from paddling so much. I had a nice 8 mile paddle on Sunday, by myself, which had me thinking: what if it happens, what will i do, can i get back on.... So today was too beautiful not to go to the beach... I took my family and i brought my kayak... Today was the day, i was going to going to FINALLY practice self rescues... I don't own a swimming pool and nobody wants a Mexican inside their pool so the ocean it was... I broke through the waves multiple times to practice going in and out of the surf in 1-3ft waves... all were successful... my wifes even said you looked like you knew what you were doing.... Well, i went out past the surf in about 15 ft of water.... and i rocked my x-factor back and forth so i could tip over..... didn't work... X-factor was so stable couldn't flip her....so jumping off it was... jumped off... my pfd was way too loose and was interfering with my visibility.... So i pulled down my pfd and pulled the straps as hard as i can and luckily it tightened. My first mission: to get back back on my kayak without relying on my safety equipment. Talking to myself... Alright frank, YOU CAN DO IT... Just like in you tube.... kick as hard as you can and pull yourself on your kayak. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCDyq4KWBVg The results: Failed .... Capsized twice (out of breath) Flipping the x-factor in the ocean was easy... just grabbed the opposite handle and pulled on it while pushing the handle that was close to me up. had my kayak right side up in no time. Ok... since i can't get on the side of my kayak... i am going to do the ladder... Everyone knows the ladder right? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCC-oX-OsWg The results: Failed Could not get the bow of the kayak under me stomach.... So i had no choice.... I grabbed my paddle float... http://www.amazon.com/Seattle-Sports...s=paddle+float It took me a few seconds to catch my breath... Inflated a little bit and slid one end of my paddle and finished inflating the paddle float .... A surfer had come down to see how i was doing.... I told I am ok... just practicing self rescues.... If i can't get back on I will swim back.... He stayed around for a few mins to make sure i was ok.... I looked at the beach and saw this Lifeguard jeep racing down the beach from 3 life guard towers down.... (i said to myself..." franky my boy, if you don't want to be humiliated i better get back on kayak) So i put my paddle perpendicular to my kayak next to the ram ball so it would not slide and with the last remaining strength i pulled up...( my kayak is tipping, will i make it... It does not look like it) and MAKE IT!!!! the paddle flat did not let my kayak tip over.... Finally, back on my kayak.... !!!! YES... I look toward the beach.... and the lifeguard jeep is parked and looking straight at me from the beach... Give the thumbs up and they are back on their way... I sit down for awhile and catch my breath... paddle back to the beach make a successful landing and throw myself next to my wife on the blanket. My wife looked at me.... Frank, you had everyone nervous... nobody knew what you were doing... everyone was looking at you... Well i said... i have to practice... So about 30 mins later i go back out again....(this time i inflate my paddle float and wrap it around the paddle, saves time since im practicing) Then i said to my self... I wonder if i could stand up on my x-factor... Stand up on my kayak and fall off.... Swim back to my kayak and put the paddle next to the ram ball and back up on my kayak in one try.... Well... Several things go to my head... (What if the paddle float rips or my paddle breaks) So I told my wife... Without the paddle float i can not get back on my kayak.. So i will keep a second one inside my kayak just in case the first one burst... So all in all, Now i have practiced self rescues if , i ever get tossed by a whale.... or something like that.... I have never capsize or fallen off my kayak in the middle of the ocean... except in the surf....(and i don't plan too) but if it happens I will be ready... Here is a little video of me practicing in the surf... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDveg...ature=youtu.be No real emergency, but i might of created one if i could not make it back on... Hey where is Frank? __________________ Team: Disbanded You only have one chance in this life...make the right decision(s)...so you don't regret it Last edited by wiredantz; 09-09-2012 at 08:51 PM.

09-09-2012, 08:28 PM	#2
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Im sure you could get back on your kayak without a paddle float. You just have to practice more. Frank you really should have had someone standing by next to you just in case. Glad you Did the drill and made it! No you cant use the pool! __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

09-09-2012, 08:38 PM	#4
bus kid Team Keine Zugehörigkeit Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Way out there Posts: 2,854	Frank, after reading all that, you can use my pool anytime to pratice. __________________ Não alimente os trolls------------Don't feed the trolls---------------インタネット荒らしを無視しろ

09-09-2012, 08:36 PM	#3
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Entertaining as always Frank.

09-09-2012, 08:42 PM	#5
roby CEO of Team Roby Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 905	I want to be a Frank when I grow up....

09-09-2012, 08:43 PM	#6
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	Hey Frank, glad you took the time to practice. Now imagine that you are out in: Winter time Waders and heavier clothing A full bait tank Rods and leashes all over the place. I did this in the pool (no, you can't use it). It was very difficult to flip theyak over with the rods and tank. I now always have a rope tied to one of the side handles. In the event you need to turn over your kayak, you just throw the rope over and pull, HUGE help.

09-09-2012, 09:05 PM	#7
ericko Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Huntington beach Posts: 594	Bus kid didnt you read his post FRANK Is XXL he wont fit in your kiddie pool!!!! kidding frank do you have room in your X-factor for anything else?

09-09-2012, 10:23 PM	#9
PE.rider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: OC, CA Posts: 234	Frank, Do you have a sit-in or sit-on top? The videos you showed in your links were sit-ins, which are more challenging. I learned my technique on sit-on-tops from watching this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8skBpGsNNp4 I especially like the "stirrup" idea with the paddle float. Also, you may want to try in calmer waters such as a harbor or inlet area... preferably near a kiddie beach... much safer. I've found pushing down on the kayak -sort of like the pulling-down action of a rolling metal door found in storage spaces while kicking gets you in the driver's seat faster. Imagine the scenario where you fall out of the kayak due to a concussive blow from under the boat by say... an 18 foot Great White... You probably want the ability to get in the cockpit ASAP or within 10 seconds. There's always yak stabilizers too! Good Job!