Don't Let This Happen To You - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

mo2vation · 04-20-2010, 11:10 AM

As OK as someone who just went through that can be, I mean.

WOW.

What a great lesson - I'm going to leash my pump. I'm sure if my boat took on a lot of water and started listing or tipping, my pump (which floats) would just float to the highest point - likely way, WAY out of reach. I want to pull off the hatch, pull the cord and bring the pump to me.

Wow.

Good thinking taking the paddle as a signal device. Makes me think about how invisible my black paddle would be.

Huge ups to Charlie and Scott.

What a lesson. Thanks for sharing, and I'm glad you're alright.

-Ken

bluesquids · 04-20-2010, 11:24 AM

MAN! Glad you're all right. Must of been COLD. Major bummer, but at least you live to fish another day.
Reminds me to check inside my yak after I launch, like I use to.
I have lots of rats in the yard and I know they're gonna nibble on some leftover fish juice someday. They already did it to an inflatable I had.

I keep the bilge pump bungied upside down inside the X-factor right down the middle center cockpit area. It fits perfect in there. I used matching deck loops on the inside of the yak paired to ones on the outside. You need nuts and bolts though not rivets.

Also, I stuff the inside around the tankwell with the fat pool noodles, thats wasted space anyways. I think 4-5 of them only weighed a pound.

Dan · 04-20-2010, 11:48 AM

wow. glad you are OK. it was saucy out there last night with all that chop.

I like the pool noodle suggestion. I often put a pair of Churchills in my kayak in case of an emergency swim.

mo2vation · 04-20-2010, 11:52 AM

BTW - you gotta love that dude hopped onto another boat (doubtless straddling the tank well or the bow hatch), put on some clothes his rescuer had in a bag, grabbed a rod and fished for another 90 minutes.

THAT is the best part of the story.

Plucked from the sea. Cold, wet, breathless... "oh look, bait's running. Can I borrow a lid, some shoes, your jig stick and some Grey Poupon?"

Friggen Kayak fisherman are FHC, man.

-Ken

Gino · 04-20-2010, 12:20 PM

Once your start to get water in.. that angled back hatch just sucks in more and more water... It only sits maybe 2 inches off the middle of the scupper holes. bait tank doesnt really even matter If your a heavier paddler in an X-factor, you get wind chop or boat wake from beind it spashes water up onto that back hatch and as the kayak flexes it sucks water in like a spongue. If you had an older style x-factor it is even worse.

X-factor is a great kayak, But I would never get one with that back angled hatch again. Im 6'1 300lbs so a smaller guy wouldnt have a problem. Im now in an Extreme with a drop in bait tank...and i love it. And will be buying another one in a couple months!

THE DARKHORSE · 04-20-2010, 12:38 PM

Good thing you're a true waterman, most anglers would probably panic. And I would have picked you up yesterday, but those damn Yellowtail were going the other way.

You can barrow my X-Factor anytime, Tom. I'm right by the launch.

ronbo613 · 04-20-2010, 01:33 PM

I've got my bait tank rigged so I can yank the pump and inlet hose off the tank and use it as a bilge pump.
As everyone already knows; you don't fool around in the ocean, always be prepared for a "worst case" scenario, because it will be worse than you think.
Sorry about losing your gear, but you're alive and you can buy more stuff.

old_rookie · 04-21-2010, 09:18 AM

Wow - that is an epic story. Glad you shared your experience to show the importance of being prepared.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mo2vation

Good thinking taking the paddle as a signal device. Makes me think about how invisible my black paddle would be.

-Ken

I just read that putting reflective tape on the back of the paddles helps.

04-20-2010, 11:10 AM	#1
mo2vation Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 50	First of all - glad you're OK. As OK as someone who just went through that can be, I mean. WOW. What a great lesson - I'm going to leash my pump. I'm sure if my boat took on a lot of water and started listing or tipping, my pump (which floats) would just float to the highest point - likely way, WAY out of reach. I want to pull off the hatch, pull the cord and bring the pump to me. Wow. Good thinking taking the paddle as a signal device. Makes me think about how invisible my black paddle would be. Huge ups to Charlie and Scott. What a lesson. Thanks for sharing, and I'm glad you're alright. -Ken __________________ "man it stinks around here what is that smell, crap its me. I stink..." FishDude

04-20-2010, 11:24 AM	#2
bluesquids Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jamul, CA Posts: 243	MAN! Glad you're all right. Must of been COLD. Major bummer, but at least you live to fish another day. Reminds me to check inside my yak after I launch, like I use to. I have lots of rats in the yard and I know they're gonna nibble on some leftover fish juice someday. They already did it to an inflatable I had. I keep the bilge pump bungied upside down inside the X-factor right down the middle center cockpit area. It fits perfect in there. I used matching deck loops on the inside of the yak paired to ones on the outside. You need nuts and bolts though not rivets. Also, I stuff the inside around the tankwell with the fat pool noodles, thats wasted space anyways. I think 4-5 of them only weighed a pound. __________________ Thanks, bluesquids

04-20-2010, 11:52 AM	#4
mo2vation Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 50	BTW - you gotta love that dude hopped onto another boat (doubtless straddling the tank well or the bow hatch), put on some clothes his rescuer had in a bag, grabbed a rod and fished for another 90 minutes. THAT is the best part of the story. Plucked from the sea. Cold, wet, breathless... "oh look, bait's running. Can I borrow a lid, some shoes, your jig stick and some Grey Poupon?" Friggen Kayak fisherman are FHC, man. -Ken __________________ "man it stinks around here what is that smell, crap its me. I stink..." FishDude

04-20-2010, 12:38 PM	#6
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	It's only money... Good thing you're a true waterman, most anglers would probably panic. And I would have picked you up yesterday, but those damn Yellowtail were going the other way. You can barrow my X-Factor anytime, Tom. I'm right by the launch. __________________

04-20-2010, 01:33 PM	#7
ronbo613 Waterman At Large Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: On the Water Posts: 199	I've got my bait tank rigged so I can yank the pump and inlet hose off the tank and use it as a bilge pump. As everyone already knows; you don't fool around in the ocean, always be prepared for a "worst case" scenario, because it will be worse than you think. Sorry about losing your gear, but you're alive and you can buy more stuff. __________________ Kayak Fishing Photos and Video

04-20-2010, 11:48 AM	#3
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,053	wow. glad you are OK. it was saucy out there last night with all that chop. I like the pool noodle suggestion. I often put a pair of Churchills in my kayak in case of an emergency swim.

04-20-2010, 12:20 PM	#5
Gino Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 520	Once your start to get water in.. that angled back hatch just sucks in more and more water... It only sits maybe 2 inches off the middle of the scupper holes. bait tank doesnt really even matter If your a heavier paddler in an X-factor, you get wind chop or boat wake from beind it spashes water up onto that back hatch and as the kayak flexes it sucks water in like a spongue. If you had an older style x-factor it is even worse. X-factor is a great kayak, But I would never get one with that back angled hatch again. Im 6'1 300lbs so a smaller guy wouldnt have a problem. Im now in an Extreme with a drop in bait tank...and i love it. And will be buying another one in a couple months!