How to handle boat wakes in harbor? - Page 2 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

mazilla · 10-25-2011, 09:27 AM

Fish and dive....what wake?

I usually charge the wake and try to launch off it if they're big, just for fun.

Hunters Pa · 10-25-2011, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bus kid

hang each foot over the side and just roll with it.

Yup. Lowers your center of gravity & acts as stabilizers. & have your paddle in hands to brace/push down on teh water should you start to tip.

lowprofile · 10-25-2011, 01:47 PM

you wont flip on a wake. ipromise

taggermike · 10-25-2011, 02:30 PM

Some bays are easy as they have speed limits or don't have navy or comercial traffic. Like others said stay aware of what is going on around you, lower your center of gravity, and realize you're gonna get a lap full of water no matter how you take the wake. I would recomend just getting used to your kayak first and starting in a calmer bay. Others may back me up or disagree but if you're in the outer portion San Diego Bay and one, or several, of those huge orange "sea tractor" tugs goes by you are in for an adventure. Mike

mazilla · 10-25-2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taggermike

Some bays are easy as they have speed limits or don't have navy or comercial traffic. Like others said stay aware of what is going on around you, lower your center of gravity, and realize you're gonna get a lap full of water no matter how you take the wake. I would recomend just getting used to your kayak first and starting in a calmer bay. Others may back me up or disagree but if you're in the outer portion San Diego Bay and one, or several, of those huge orange "sea tractor" tugs goes by you are in for an adventure. Mike

Those are the only things I look out for, even when I had my 19' PB those damned tugs would come flying by on both sides and send you for a ride!

Recently however there was this odd looking ship with a flat(almost to the waterline) deck that was hauling serious ass past a few of us near the Coronado bridge, biggest wakes I've ever been in...PB or otherwise. That thing sent people running from the ferry dock! I swear the wake was so bad it felt like it bounced off the opposite end of the bay and came back after the first set passed.

min-va · 10-25-2011, 02:50 PM

So much great info, thanks!

And yea, just basically i am worry about newport, since is a big harbor, but i think it should be fine, will practice and get use to my kayak in the back bay first.

min-va · 10-25-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handymansd

take your yak out and play with it under a peir... you will be a pro soon enough... or if you want to be really good, you could also go out to "Wade's" reefs during a big swell, high tide, during the new moon, pulling on hoops... make you an expert in no time!

That sounds crazy for me

taggermike · 10-26-2011, 07:53 AM

Mazilla, i think those boats/ships are navy SEAL attack boats. Do they look low, black, pointed, fast, and scarey? They come out of Glorieta Bay and just haul ass. I think those rigs have a couple of big helicopter turbine engines and when we see them are only going about 20% of what they can do. Mike

coxtanker421 · 10-26-2011, 08:13 AM

some of you are sick in the head. well most of us are. it depends on yak and rider . my hobie is 36 ' wide . you can stand on it and wiz on a calm day. on the other hand if you have 28 ' wide , like jim would say where your head goes your body will follow. if your leaning off of a narrow yak and wake hits you from the side, yes you could flip. hell i flipped it 1/4 of the times out.

untill i hired a pro and got a few lessons.

grey zone · 10-26-2011, 12:40 PM

I turn completely sideways to big wakes. Kayaks are narrow, you fit in the troughs and float over the crests. Taking wakes head on is OK if you want to get wet.

mazilla · 10-27-2011, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taggermike

Mazilla, i think those boats/ships are navy SEAL attack boats. Do they look low, black, pointed, fast, and scarey? They come out of Glorieta Bay and just haul ass. I think those rigs have a couple of big helicopter turbine engines and when we see them are only going about 20% of what they can do. Mike

It wasn't one of those zodiac style boats, it was 30'+ freight hauler of some sort, it had a high bow and high cabin, but the length of the deck was almost at water level. It looked like it was intended to sink a little to allow something on the water to ride in the middle...if that makes sense.

That guy was causing some major wake, I'd be surprised if it didn't damage something along the way.

Edit to add: the vessel looked similar to this...

10-25-2011, 09:27 AM	#21
mazilla advocatus diaboli Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 154	Fish and dive....what wake? I usually charge the wake and try to launch off it if they're big, just for fun.

10-25-2011, 01:47 PM	#23
lowprofile #1 on fishstick's hitlist Join Date: May 2011 Location: Sea level Posts: 1,478	you wont flip on a wake. ipromise

10-25-2011, 02:30 PM	#24
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Some bays are easy as they have speed limits or don't have navy or comercial traffic. Like others said stay aware of what is going on around you, lower your center of gravity, and realize you're gonna get a lap full of water no matter how you take the wake. I would recomend just getting used to your kayak first and starting in a calmer bay. Others may back me up or disagree but if you're in the outer portion San Diego Bay and one, or several, of those huge orange "sea tractor" tugs goes by you are in for an adventure. Mike

10-25-2011, 02:50 PM	#26
min-va Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Hacienda Heights Posts: 216	So much great info, thanks! And yea, just basically i am worry about newport, since is a big harbor, but i think it should be fine, will practice and get use to my kayak in the back bay first.

10-26-2011, 07:53 AM	#28
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Mazilla, i think those boats/ships are navy SEAL attack boats. Do they look low, black, pointed, fast, and scarey? They come out of Glorieta Bay and just haul ass. I think those rigs have a couple of big helicopter turbine engines and when we see them are only going about 20% of what they can do. Mike

10-26-2011, 08:13 AM	#29
coxtanker421 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 270	some of you are sick in the head. well most of us are. it depends on yak and rider . my hobie is 36 ' wide . you can stand on it and wiz on a calm day. on the other hand if you have 28 ' wide , like jim would say where your head goes your body will follow. if your leaning off of a narrow yak and wake hits you from the side, yes you could flip. hell i flipped it 1/4 of the times out. untill i hired a pro and got a few lessons.

10-26-2011, 12:40 PM	#30
grey zone Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: san diego Posts: 158	I turn completely sideways to big wakes. Kayaks are narrow, you fit in the troughs and float over the crests. Taking wakes head on is OK if you want to get wet.