At the age of 16(1976) I got my first kayak, back then white water yaks where about the size of a tank and you had to be good to be able to roll them back up if you flipped. So I guess what I saying is, kayaking isn’t new to me. In the surf or when going through a Inlet my paddle’s always in the water, so I’ve got control of the boat. In calm waters that’s something that isn’t an issue. Saturday, both the wind and the current was to my bow and not to the side of the yak. I was in a small creek where I fish a lot. Turned myself sideways to check my lines…next thing I know, my boats upside down and I’m wet. I learned a lot in just a short time! My anchor sank and snagged the bottom, which then pulled the bow under the water. Had nothing to cut the line with. It took about 30 minutes to get my boat up stream and then to the bank. After that I then had to swim down stream to find my paddle. Had waders and boots on…even though my waders filled up with water it didn’t make a difference in swimming. The biggest problem was the the temperature of the water. Once I got back to my boat it should of been a 20-30 minute paddle to the landing, it ended up taking about a hour. Should of taking my waders off but I didn’t, so I had water against my body the whole way back to the landing. Most of the way back I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I just wanted to stop paddling and take a break. Once I got to the landing I thanked God for a full tank of gas, cranked the truck up and turned the heater wide open.
What would you do?
Has it happened to you?
Are you ready for it?
If your by your self, does anyone know your float plan?
had three rods on the boat, had a short surf rod strapped down on the forward rod holder, one pen 4400 snagged on my rudder, and another 4400 some where on the bottom of the creek. Went back this afternoon and dragged the the bottom…no luck. Plus a phone and a camera…and my pride
Good question Mud… I always think about “what if…” when I am out there. I must look like a dork when I am in my yak because I am so careful about everything I do so I don’t dump myself out. I really do need to empty my yak out and practice getting back in in in deep water because my only plan now is like yours… Swim to the bank and try and get back in… I usually print out the creek I am fishing from Google earth aqnd draw out a “route” that I plan on fishing and leave it with my wife on the fridge. If I am late they at least have a starting point. If I decide to move off my “map” I give her a call… Not to hijack yer thread but my yak now is a 11.5 pelican and it’s stable as long as I don’t move too much, but my brother is picking up a Tarpon 160 for me up in VA ($400 fully rigged )… is it a stable boat? He has a 140 and I padled that around a little and I really like it, how different is the 160?
“Well sounds like a textbook release. I’m sure he will live to fight another day.” – Misplaced Prioity
I got a scare about 15 years ago sailing a very small boat on Easter weekend. I came around a point and got knocked bown by a huge gust of wind. I found myself in water between 45 and 50°.
It took about 5 minutes to lower the sail and get the boat upright… It felt like 5 years
I climbed on the boat, bailed the cockpit and stripped down to my boxers for the hour long sail back to the landing. I believe if I hadn’t gotten out of the wet clothes I would have died from hypothermia.
I also used to fly fish the cold mountain streams in the winter and fell in or stepped in a hole more than once.
During cold weather I never get in a yak or head to the mountains without a change of clothes in a dry bag
thats a bummer mudroc.
nikonjedi i think you would be surprised at how easy it is to get back into a sit on top kayak.
when you are getting back in just kick with your feet and pull yourself ontop of your yak with a sliding motion. make shure your head and chest go over the other side far enough to counter balance your legs coming up.
it would be a very good idea to practice. practice makes perfect.
that is one of the main reasons that i love sit on top yaks.
i jump in and out of my yak all the time during the summer. even with a full kayak.
I agree with ya Bowfin but I do disagree on one point… practice does not make perfect… PERFECT Practice makes perfect I harp on that when I am teaching Rifle and Pistol to our new guys… Do it right or don’t do it. I just need to wait for Summer again before I dump myself out of my yak I have heard it is 1000% easier with the SOT yaks than it is with a sit-inside. I really love my yak… I really love being able to get WAYYYYYYY back in those creeks in the skinny water and seeing all those fish stacked up…
“Well sounds like a textbook release. I’m sure he will live to fight another day.” – Misplaced Prioity
Mud, I have ended up in the water when I least expected it too! After that day, if the water is cold, I always bring a drybag with long underwear, fleece pants and jacket, and a hat and socks. If I end up in the water, Once I get to shore I can get out of the wet clothes and put on some dry stuff to warm up. Sorry about the camera and the phone!
Oh yeah my dry sack will have a change of clothes in it! My anchor will be clipped the boat until its needed.
My biggest problem was trying to roll the boat back over. When the boat rolled the anchor(witch was laying int the cockpit)dropped to the bottom and got snagged. So with the anchor snagged, the line tight, part of the bow was under water plus the current was ripping I couln’t get it upright. After spending maybe 15-20 minutes trying to roll it back up I changed plans. while holding on to the boat and doing a side stoke and swimming against the current, I was able to get enough slack on the anchor line which allowed me to make it to the bank. That took about another 20 minutes. Made a bad decision, I left my boat on the bank, swam down the to get my paddle. Even though it was faster doing it that way, I should of never left the boat! Like a dumb#%&* my pfd was not on, I was woreout and cold. It should of been on, the wind was blowing, the water is cold, and I was by myself
After reading your entire post you’re lucky to still be with us.
I couldn’t getthe hypothermia chart to copy well, but you can still tell what’s going on.
The paddle swim could have easily been a fatal mistake and chances are the decision was affected by ALREADY being too cold.
Hypothermia Chart
WATER TEMPERATURE (F) IS: EXHAUSTION/UNCONSCIOUSNESS EXPECTED TIME OF SURVIVAL IS:
32.5 Under 15 Minutes Under 15 - 45 Minutes
32.5 - 40.0 15 - 30 Minutes 30 - 90 Minutes
40.0 - 50.0 30 - 60 Minutes 1 - 3 Hours
50.0 - 60.0 1 -2 Hours 1 - 6 Hours
60.0 - 70.0 2 - 7 Hours 2 - 40 Hours
70.0 - 80.0 3 - 12 Hours 3 Hours - Indefinitely
OVER 80.0 Indefinitely Indefinitely
Mud,
I’ve rolled mine right on top of a gator once and felt the disturbance of the water on my legs when I finally rightsided. I’ve done the standing fly casting to only belly flop about 1/2 mile away from dock last Jan. and barely had enough strength/awareness to pull myself up on the dock. sounds like your anchor ruined your day.
I make sure I have a dry hat and waterproof jacket.
the only time i have flipped my kayak on accident was when i tried to slide into the river off the bank. needless to say my kayak nose dived into the water turned side ways and flipped over. i was lucky that it was way up the ashley where the max depth is 3ft deep or else all of my stuff would have been down stream and out of my reach.
)… is it a stable boat? He has a 140 and I padled that around a little and I really like it, how different is the 160?
I harp on that when I am teaching Rifle and Pistol to our new guys… Do it right or don’t do it. I just need to wait for Summer again before I dump myself out of my yak