[tuco]

Hi,

something that has puzzled me and i understand would vary with vessel, but when you guys have ended up in the drink (not from surf entry/exit) is it you who just topples in usually or does the yak and gear go over with you?

Reason I ask is that i'm thinking of getting a longer kayak for some offshore stuff, and I am not sure what to expect.

Cheers
Peter

 

[Dodge]

Peter this link from yaker's site explains it all [and has swings in the pics], further his whole site is worth a read mate

http://members.optusnet.com.au/aus-kaya ... /surf.html

 

[Peril]

Peter, I went in a few times when I got my new yak. The yak never went over, I just fell off it. Now that I'm comfortable with it, I don't look like coming off. The important thing is to be relaxed on the yak and to shift your weight if you start listing

 

[water_baby]

yeah ive only ever tipped myself off mine in surf re-entry (never going out..) the yak has always been upright, so never lost any gear. seem hard to totally flip one, i reckon, unles lifted up and dumped by a big breaker, and you shouldn't be near one of them until you are extremely comfortable. its good fun ridin waves in a yak, just not a big yak :lol:

 

[justcrusin]

Gday Tuco,
Went in on the weekend and it was my own fault for leaning the yak on its edge to show stability, other than that very hard to fall out or tip.

I did jump out on purpose a few weeks ago, made sure i was out of my depth so i had to do a deep water re-entry, If you have surfed at all i just go on like i would a board and then rolled over and sat up. Thiers a good sticky link I think its at the top of the saftey section showing how to do a deep water re-entry

Cheers dave

 

[JT]

G'day Tuco. Best advice I think you could be given is give the fall out thing a go. When I bought my yak I to was worried about tipping and getting back in. Go out and intentionally fall out and then get back in. I was amazed at just how difficult it was to tip out and how easy it was to get back on but that is just my experience. The only way to build your confidence is to do it.....doesn't matter how many people told me it was easy to get back on the concern remained until I gave it a go. Choose a nice safe place where you can stand at first obviously. Always wear a PFD. Oh and welcome to the forum

JT

 

[tuco]

Thanks for sharing your experiences and advice.

Glad to hear that the general consensus is that it's pretty hard to fall/capsize. :wink:

I am more concerned of capsizing from a loss/damage of gear perspective, i will definitely be practicing for emergencies and checking out your rigs for ideas on setup etc.

Again great site - appreciate the assistance.

Peter

 

[troppo]

Hi Tuco. From a loss of gear perspective, use a risk removal strategy. For example, I have all my rods leashed as well as my landing net. My tackle box can't fall out even if yak is flipped. My gear bag or dry bag with camera and phone is leashed whenever going though stuff I think might be risky. I could loose pliers and whatever else is knocking about under me feet when fishing but everything else is secure.

I have found that gaining experience on waves and relaxing decreases the chance of capsize. For example, once on rough sea, a breaking wave coming from behind and to the left caught me by surprise. Being relaxed, I simply tilted from the hips as the yak moved and put a bit of pressure on the paddle for extra balance and the wave just swept by and away. I was amazed at just how naturally this happened whereas if I was stiff with anxiety I would probably have fallen off.

I have thought about trying reentry but usually when I have paddled a few strokes off the shore, I am passing the floats where the shark lines are and they caught a 4 metre tiger shark there so I just postpone the splashing-around-on-the-surface activity until perhaps another time and place.

 

[Jeffo]

tuco,

I ventured offshore a few weeks ago and fell in. i was turning around trying to get my sunglasses of all things.

the yak capsized when i fell off. I had to turn it over and get back on. i had read the posts on re entry and tried it in still water a few times. (the value of this forum really struck home to me) everything but my hat was tethered and it was the only thing i lost.

PFD was invaluable as it gave me enough boyancy to tip the yak back over and jump on. i was back on in 20 seconds. adrenaline helped also.

 

[tugboat]

Here is another question...
Do people tether themselves to there kayaks or is this not a good idea?

 

[Y-Knot]

yeah Jeffo,... the Adrenalin Factor is pretty much what gets me up outta the water and back on the yak in about 10 seconds. :shock:

 

[YakAtak]

Here is another question...
Do people tether themselves to there kayaks or is this not a good idea?

tugboat, tethering to the kayak is definitely a big NO NO.

 

[Guest]

Here is another question...
Do people tether themselves to there kayaks or is this not a good idea?

tugboat, tethering to the kayak is definitely a big NO NO.

I know thethering is a no no in the surf.....

But I thought I had read somewhere that Sea Kayakers sometimes tether to their yak when offshore in the event they capsize it prevents them and their craft being separated......a yak can blow well out of reach very quickly with a little wind?

Or did I read incorrectly?

*Edit*

Here's some info from GoKayak NZ

Tetherline. Is a tetherline essential? Simple answer to this one is, YES. As mentioned before it connects you to your kayak in the event you end up in the water. In less wind than you may think your kayak is light and will be blown away faster than you are able to chase/swim after it. When I go out fishing regardless of where or how far I'm going, the tetherline is always hooked up and is just part of my regular launching process. Having the emergency release on the front of your PFD gives you the ability to release the tether while under load. For example when you are unable to re-enter your kayak and in danger of being smashed onto a rocky shoreline along with your kayak, at this point it would be a good idea to release. Returning to the beach in surf conditions it would be advisible to release. When out to sea and with an offshore winds blowing and or fishing alone, the tetherline could save your life. My advise would be to always use a professionaly designed tether, these are made with heavy duty double action stainless steel fittings, shock absorbing materials and to a NZ yachting safety standard.

You can guarantee that if you find yourself in a dodgy situation it will not be a picture perfect day. On a day when there is a slight breeze blowing INSHORE try swimming after your kayak NEAR THE BEACH and see for yourself, you will be amazed how fast it will get away from you.

 

[YakAtak]

That makes sense

 

[troppo]

From the adventure books I have read of crossing oceans on rafts (Kon Tiki and Ra expeditions) plus of solo sailors, tethers to their crafts were absolutely essential. Apparently, more than one untethered person has lost their life when swimming off their becalmed boat in the middle of an ocean and an unexpected breeze moved their craft just out of reach!

In surf I do not even tether my paddle as when I capsize I hold on the paddle and don't want loose ropes tangling me. Out on the ocean, I tether my paddle and maybe one day I will do an easy releasable tether to my PFD.

 

[Dodge]

I remember Dave in WA mentioning his 5m of rope tether which is coiled behind him when offshore just in case he goes in while alone.

Think it makes a lot of sense when solo and well out from shore

 

[Daveyak]

I'm almost always on my own so when I'm out I'm out in the ocean I do not want to be separated from my kayak should I go into the water. If the wind picks up and I was to capsize my biggest worry is that the kayak could be blown away from me and as I'm not very (swimming) fit I could easily tire myself out and get into difficulties trying to swim after it. And could be a long slow and tiring swim back to a safe shore (I'm often off steep, rocky shorelines), even with the PFD that I always wear.

I keep a 5 metre long cord, with clips on each end, in the pocket on my seat backrest & when going offshore I clip one end onto the yak and the other to my PFD. I don't clip to myself till out past surf zone when launching from a beach, & I don't use it when out on inlets or rivers where I think there's less risk and a safe shoreline isn't ever far away.

It's peace of mind and such a simple easy thing to do.

 

[Ironsides]

I am disabled and getting back on my yak is not easy.
As I see it your Yak itself is your biggest safety feature, you have got to have it to get back to shore so dont lose it, tether yourself to it always. It is very easy to lose your yak in the wind (it happened to me when practicing reentry in an outdoor pool).
Practice reentry until you are comfortable, tether yourself to your yak and enjoy it.

Ian

 

[Azza]

I think also that tethering is generally a bad idea. First of all, dont go paddling alone in a location that your skills are not up to. Do a paddling skills course, learn how to brace on a wave, paddle with someone else. If you do tether (and I never would) i'd say it would be essential to have a fool proof release system if something happened.
For me a better idea is a good paddle leash. I normally leave my paddle on my lap when i fish or i'm sitting on a blade of it. Not so comfy, but when its rough I hate the idea of not being able to brace into a wave.
Rule no. 1 that they teach in sea skills courses when you capsize is don't let go of your paddle! For me, this works.