Lost my yak! Now what?

Okay, okay, this is the last of 3 threads that I planned to launch.  So bear with me and then I’ll get outta your way.  And let me be the first to say that I’m really sure that my recent “Wisdom of the Crowd” experiment was scientifically, hopelessly flawed from the beginning… but that’s okay, I got what I wanted from it.

Thanks to everybody for you valued input.  You guys have pretty much convinced me that a “huli” is a sooner-or-later, nearly-for-certain given event for we who continue to fish from our kayaks.  As for the second part of the survey, I strongly suspect that we, as a group, tend to underestimate the probability of loosing a grip on our yaks during a surprise capsize.  As Walli indicated, it’s a nightmare scenario to think of swimming in boots while wearing a clumsy suit of some sort, trying to catch up to a kayak that’s on it’s way to Japan.  But I think that we are quite motivated to minimize the probability because we still badly want to go out there and fish.

Myself, relative to how quickly it might get away from me, I’m looking at my SOT as being a glorified air mattress.  Have you ever seen one of those things scoot across a swimming pool on a breezy day?  And you SIK guys aren’t off the hook; I see YOUR boats as glorified canoes where the gunnels can be breached in a flash.  I see the lost yak story as being totally unacceptably likely, for me personally at least.  So one more time and then I’ll “quit stinkin’ up the place” and let somebody else have a go at it.  So here’s the set up this time, picture this:

I’ve been fishing far enough from shore that I’m not going to have a chance in hell trying to swim against this measly 1 knot current.  MY experience says that this is where we almost ALWAYS fish when in the salt.  I’ve just fallen off of my SOT, but I listened to Kalli and I wore enough protection to ward off “cold shock”.  And I told you once, I’m a fool, but I’m not stupid and so I am wearing a decent PFD.  I listened to all the people that said I should practice my re-entry before the day that I need it, so I’m quite capable of climbing back on top of my ride.  I listened to Pelagic Paddler too, and I used a paddle leash.  But it wasn’t enough and now my yak is out of reach!  I can only see four directions that this story is likely to go from here.

This is my last day!  I have finally reached my expiration date.  I don’t like that outcome at all.

I’m as lucky as the gods!  I bob around for a while, but then some kind soul spots me and picks me up before “swimming failure” sets in due to the cold, or maybe hyperthermia.  Nope, I don’t want to count on blind luck.

Someone in a nearby boat (maybe it was my buddy?) saw it happen or hears my whooping or the whistle I wore around my neck and helps me get back together with my yak, or at least out of the water.  That’s looking better.

I spent $25 on a surfer’s tether and wrapped it around my ankle, so now I can “pull that thing back to me like a puppy”.  That’s looking a LOT better to me.

Discussion?


Fishin-T

I was thinking more along the lines of a retractable dog leash. Drill a hole that you can feed the end through, and keep the base inside your yak. If you fall, that baby can get up to 20' away, but no further.

if you're going to attach yourself to a boat, make sure it is a system that you can release from easily if need be. I'd recommend something waist-mounted with a quick release versus ankle. My first thought is using a waist-mounted towline, like this:



Ideally you're carrying one anyway, so easy to adapt for self-rescue situations.

I honestly don't think it is very likely that your yak will blow away like an air mattress.  

Once to test my "sand" I  hulied on purpose when I was a little over 2 miles off the beach (solo) near Ocean Side Oregon. I was wearing a 3mil  wet suit and neo booties.  Yes the water was cold (low 50's), but I actually was not incapacitated in the least. I bobbed around for 45 sec or so ( no relief zip on the suit which was the major reason for the huli practice ) before re boarding. I basically floated/moved using the lifevest and arm stokes and the yak never got more than 5-6 feet from me (5knt or less wind).  I was more worried about the thoughts of the landlord nibbling at my toes and that damn theme from jaws that popped into my head::)If the wind is blowing hard enough to move your yak any distance from you, you may want to reconsider your choice of paddling conditions (at least in the ocean).

What now?  I reach into pocket number 1 and get out my VHF.  I reach into pocket 2 and get out my GPS (oops I left that on the yak).  Oh well, where's that thread on proper VHF signaling?  Channel 16 ... HELP?  Oh wait, it's not time for the cavalry yet.  Get on 69 ... "Uhhh ... Zee ... can you come over and lend a bruddah a hand?".

-Allen

I tend to disagree with pelagic paddler...imo it totally depends on the fishing conditions you are in...winds aren't the only thing that can carry your yak away...if you are out on a minimally windy day in the sound and fishing points when the tides are in full swing...and you dump...there are some weird fast moving currents at the points that don't go in the same direction...

if your in a river you really up the chances...especially if your yak happens to be anchored at the time...

i definitely agree that if you are going to tether yourself to your kayak you need some sort of quick release...especially in a river

(im not speaking from much experience but common sense could tell you some of that)

lets face it...if you have dumped your kayak by accident...your probably not in the best condition anyways (i.e. your in waves, your in current, your in wind, you have suffered some sort of health problem)
its much more likely for your kayak to drift away than if you dump it in a semi controlled environment expectantly

as i think wanderingrichard said in the other post i tend to hold on to my yak as i am falling...alot of this is because i am trying to lean the other way (didn't work the last time i tried it lol) but none the less my kayak didn't get away from me...and it was  a fairly windy day

when your in the water the kayak is your lifeline...its the only thing that can get you out of the water until help arrives (if help arrives)
but that being said we can't plan for every disaster because then we will just have a floating search and rescue boat...with no room for other gear

i could see where a tether would be potentially more dangerous than without

I have a bit of a unique perspective on getting separated from my kayak.  I went all out and scratched off a bucket list item when I bought my Hobie Adventure Island.  As a fast sailboat as well as a kayak, I have been pondering this possible danger of separation anxiety from day one.  So far, it's actually kept me from making any long sailing voyages solo.  I'm likely to take a similar approach to what was mentioned by Alkasazi, though I will be attaching directly to the end of the line that collapses the roller-reefing sail.

This isn't a situation that will be commonplace as I usually have the sail and akas/amas (arms and pontoons) removed for pure fishing expeditions.  Once crabbing opens up I may make longer crabbing and flatfish trips, hence this might be an issue.

-edit-

As regards "Now What?", well Pole covered most of it.  The VHF is the tool of choice.  I am now considering a pocket GPS as well.  I had thought about the SPOT system, but I'm hearing too many grumbles these days to invest in it at this point.

"Uhhh ... Zee ... can you come over and lend a bruddah a hand?".

"No worries. Gimme your 20 and I'll be there in a sec."

These have been some great threads with lots of good info.  With so many variables to consider I'm not sure if there is a right answer but the more we can educate ourselves to the possibilities the better prepared we will be.

I use to surf my kayak a lot on the Gulf Coast.  I can't really say much concerning water temps but I can say that in all of my spectacular wipe outs I learned a few things concerning separation and tethers. 

I can only recall one instance when I surfaced further than a few feet from my kayak and in that one time the distance was probably more like 75 to a 100 feet.  A horrible feeling and it took everything I had to get back to my boat.  I'm sure it only took a few minutes but in 6' breaking seas it felt like hours.  Watching my boat disappear between waves and me swimming my butt off and making no visible progress toward it is certainly the stuff nightmares are made of.  The same situation in our local waters, I doubt I would have survived.

What could be worse than that?  In my opinion being tangled in your tether, and just a paddle tether at that.  Crazy things happen in those first few seconds of an upset and I've had my tether wrapped around my legs, arms, and neck.  You would never dream, even with a life jacket on, how hard it is to keep your head above water with your legs tangled in a tether at the boat. 

My recommendation, if using a tether have a good serrated edge knife clipped to your pfd dedicated just to severing that tether line if necessary.

I would never short tether myself to a yak. That could get really dicey in the surf or a river. I have one of these.

if you're going to attach yourself to a boat, make sure it is a system that you can release from easily if need be. I'd recommend something waist-mounted with a quick release versus ankle. My first thought is using a waist-mounted towline, like this:
Ideally you're carrying one anyway, so easy to adapt for self-rescue situations.

I wear it in front when I have it on. I always wear a wetsuit in big water & always carry a whistle & water proof pop flares in my pfd (still need to get that VHF). If the weather or water starts to look like something a reasonable person wouldn't want to deal with, I'm outta there. Listen to your intuition. If something starts to feel weird, stay calm but re-evaluate the situation in a timely manner. Practice being in the water & remounting your yak. Practice surf entries & exits but don't get carried away, stay aware of personal physical limits. Have a float plan, however basic & let someone know. Local knowledge & experience can be critical; those that don't have it should go with someone who does. Watch out for the landlord! (just kidding, sort of).

 Like PNW said,,,,
  When i hullied i had the paddle leash between my legs attached to side of the Trident,, in those first seconds in times like when time stands still, upside down and surging back and forth on Tombolia spit 40 to 50 ft .,got untangled kept death grip on paddle, grab the boat on our next passing and remount.. I do have a gnarly knife on the pfd just in case time runs out..
  The last time out of Sunset Bay i stayed a little longer than the other guys as i got there late,, Wind changed and howled.. If i had dumped then I'm sure the boat would be 20 ft away if not leashed when i saw daylite again.  Not good. Have seen lots of skiffs and rafts blow away over my time on the water.. Good thread now that i have a Hobie i don't have the paddle in hand, i didn't think of that till reading this thread, need a rescue pack ,, thanks
  royg