Launching a kayak where surfers are playing....

.... being the hard headed man I am. I disregarded feminine advice from the wife about launching a kayak in a calm area. Like a harbour or these jetty things.

So... I decided I would paddle thru 5 foot breakers.

Ocean said hell no.

Tossed me off my kayak and hit me with it.

The 2nd time I decided maybe my manly days were coming to an end and I should launch from a harbour .... ( next time ... depending on how long it takes my back to feel less like I was ran over )

* hat tip to the surfers who pulled me out of the surf so I could breath 

Is that what you cal having your posterior region placed in your upper appendages? Surfing zone ain't no kayaking zone without a helmet on a kayak can render you incapacitated and under water. User beware.

Is that what you call having your posterior region placed in your upper appendages

fair assessment... back in the days of my youth I thrived in that environment and usually managed to accomplish the things others considered stupid... had a relapse of judgement forgetting my body doesnt do the things it used to

also doesnt shrug off the hits as well... bit stiff today

If I saw surf  large enough that surfers were present,  I think I would see it as a sign stating?

"You must have NADS of Brass and unusually large size to ride this ride"

I would then go looking for much easier means of launching.   

"You must have NADS of Brass and unusually large size to ride this ride"

that would have required me knowing what would happen.... chalk this one up to ignorance

just thought I should put it here for any other non ocean kayaker to read in case they dont have the constitution to withstand a full broadside of a 13 foot kayak with a wave behind it

Don't let the kayak get between you and the waves.  Try to get on the water side of the kayak and then let the surf push you and the kayak back onto the beach.

5' surf is launchable, but takes some care to do it without getting in trouble.  Landing is the hard part. 

What kayak are you using?  Where were trying to launch?  Hobuck?

2015 Ocean Prowler BG2 12'9 long and 80ish lbs SOT

I personally wont be doing this again because my knees arent good enough to take the abuse.

If you have this yak I do recommend putting a strap over the front hatch... getting hammered in the surf popped it open it got really heavy really quick. Also... put nothing in top of the yak you want to keep. Get it all inside.

Were I two decades younger I would think it a good challenge. I am not My next launch will be from the marina a few miles down the road.

launch site... few miles south of Mavericks surfing

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Half+Moon+Bay+State+Beach,+95+Kelly+Ave,+Half+Moon+Bay,+CA+94019,+United+States/@37.4674995,-122.4461906,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x808f74a9cb559815:0x29aa1d972746e932

A 13' kayak won't fit into the face of a 5' or 6' breaking wave. Unless your going left or right on the wave. I always go right. I have a B.G. 2 . Only tried it once.