Went for an impromtu swim today in the Severn

[john from md]

I didn't notice the temp but was aware of it as I checked it earlier with my thermometer and I was aware of the hypothermia times as well. Since I was moving in the water, I did not get any sense that it was cold but decided to swim to shore knowing the longer I spent in the water the faster my strength would wane.

Since the sun was shining and the temp was coming up, I never actually felt cold even though I was wearing cotton clothes which are a killer in getting wet conditions. The paddle back to the beach was actually fun.

John

[ronaultmtd]

Glad you're ok...gear is replaceable.

Gives you a good excuse to "upgrade" your tackle- I have so many old outfits it is hard to justify buying new tackle...so I don't...justify my purchases, that is...

[Memory Maker]

Glad your ok .......... it's amazing how people don't help others on the water .........

[john from md]

In all fairness to the boaters driving on the Severn, they probably were looking ahead or to the side (at the Naval Academy) since there was so much going on. I was off the beaten path, so to speak, but could have signaled them if I had a flare launcher. I will rectify that this week.

While I had my VHF radio available, I didn't feel that I was in any danger or I would have used it. If I had a flare launcher, I would have used it rather than the radio as it would have alerted a local boat or tow but would not have caused the activity that an any vessel distress call would have.

If I was further off shore or in colder water or was injured, I would have made an emergency call on Channel 16 and had the whole world coming to help.

I have responded to and given aid to several folks in the bay and find that the folks that fish the bay regularly will almost always respond. I can't say that for New Jersey (where I lived for a long time) as I have seen boats drive right by a stranded boater waving an oar to beat the band!

BTW, while I never thought I would need one, I bought a hand pump today so I don't have to bail my yak out again with a sponge if the hull ever gets water in it again.

Regards,

John

[mmanolis2001]

Sorry to hear about your gear loss and i'm glad your ok. My only fear with my trident is accessing rod pod while on the water and turtling with the lid open. That's a large hole for water to enter quickly.

When you were opening the pod did you keep your legs inside the kayak or throw one over each side. I feel much more stable when accessing the pod when i have a leg over each side. This will also allow me to easily reach forward with my body (Like hugging the kayak ) in case a rouge wake catches me off guard which has happened several times around the Bay Bridge.

Even with everything planned out you cant account for every possible situation. Its not a matter IF you turtle its when. This is a valuable learning experience Expensive but valuable none the less.

Now go get some new goodies to replace the lost gear.

[john from md]

MM

I normally spread my legs out when opening the pod. In this case, I was kneeling trying to fiddle with the transducer with the pod cover off. I felt the rear of the yak go up and I went over!

Turning turtle with the pod open is not as bad as it seems, except for waterlogged lunch. Once you get all the floating junk out of the way I would suggest trying to push the lid back on (its on a tether) before rolling the yak back up. I didn't do this and wound up getting more water in the yak than if I had put the lid back on. A fellow by the name of Joe posted some videos of him going turtle with an open hatch. He was smart enough to close the hatch before trying to flip the yak.

Hind sight is 20/20 or so they say. It was a gentle learning curve that did not cause me any physical harm. I already have a new anchor, a hand pump (in case I don't get the pod cover on ), 2 leashes for my rods and tomorrow I head to Bass Pro for a new rod.

I have a theory about life that goes like this. Life is full of small hurts that teach us to avoid the big hurts. Unfortunately, some younger folks get the big hurt first and usually don't survive. I came up with this theory when I was enrolled in the University of South Vietnam in 1972 and 1973. So far, I have avoided the big hurt.

Regards,

John

[beerums]

Glad you're okay! I've had my kayak about a week now and haven't had a chance to take it out but I have definitely learned a lot from the advice in this post!

[zimm]

Glad you're here to tell the tale. The lesson I just learned?- a small dry bag containing a towel and at least a light change of clothes will accompany me from here on out regardless of how calm the surroundings

[PotomacTide]

As a fellow 13" OK Trident Yaker with a mod pod, I could totally relate to your story. If there is any solace for your experience, your story will stick with me and perhaps save me going upsidedown. I will continue to never try to get my hatches open while on the water unless absolutely necessary. I won't mess with my transducer unless I'm back at the house. I've had a few wobbly moments myself when reaching for gear, so I've made a lot of adjustement to how I organize my tackle. I rarely have to reach around for anything these days. Some people count sheep to go to sleep. I think about tackle organization. Of course none of this really helps when you have issues with your transducer.

[frettr00]

Something I learned last year is always try to flatten yourself out in the kayak as much as possible, especially when big boats are around. The lower your center of gravity, the smoother the waves roll under you.

[john from md]

Flattening out is definitely good advice. Of course, that assumes you can see something coming! One of my mistakes was that I positioned the yak looking into the cove instead of looking towards the river. If I was looking the other way, I may have been able to flop down when the wake came.

I also wonder about the top heavy effect is when you have rocket launchers, flag poles, rods, anchor, tackle box etc on the deck. I may do some weight and balance tests later using sand bags to see if the yak gets less tender with some weight in the hull.

I figure its worth experimenting with just for the hell of it.

John

[J.A. Veil]

I have not had any problems with getting knocked around by wakes (fortunately). If I see a big wake coming, I face into the wake and lean forward to lower my center of gravity. For those who use paddles for propulsion, the paddle itself can be held horizontally just above the deck of the kayak. This serves two functions: a) it works like the balancing pole for a tight rope walker to spread out your weight distribution, and b) it works like outriggers on a Polynesian canoe.

If you want to practice dealing with rough water, paddle along the Naval Academy seawall 25 to 50 ft out on a summer weekend. Many boats come along and send their wakes toward you from the river side. As the wakes hit the seawall and reflect back out, you can get hit by waves from the shore side too. When the incoming and outgoing waves interact, you can get some wild wave patterns coming from all directions.

The closest I have come to turning over has come not from wakes but from regular paddling in shallow water. I would be paddling or drifting along when part of my hull would contact a submerged log or branch. That would stop or significantly slow the hull's forward progress. But my body's inertia would cause me to keep moving forward. So far, I have not gone over, but I did have a few times when my stomach fluttered after a near miss.

There are plenty of things to watch out for on the water. The most likely time for an incident is when we are distracted or complacent.

[jsnyd86]

Wow, intense stuff. Glad you're ok and could get your yak back. Sorry about the gear though.
I'm still relatively new to yaking and have only imagined what you went through. That is the very reason why I lightened my load. Less moving around. I think because of this story, I'm going to start shopping for a nice PFD. I usually don't wear mine because of how uncomfortable it is.

[Southerly]

i think practicing capsize and reentry is one of the best things a kayaker could do. in that respect, you have a better idea what you can do and are a step ahead! the water's fine for a dip right now. in fact, my neighbor has been training in the bay for an upcoming triathalon for a few weeks already. but i would expect there remains potential for hypothermia if you were left exposed overnite or extended time. i don't remember exact water temps, but a del kayaker was lost early last fall in 'not frigid' waters.

personally, i would be reluctant to give up the yak for a swim to shore but if that's the correct decision for safety; it's what must be done. a kayak is a huge floating object, a potential life-saving device. easier to be spotted than just a head, and of course superior transportation to swimming if you can get back in.

in heavy current or windy situation, i've taken to wearing a surfboard leash. i'm sure there are guys who don't think it's the thing to do, so i'll say it's a personal choice. but leashes revolutionized surfing by providing a giant life-saving device at the end of string and reducing the amount of swimming required. i don't particularly like to deal with 'more gear' if not needed, so i don't use it in calm water situations.

fwiw - the leash attaches to my ankle via a velcro strap with yellow pull tab for quick release if desired. after i leave shore, i take a minute to coil it and get it positioned so that pedaling is not interfered with. usually requires a second adjustment but is then no longer a problem.

[surfdog]

I have not had any problems with getting knocked around by wakes (fortunately). If I see a big wake coming, I face into the wake and lean forward to lower my center of gravity. For those who use paddles for propulsion, the paddle itself can be held horizontally just above the deck of the kayak. This serves two functions: a) it works like the balancing pole for a tight rope walker to spread out your weight distribution, and b) it works like outriggers on a Polynesian canoe.

If you want to practice dealing with rough water, paddle along the Naval Academy seawall 25 to 50 ft out on a summer weekend. Many boats come along and send their wakes toward you from the river side. As the wakes hit the seawall and reflect back out, you can get hit by waves from the shore side too. When the incoming and outgoing waves interact, you can get some wild wave patterns coming from all directions.

The closest I have come to turning over has come not from wakes but from regular paddling in shallow water. I would be paddling or drifting along when part of my hull would contact a submerged log or branch. That would stop or significantly slow the hull's forward progress. But my body's inertia would cause me to keep moving forward. So far, I have not gone over, but I did have a few times when my stomach fluttered after a near miss.

There are plenty of things to watch out for on the water. The most likely time for an incident is when we are distracted or complacent.

i fish that area a lot and can testifiy to those reflective waves can be a wild ride. i try to get there early and get some fish then get off the water before the butt heads come out to play around 11. some days its hard to get to the ramp if you dont want to surf a wave up the concrete ramp you have to time your landing.

most times you can hear a large wake coming your way. and turning into them is a good idea. keep your head in the game and be aware of whats going on around you on the water