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First a little about me.
I'm pushing 61, have arthritis in all my joints and lower disks. While I meet the criteria for being a person with a disability, I don't let it stop me. I try to work out every day on weights and an elliptical as much as the pain allows me to. I have sailed and motored up and down the US coast and am trained in sea survival.
Initially I stayed with the yak and tried to flag down help. No one responded to my waving or paddle waiving or whistle. After fifteen minutes, I decided to swim for shore as I did not want to stay in the water and lose body heat. In larger body of water, I would not have left the boat.
Here are some good things about this morning.
I elected to move the yak to a more protected area before playing around. I would never have attempted to do any work in the middle of the Bay or even in the middle of the river.
I didn't panic, but still experienced the instant chill, instant inhaling and rapid heartbeat that accompanies anytime you fall into cold water.
I had my VHF radio (water proof) and Cell phone (in a water proof bag) in my vest. The radio is a must on the water as cell phone reception can be iffy even in the CB. If I was in duress, I would have called for help on channel 16.
Here are some bad things.
When I decided to play with the transducer , I should have stowed my gear properly. In hind sight, I should have left it and fixed it back at the beach.
When I bought my new fishing yak, I also bought a paddle float. From my previous recreational kayak days, I felt this was a necessity. I bought the foam type and not the inflatable type because you don't have to blow them up and they give more buoyancy in my opinion. However, it might have been made out of lead for all the good it did me as I left it at home.
I didn't have a flare pistol. On my boats, I have always had a complete SOLAS flare complement. I have only had to use them once but they are worth the money. While too big for keeping in my vest, I am planning to buy a small twelve gauge launcher which will fit inside my vest. At least three boats would have seen my flare if I shot it at them but they didn't see my waves or whistle.
Anyway, the gear wasn't expensive as I don't buy expensive light tackle anymore. Just Cabela's or Bass Pro items on sale. But it was an eye opener for me, a person who when more fit was able to self rescue, cannot do it easily today. I plan to practice self rescue at Jonas Green as soon as I get a new anchor. For you older guys who haven't practiced self rescue in a while, you may want to see if you can still do it as easy as you have when you were younger.
Regards,
John
Today, the water temp was sixty two degrees according to the thermometer in my VHF radio. Since I am no longer young and d
I'm pushing 61, have arthritis in all my joints and lower disks. While I meet the criteria for being a person with a disability, I don't let it stop me. I try to work out every day on weights and an elliptical as much as the pain allows me to. I have sailed and motored up and down the US coast and am trained in sea survival.
Initially I stayed with the yak and tried to flag down help. No one responded to my waving or paddle waiving or whistle. After fifteen minutes, I decided to swim for shore as I did not want to stay in the water and lose body heat. In larger body of water, I would not have left the boat.
Here are some good things about this morning.
I elected to move the yak to a more protected area before playing around. I would never have attempted to do any work in the middle of the Bay or even in the middle of the river.
I didn't panic, but still experienced the instant chill, instant inhaling and rapid heartbeat that accompanies anytime you fall into cold water.
I had my VHF radio (water proof) and Cell phone (in a water proof bag) in my vest. The radio is a must on the water as cell phone reception can be iffy even in the CB. If I was in duress, I would have called for help on channel 16.
Here are some bad things.
When I decided to play with the transducer , I should have stowed my gear properly. In hind sight, I should have left it and fixed it back at the beach.
When I bought my new fishing yak, I also bought a paddle float. From my previous recreational kayak days, I felt this was a necessity. I bought the foam type and not the inflatable type because you don't have to blow them up and they give more buoyancy in my opinion. However, it might have been made out of lead for all the good it did me as I left it at home.
I didn't have a flare pistol. On my boats, I have always had a complete SOLAS flare complement. I have only had to use them once but they are worth the money. While too big for keeping in my vest, I am planning to buy a small twelve gauge launcher which will fit inside my vest. At least three boats would have seen my flare if I shot it at them but they didn't see my waves or whistle.
Anyway, the gear wasn't expensive as I don't buy expensive light tackle anymore. Just Cabela's or Bass Pro items on sale. But it was an eye opener for me, a person who when more fit was able to self rescue, cannot do it easily today. I plan to practice self rescue at Jonas Green as soon as I get a new anchor.
For you older guys who haven't practiced self rescue in a while, you may want to see if you can still do it as easy as you have when you were younger. Regards,
John
Today, the water temp was sixty two degrees according to the thermometer in my VHF radio. Since I am no longer young and d
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