SOT yak egress question

[john from md]

Have any of you guys tied up at the end of Ego Alley? I was wondering how I get out of my OC Trident if I want to do this. I have always launched in two foot of water or so and don't know how to go about getting out at a dock.

Regards,

[J.A. Veil]

Have any of you guys tied up at the end of Ego Alley? I was wondering how I get out of my OC Trident if I want to do this. I have always launched in two foot of water or so and don't know how to go about getting out at a dock.

Regards,

John -

The young guys enter and exit their kayaks from a floating dock without even thinking twice. However, from one older angler to another, it is not something I like to do. My legs tend to cramp, and balance can be tenuous. Rather than trying it there for the first time in a very public setting, it would be worth trying somewhere else at an off time to see how comfortable it is for you.

I don't think that Ego Alley has a floating dock. Rather, you paddle up to the stone steps and tie off, fighting for space with all the dinghys. However, there is a small floating dock just around the corner from the head of Ego Alley (near where the police boats tie up by the Naval Academy fence). If I paddle into Ego Alley or the city docks area it is just for the fun of people watching. I do not exit the boat there.

I have tied up my center console boat both at the end of Ego Alley and at the nearby floating dock. It is fun to take out-of-town visitors there by water.

[john from md]

John,

Got you on the differences between older and younger yakkers.

Yes, Ego Alley has a wall at the end and you tie up between whatever boats are there. I routinely pick up my inlaws there when they want to go for a boat ride. The dock on the side next to the Sailing Hall of Fame seems to get more of the raft type tenders and is less used than the end of the alley.
I think I'll try doing some simulations while the yak is on foam supports in the garage. That way if I fall out, no one will see me and I won't fall far.

[surfdog]

man i can barely get out after 4-5 hours on the water at a beach landing

[Yak Fish]

What keeps people from stealing the yak? Honesty?

Funny enough, I was out with my wife this past weekend at Dundee. We were sailing the Outback and she was in tow on a raft. She wanted me to pull over to the dock so she could go to the restrooms. Feeling a bit adventurous she wanted to climb out of the raft onto a rather elevated dock from our stand point. I knew it wouldn't end well and I wish I had the camera rolling because that idea ended with a big splash. In good spirits she climbed back on the raft and we took the long way to the ramp.

[john from md]

"ended with a big splash."

That is exactly what I hope to avoid.

[Grady-Black]

man i can barely get out after 4-5 hours on the water at a beach landing

+1
gb

[hamtech]

The comments to the video at this link, http://www.paddling.net/videos/KayakEntry.htm mirror those here.