Shakedown Cruise OK T13 – White Cap Fun, Plus a Swim in my Kokatat Dry Suit

Decided to take my new T13 and dry suit out for a shakedown cruise this last weekend…just so happens it was a rotten day for it from a weather perspective, but what the hell.  I took the boat out on Lake Roosevelt, upper Columbia portion and was greeted with a brisk wind and some blowing snow. Not a great start, but it is N.E. Washington and still a bit early for real spring, so this is somewhat normal.  The wind was steady out of the north at 12 with gusts up to 24.  I know, I know, bad weather should never intentionally be played in, but I was in a sheltered bay and could leave its safety for the 2 ft white caps when I felt like playing and I did go out with a friend in to ensure some level of safety.

I started my adventure with an intentional swim in my new Kokatat Supernova dry suit and a few practice runs at a self-rescue.  Water temperatures were in the high 30’s and the air in the high 30’s.  Train like you fight, and fight like you train…at least that’s what I used to say when I was 19.  Either way, I wanted to simulate not so nice conditions…nice and brisk.  The semi-dry suit has exceeded my expectations and then some.  I did not notice any water in the suit even after some quality time in the water and all the associated thrashing with a handful of self-rescue sessions.  I was layered and fleeced up underneath and felt safely warm the entire time.  Self-rescue was not a cakewalk, but definitely not as tough as I anticipated.  The only bit of trouble I did have was associated with my fishing vest PFD.  Way too much crap on the front of it; it kept hanging up on the side of the boat and the grab handle.  I swapped out my PFD with my friend who has a smooth front Lotus Design PFD and suddenly I was able to climb into my boat with far less effort.  Good to know and it now has me considering a new PFD with no “stuff” on the front.

I have to say, even though it was windy and cold it was an absolute blast.  I went out specifically to shakedown the new boat and start to find it limits (and mine), so it was a good day for that.  This boat handles very, very well.  It tracks much better than I remember when I tried one before, but what really impressed me was the primary and secondary stability.  You really have to be caught completely off guard, or hit some ugly water to flip this boat.  I was intentionally positioning myself broadside to 2 ft whitecaps to find what level of stability it has…I have to say, this thing is solid.  I felt comfortable making headway in the confused chop and had no problems quartering into the occasional 2.5ft whitecaps.  My friend was in his prowler 13, we swapped out boats for a bit, and I will say the T13 is a dryer ride and seems to glide and track a bit better than his P13.  After he returned from trying the T13, he also commented on the increased speed he felt the T13 has, but also felt the boat was more responsive than his P13.  He was also thrilled with the dry storage where you could get at it…he subsequently found and ate my snacks. 

I think on a day like today a rudder would have been helpful.  With the wind to my back the weather cocking was severe, but the P13 was also affected to the same extent.  Overall, it is a great boat with some well thought out features.  Seems to ride dryer than the P13 and seems to be a bit “faster”, but the real kicker is in the dry storage.  Sure is nice to be able to stow an extra hat or dry gloves where you can get at them easily. 

I did walk away with one solid piece of advice.  If you have not practiced a self-rescue or three…you are cheating yourself out of some valuable experience that may come in handy some day.

Very nicely done pmanaz, especially the effects of a PFD on re-entry.  The grab handle does it every time.  That's why practice is so important.  You'll find it easier if you do the reentry slightly forward of the grab handle where it doesn't get in the way.  This is true even of the "smooth front" PFD, as even just the "lip" of the top of the PFD can catch on the grab handles.  Kudos to you for trying it in realistic conditions.

It always amazes me how stable these kayaks can be.  I was out last week on the big blue and Chris and I decided to switch kayaks ... on the water.  I buddied up to him and hoped onto his tankwell straddling it.  He hopped over onto the seat of my kayak.  Then he went to the front of the kayak I was now on and leaned on it to stabilize it.  I then hopped over the high back seat and into the the normal seated position.  No worries whatsoever.  Moral of the story, practice buddy rescues as well, as it can make a world of difference.  Note: we did have 2 other yakers standing by helping out as best they could in case something went wrong with this foolish maneuver.

-Allen

The only bit of trouble I did have was associated with my fishing vest PFD.  Way too much crap on the front of it; it kept hanging up on the side of the boat and the grab handle.  I swapped out my PFD with my friend who has a smooth front Lotus Design PFD and suddenly I was able to climb into my boat with far less effort.  Good to know and it now has me considering a new PFD with no “stuff” on the front.

This is one of the reasons I prefer my Body Glove water-skiing vest in the salt.  Makes for a slick re-entry.

Well done pmanaz!

Thanks for the awesome report some good info in there!

Regarding the PFD, when I was looking at PFD's in the beginning, I was originally going to go with the Stohlquist Fisherman High Back PFD.   After much consideration, and realization that I don't need a tackle box on my chest, I decided on the Stohlquist A-Sea due to it's lack of puffy pockets.  There are still pockets that can hold basic items, but they are flat if not filled. 

I was able to do a self rescue on my way out through the surf zone, with paddle in hand with no issues of snaggage on the handle or side of my T13.

PMANAZ: Great report and a wise move practicing self-rescues in the new ride! I have a T13 on order, and feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas. I was looking at Extrasport PFDs yesterday, specifically the Osprey, Striper and Breakwater. I didn't like the Osprey -- too many pockets to fill with junk that might be hazardous in a huli. The Striper isn't quite so bad, and the Breakwater presents pretty smooth faces for a self rescue. Glad to hear your Kokatat kept you warm and dry.

I had to look up the Breakwater as I wasn't familiar with that PFD.  Looks a lot like the follow-on to the Solstice I use.

-Allen

 
Great report, Excellent trials!! Way to make sure you don't die of ignorance!!
It really is a slight challenge to reboard in deep water, but it really is nothing with just a bit of practice.

 I used to load my vest, in fact I used to wear an oversized mesh fly vest on top of my pfd (really dumb, don't do that), but I stopped in favor of the internal tackle trolley and the extremely handy pockets in the gunwales of the Hobie. Glad to know that it helps in reboarding as well!

Thanks for sharing your valuable newfound knowledge w/ us. I had wanted to buy a PFD that could hold my handheld Vhf in a front pocket, but I will now have to rethink this isdea.

Thanks again.
Richard

Thanks for sharing your valuable newfound knowledge w/ us. I had wanted to buy a PFD that could hold my handheld Vhf in a front pocket, but I will now have to rethink this isdea.

Thanks again.
Richard

To me ... having a VHF on my person is more important than having a clean front of my vest.   With very little practice the "bump" is hardly a problem.  You just need to be aware that it is there.

-Allen

Point taken Alen. Thanks.

I know nothing beats first hand experience. I have a good pfd already but would like to purchase one that would allow me to cary my Vhf on me. Sometimes w/ funds being so limited you have to go with the advice or fisthand knowledge offered by those you feel u can trust or those w/ more experience than yourself.
Case in point I'll probably end up buying a new pfd based on my instinct to want to have a Vhf on me and Alen's advice that the trade of having a Vhf is worth not having as clean of a reentry.

Thanks. Richard

 

[To me ... having a VHF on my person is more important than having a clean front of my vest.   With very little practice the "bump" is hardly a problem.  You just need to be aware that it is there.
/quote]

I would totally agree.  The vest I had was designed to carry two small tackle boxes, fly line tippet and everything else you could want.  A ton of bulk compaired to a single radio.