iHop therefore iHuli...or Half A Dry Suit is NOT a Semi-Dry Suit

Nice job only saying "shoot" and "golly"! That is a level of self control I probably wont ever attain. Thanks for posting this. Im already taking the safety thing very serious, but this is just more reinforcement for my brain as I do tend to be more complacent as I get comfortable with things.

Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement, I'm convinced this forum is populated by some of the finest folks on the planet.

As a newby to "real kayaking" (as opposed to a ten foot wide tri-maran posing as a kayak), I realize that I have a whole lot to learn about balance and bracing instincts. D Rock was super last week when we floated the Sandy, teaching me to lean away from the current when entering from an eddy. As a physicist I can easily analyze the angular forces of wind and water, just not in real time yet!

As Derek mentioned, we set the seat up in the high position which gave a very high CG. Still had I thought clearly I could have easily turned, braced or leaned into the wind and avoided the Huli.

The much bigger mistake was just based on laziness of not bothering to finish putting on my drysuit. That was pure stupidity. I'd have been better of taking it off instead of leaving the sleeves wrapped around my waist.

As for my language, I tend to be very forgiving of myself when I'm in the newby phase. I wish I could remain that mellow when I blow an easy overhead in a tennis match, my self talk is not so sweet...

Thanks for sharing. I need to purposely flip my kayak so I can see how hard or easy it is to reboard... And I need to do it with the cloths I usually wear.
Also did your hatch come undone? And other then tipping how was that kayak... Especially compared to the tandam island??

The Coosa and TI are totally different craft. Pelagic Paddler pointed out when I was considering river drifting that the TI was the wrong boat due to its extreme length (18.5') and lack of "rocker" for navigating narrow moving waters. The Coosa is truly an all-water yak capable of surf launches, lake paddles and even class 3-4 white water. I can easily car-top the Coosa and carry or drag it to the water, the TI really requires a trailer and ramp for me to launch it. The Coosa opens up waters I couldn't fish with the TI. Check www.Jacksonkayak.com for some cool videos of Coosa designer and pro angler Drew Gregory bass fishing standing up and navigating some swift water.

The Coosa also has a lot of very well thought out fishing features and a super comfortable seat (which is a removable camp chair). Again, the Drew Gregory video is worth checking out. I am very seriously considering getting the Coosa (I'm starting to see how you guys seem to wind up with so many kayaks!).

The mini hatch was left open by me, another bonehead move.

When D Rock took me on the Sandy last Tuesday he gave me pointers and I was more cautious since it was my first solo paddling experience in many, many years. I tested the stability then and it seemed excellent to me. Every kayak can flip if you lean too far and don't brace. I grew up paddling pirogues in Louisiana so I'm not a total neophyte but there's some muscle memory loss after 40-50 years.

Ihop. Glad you're okay. Don't feel too bad as the salt is the recipient of well over
$1500 of gear from yakchicks 3 seperate flips. Her's were due to medical conditions
we later found out affected her balance. She is yet unable to get back in a yak and she's the one that 1st got me in a yak and she used to surf the waves in one down near Morro Bay. You are alive, learned some lessons and will be on the water soon if not already.

So sorry to hear she's still off the agua. I'd be happy to take you and the bride out on the TI where balance is not much of an issue. Have Hobie, Will Travel.

the Drew Gregory video is worth checking out.

Another Drew Gregory Video that's well worth checking out 



  that never gets old

Note(s): Everybody goes over at some point and he needed assistance re-boarding as well

That's a generous offer Ihop and greatly appreciated. If we come down your way in the future we just might take you up on the offer. Thanks so much. I know she really wants to get back in a yak. It was a huge part of who she is and what she loves to do.

Ihop glad to see you are taking it all in stride and using it as a learning experience.  I think most folks here have made bonehead moves while kayak fishing especially early on in our careers. 

   d. keep your friends close, don't go alone until you've got the skills...and then still don't go alone.

If I couldn't go alone, I wouldn't get to go at all.

Sorry for your loss of gear but at least you made it out.

Justin, become a yakin' evangelist and create your buddies, it's a win-win! I know you're kind of far away from here but it's worth talking to folks about it. Maybe you can convert a bank or PB angler to come into the light.

the Drew Gregory video is worth checking out.

Another Drew Gregory Video that's well worth checking out 


  that never gets old

Note(s): Everybody goes over at some point and he needed assistance re-boarding as well

Wow that was hilarious. I was not sure if that goose was attacking him or trying to mate with him

When I lived in NC one of the ponds we used to bank fish had a pair of nesting swans and the male was very aggressive (we were on the opposite side of the pond from the nest). Through trial and error we found that the best defense was to take a handful of dirt and throw it on the swan's back. It would then swim back across the pond and preen itself for about an hour. Usually no more than one or two applications of "swan repellant" kept us swan free for the rest of the day.

Hatch open and dry suit not on ...

With any new, dangerous skill, there are "killing zones" of experience in which one is more likely to have an accident.  In military aviation it is termed the "1000 hour aviator".  A pilot who has attained the quantum leap in situational awareness, experience, and humility (of a sort), though it can be attained much sooner or much later depending on the individual. 

Glad you are okay and handled it well.  From how difficult it was to remount, you were very lucky you had a buddy.  Make yourself some stirrups, and practice.  From your post it seems you learned the right lessons - good job.

Another lesson which should be learned is that your buddy has some responsibility for your safety and should nag you about your safety gear, e.g., "I think you should put on your dry suit".   Not saying this did not happen, just saying.  I have a kayak buddy who has paddled sea kayaks for decades in the GPNW and still, wears nothing but heavy fleece and a wind/rain breaker.  I've ragged on him and ragged on him, and now I rarely go out with him. 

Coosa's are extremely unstable if the seat is in the high position.  You guys forgot my story about flipping in the Wynoochee already huh?   

+1

Lee and I did quite a bit of swimming that day before we figured out the low seat position is best for small coastal rivers. I do love the high position for bass fishing lakes and fly casting, but once that boat starts to go there's virtually no stopping her.

Glad you were virtually unscathed IHoppa. Sorry about your gear. That's always a buzz kill.

Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement, I'm convinced this forum is populated by some of the finest folks on the planet.

At the very least, on the internet. 

Glad you were able to convert this into a teachable moment.

-Spot-