Separation from my boat, what if?

Geez, look what I started  

Thanks RR for your suggestion, may use it on our teenage daughter, she seems to need to be tethered these days.

Geez, look what I started  

Thanks RR for your suggestion, may use it on our teenage daughter, she seems to need to be tethered these days.

you're welcome.


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This is the only real unforeseen situation I don't have a plan for. 

In retrospect, there are probably numerous other unforeseen situations I don't have a plan for, this seems to be either a very stupid or very proud statement on my part.  This is the meaning of unforeseen I guess.

This has me a bit worried now. 

Don't mess with the ocean man, she will humble quicker than...hey AndyJade can you help me with a good analogy here, or would that be a metaphor or something else?

Geez, look what I started  

   OhB,
don't sweat it. this is really tame compared to some of the ways things take off around here. gotta remember we have a lot of wildly different mindsets and senses of humor among us... so the potential for things to turn  whacky doodle is always there. 

a book that might help you get some , uhmm, "perspective" is Sea Kayaker, Big Trouble. Basically it examines in detail kayaking incidents that go from near misses to rescue efforts to loss of life . Sure will open your eyes about being on the water.

a book that might help you get some , uhmm, "perspective" is Sea Kayaker, Big Trouble. Basically it examines in detail kayaking incidents that go from near misses to rescue efforts to loss of life . Sure will open your eyes about being on the water.


That's the first kayak book I read.  Very informative, if not humbling.  It doesn't mention tethering at all, and it is a very old publication, written before there were SOTs, but does make one think about safety a bit more.  Or at least it helps you analyze your safety mechanisms.  A thought provoker for sure.  Everyone should read it.

I'm gonna tether my yak to me in some form.  Hopefully, a comfortable, non invasive one.

Thanks WR will keep my eyes open for that book, or you can mail it too me.  You still in El Paso?  Was in SAover Christmas, spent the night in El Paso, knowing we were going through there thought about bringing you some smoked Salmon   The humor here is mostly good, really enjoy it.

I may be wrong - but I assume the book is called "Sea Kayaker's Deep Trouble".

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0070084998/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1339666289&sr=8-1

I may be wrong - but I assume the book is called "Sea Kayaker's Deep Trouble".

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0070084998/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1339666289&sr=8-1

Nope, You're right. WWas my mistake. great place to find it, and i think it's just been updated.

Thanks WR will keep my eyes open for that book, or you can mail it too me.  You still in El Paso?  Was in SAover Christmas, spent the night in El Paso, knowing we were going through there thought about bringing you some smoked Salmon   The humor here is mostly good, really enjoy it.

Thanks for thinking about me, OhB.  I havent been to SATX in a few years, and left El Paso last July. Currently in Charleston, SC, leaving next week for other assignments.

Currently in Charleston, SC, leaving next week for other assignments.

You're leaving a week before I get there.

Thanks for thinking about me, OhB.  I havent been to SATX in a few years, and left El Paso last July. Currently in Charleston, SC, leaving next week for other assignments.

Charleston is much better than El Paso, I could not comprehend why so many people would choose to live there.  It's like like the place is inexpensive, food prices were higher than here.

Currently in Charleston, SC, leaving next week for other assignments.

You're leaving a week before I get there.

whatver ya do dont stay at the residence inn airport. housekeeping issues are just the start of their problems.  can pm the rest if ya want.

in a way wish i could stay longer but last will and testament duties to my late parents take precedence, plus the phone call i got got last night sounds like i might be taking over as head of my team. which means i gotta go back anywyas.

Thanks for thinking about me, OhB.  I havent been to SATX in a few years, and left El Paso last July. Currently in Charleston, SC, leaving next week for other assignments.

Charleston is much better than El Paso, I could not comprehend why so many people would choose to live there.  It's like like the place is inexpensive, food prices were higher than here.

limited fishing from banks here. ya need a boat. all rivers are tidal up to a 15 mile inland designation. rule book is only 12 pages incl front and rear covers.  tried reaching out to the local yak fishing community here, but seems there were no interest in helping a visitor unless it was from a charter. no offense to charter guys, but i really can't afford $275.00 for 4 hours of fishing.

from what i'm seeing, cost of living incl housing and food is way lower outside the city. how bout reg no lead gas for $3.09 a gallon?

anything else, lets take it to pm, dont want to clutter up the thread any more.

 I usually try to avoid the safety topics since I am typically a horrible example, but when it comes to losing my boat in big hydrology, I do take a few precautions that go beyond just risk assessment/management skills.
In the late 80s to early 90s I would occasionally use a deck line on my WW boats. I believe this practice is now way out of vogue and is considered unsafe and unpracticed, but at the time, I found value in having something to grab when I had to swim.
 The first photo below was taken back in my days of absolute ignorance. I didn't fish from my boats and I believed that those "new" sit on boats were for guys too lame to roll. The lack of PFD and helmet goes without saying, but it shows the deck line.
After gaining some knowledge and then finally fishing from SOTs, I started using a "bowline" that was multifunctional in both rivers and in surf conditions. I have also used leg straps since my conversion to SOTs and I continue to use them regularly in certain boats. Legstraps do make it possible to roll some SOTs like the OK scupper pro and the Malibu 4.4, but I have not been able to roll the bigger fishing boats like the Tarpon 140 (yet).
On ocean trips I use a bowline attached via carabiners at the bow handle and also attached close to my hip. If things get sketchy and I feel that I am close to swimming, I can detach the carabiner from the boat, clip it to my PFD, and continue paddling with some increased security.
On the negative side of this practice, the bowline is a very frustrating hook magnet.
In rivers, I dont attach the boat to me but just use it as a grab line. The only time I will attach it to my PFD is when Im walking the stream and fishing.
In photo 2 you can see the bowline on the T160 as well as a throw rope just behind my seat.
I carry a throw rope to help other swimmers, not to save myself.
I also tether my paddle. I come from the old school rafting philosophies. "If you don't have your paddle, you don't get back in the boat." So,  I am programed to hang on to my paddle no matter what and if I have my paddle, I have my boat.
Im no pro and some may not agree will my style or tactics but this is what works for me and my loss of boat paranoia. hope it might help someone else.
Photo 3 shows the boat that Im paddling the most often these days, equipped with both leg straps and bowline.
Well, I went on and on about prevention but didn't even touch on the what if.
Have all coms on your PFD and bonus safety gear in a ditch bag.
Has there been a" whats in your ditch bag" conversation here already?

I also tether my paddle. I come from the old school rafting philosophies. "If you don't have your paddle, you don't get back in the boat." So,  I am programed to hang on to my paddle no matter what and if I have my paddle, I have my boat.

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