Patience
 

SO, amongst all the talk about launching/crashing and being safe, overly safe not safe enough I decided to make a video of my launch yesterday. I truly believe that if you have a reasonable sense about you, you know when to launch or not launch. I also feel that taking chances to loose $1000 or more of gear is just plain stupid. I have only turned away twice in my life and am happy I did. Through much experience, yesterday was not the worst I have been in, but how far the waves were crashing out and the ripping current, definitely did not make me dive head first into the surf. Patience, the title of this video shows how sometimes it takes a while to find your gap and it is certainly worth it. Through paddle surfers, scuba divers and googins with lattes telling me where to launch I eventually made it out safe, took a while. The waves were medium 2-5 but crashing far and from my experience this is not a good scenario if you get caught out there with crashers on top of you. Enjoy the vid, oh and by the way, fish report. Caught one sculpin, wave/wind sucked but saws miles of bait and one YT boil, overall brutal day. Tight lines.


Chuck D



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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89r9xXF_jX8

high tide plus wind. no way. I always go down to the boat launch area, the waves are smaller there

Great video and great suggestions, wouldn't expect any less from Chuck D!!

The best advise that I ever received came from Greg, he said, "the best time to not launch is when I launch".

The second best advise also came from Greg, he said, "the time time to not land is when I land".

The third best advise also came from Greg, he said, "the best time to launch is when the water gets to its highest point". His reason for this makes complete sense. Once the water reaches the highest point on the beach it means that the largest surf has past and the lull has begun. Obviously, you still have to consider those nice sized breakers that like to sneak in.

Follow these three rules along with a little patience and you'll survive most if not all launches and landings.

I have launched all up and down the coast. The absolute number one thing is stay straight(keep your rudder up and manage the yak with good paddling. Nose straight ahead and paddle at as close to your 100% as possible while still able to maintain directional control. You can push through 4+ ft breakers if you do this. I'm not advocating you to take your yak up to tresses and launch but as long as you paddle THROUGH the breaks you will just get wet.

Again, I will say if your unsure, don't take the chance. There will be plenty of other days out there. In my opinion though, landing is soooo much dryer once you master it. Don't surf the waves in. Just paddle in slow and gigue a few back paddles as a wave is passing and it will go under you. Once you are inside the break you can just let the waves push you in. Use your paddle as a break only to maintain directional control. Once you are not powering your yak, just manage energy, don't add any(don't paddle). Takes some practice but I haven't flipped in at least 3 years and that was on a 10' yak. :kayak-surfer:

Nice vid and info! We're your rewarded for your patience?

Great video Chuck, and amazing lesson in patience. More power to you all who surf launch and land. I have been kayak fishing for about 3 years now. I can't seem to get over my apprehension when it comes to the surf. I have done it 3 times, the last time being over a year ago. I wanna get out there and catch some game fish, but the fear holds me back. So kuddos. I have great respect for all of you.

Janine

Like 5 times during that I was thinking "just go dude" :p

practicing in warm water is always nice. I only surf launch in lajolla never had the guts to try anywhere else

After kayak fishing for more than 10 years, never thought I would ever get seasick again.
Halfway watching this video I had to take Dramamine. :puke:

Usually going out in the surf is easier than coming back in because you can be assured of pointing the bow of the kayak right into the wave at a right angle.

The real question is how long did you take to land it that day?

Same patience applies to landing for sure.

W.t. break on through to the other side. Cool vid.:kayak-surfer:

Couldn't agree more. So far no issue going out. Just keep it straight and go. Coming back in is a roll of the dice.

Thanks Chuck.

Always love watching others launch as I learn more each time so thanks!

Question, why can't you leave mirage drive in and use that when launching since it's faster and assume that would help breaking through waves. (And supplement with paddle.) Just got a hobie and wondering out loud I guess. I'm sure there are reasons and just want to know why. Thanks


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A couple of reasons for me. First I feel that I have more instantaneous power to push through waves with my paddle. Second there is more adjustability of speed and direction with a paddle then peddle. Lastly is you were to crash and you peddle was not strapped with the bungee it could be painful for you, your drive or both. I feel a lot safer landing and launching with a paddle. The only time I use my drive is launching in virtually no waves, i.e..Baja the Bay and landing with no waves, i.e.. the Bay or calm day at the Jewel.

I ALWAYs land with the mirage drive in.

There is a bungee that retracts the fins flush against the kayak when you stop using the drive.


Some people launch with the drive in. Just make sure its deep enough before you use them or you will bottom out and likely turn your kayak sideways.. Done that:D


If you ever bend a mirage drive fin mast it is pretty easy to straighten it out with a hammer.:mad:

I like to launch and land with my paddle as well, I don't have the speed the mirage drive has but definitely control.

So do you put he Mirage drive in and strapped so that he fins are along the hull while launching or is the drive out until deeper water? It looked like Chuck had them in during his launch, might be wrong.

Squid