what's a serious kayaker? I dunno LOL. Is that like being an "intermediate paddler"? Cuz I've met quite a few of those IRL They get humbled pretty quick when it's actually time to do something other than the basic strokes.
I do know the many advantages of wearing a skirt. So many advantages from greater boat performance in deeper edges and braceing the ability to sidescull low into the wind, or balance brace to relax/cool off/practice greenland rolls. Going thru surf (launching and landing).Staying warmer in cool air temps. Those are just some of them.
What's the big deal about capsizing and pulling the skirt? It's a piece of equipment (and a damn useful one too). Capsize, get out, figure out the best way to get back in. Should be part of every kayaker's repertoire, no matter what they paddle, or if they're "serious" or not.
I always wear a skirt. Well, check that. I also have an SOT so may I be excused? '-) And twice I've been in shallow rivers where the water is less than two feet deep, no room to wet exit.
I capsized unintentionally twice in moving water, a few times doing braces in rebounding waves, and once in a particularly nasty broach in a fully laden seakayak on a rocky shelf beach on Lake Superior. I opted to stay in the boat, and the skirt helped keep me in. Had I come out my head, neck and shoulders would have been even more exposed. Convinced me to buy a helmet, yessir.
Capsizing, unintentional or not, is no big deal. To capsize is human, to learn from it is divine '-)
For purposes of discussion on this sea kayaking message board, let's state that wearing a sprayskirt and PFD are necessary, but not sufficient, conditions for being a serious sea kayaker. Translation: wearing a sprayskirt and PFD doesn't itself make one a serious sea kayaker, but no serious sea kayaker is found without this gear while on waters appropriate for discussion on said message board.
If people want to paddle rec boats e.g. without a skirt or a half skirt that does nothing but keep the sun and spray off their legs, or paddle a seakayak recreational style (e.g. sans skirt) that's fine, paddle on. But not wearing a skirt is not using a seakayak to its full potential where they were designed to be paddled, e.g. open water.
There are other boards for a mix of paddlers. Nothing wrong w. a fun rec boat or SOT, or a nice little daytourer. I own an SOT (well, two as of tomorrow, 2 ww boats, and 2 seakayaks)
These are SeaKayaker's forums. This is a seakayaking board.
As for wearing a PFD, in my circles, they are worn, without a second thought, regardless of what one paddles. For club events they are required to be worn whenever on the water.
I've heard many excuses for not wearing one, but no reasons.
Can a person go without one if they wish? Of course, it's their choice. Just as it's my choice not to paddle with them.
Notice the first guy was strapped in? You see him release the belt. Is that common to do? [/quote]
I'd hazard to guess that under those condition, it would be essential to buckle up in a quick release set up as those guys & gals are getting some serious air (and water), just as the need for helmets. Reminds me of the demolition derby's of my youth.
plenty of vids like these around. Entertainment value mainly. 99.9% of paddlers will not be out in anything approaching these conditions.
In the current (Oct) issue of SeaKayaker a Tsunami Ranger recounts going out into a fog alone to get back to a planned take out. His Ranger companions all urged him not to go, and one of them (Eric) offered to accompany him.
You can read the details of his ordeal in the 'zine.
To his credit in the final section "Lessons Learned" he says
"On the beach the morning before my departure, Eric pointed out that at my age I had no business trying to paddle out alone. He argued that at 69 all of my reflexes were probably a bit slower, my reserves naturally lower and my eyesight less acute than those of a younger paddler. Now after being lost at sea for nearly eight hours and becoming exhausted to the point of near helplessness, I must admit that he was right."
Pick your heroes carefully. They are human and can make mistakes. Big ones, too.
...You can read the details of his ordeal in the 'zine.
To his credit in the final section "Lessons Learned" he says
"On the beach the morning before my departure, Eric pointed out that at my age I had no business trying to paddle out alone. He argued that at 69 all of my reflexes were probably a bit slower, my reserves naturally lower and my eyesight less acute than those of a younger paddler. Now after being lost at sea for nearly eight hours and becoming exhausted to the point of near helplessness, I must admit that he was right."
Pick your heroes carefully. They are human and can make mistakes. Big ones, too.
Yeah, I did read that. I couldn't believe that he pushed off on that day. He was very lucky to not to become fish food.
yeah, someone once posted elsewhere that the two kinds of kayakers most likely to get into trouble like that are novices who don't know what they don't know, and advanced kayakers who think they know it all.
I'm truly glad he made it out OK and had the humility to look at what he could've done differently. A good practice for all of us.
His wife prolly wanted to wallop him upside the head tho LOL.
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