Post by bigjohn on Nov 7, 2014 18:54:45 GMT -5
So today was super slow at work, and the fish were calling so I decide to take the kayak out by myself into Turners Creek. The plan was to put in at the boat ramp and fish a couple feeder creeks just below the ramp.
The tide was running out pretty fast, I noted this but didn't realize what the effects could be, as I launched I paddled straight out and not particularly hard, so the tide took me into the dock to the right. Pushing off the dock with my paddle seems to have been a big mistake lowering the side facing the tide which flipped me right over. With the Kayak on top the tide shoved me right under the dock, my inflatable vest activated and brought me up against the bottom. I managed to claw my way out from between the pontoons, lucky I picked the right direction. A gentleman taking his boat out saw me go over and got there to help about the time I got out from under and helped recover me and my gear.
Was petty fortunate to end up with only a wrenched shoulder and shredded finger tips from under the dock.
Equipment mostly performed well except for the inflatable life jacket.. they don't work so well with a 2" cut from the underside of the dock. It will not be replaced with another inflatable. Cheap dummy cord on the paddle from Bass Pro failed, bungee material was just to weak, the good ones from West Marine on the poles worked excellent. Gear lost was a pocket knife, map (stuck under seat), and fish net not tied down.
So now I will be waiting for my buddy to get his Yak or hope to tag along with others in the future, this could have turned out very bad with just a minute longer stuck under that dock.
John
