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All About Kayak Diving Here is a place to discuss the growing travel mode of kayak diving. |
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11-03-2015, 09:30 AM | #1 |
Mike Wilborn
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Southeast, MI
Posts: 466
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Rough weather kayaking
Hey everyone
Anybody have any tips for kayaking in rough weather? I'm trying to increase my knowledge base. Obviously, there's no substitute for experience, but how does one best deal with rough weather in a kayak? Or, to come at the question from a different angle; If you are in a self-bailing SOT with a full wetsuit, you're like a big cork bobbing around in the waves. What conditions would make you refuse to get on the water in your yak? In my experience, the kayak is generally more capable than I am. Before my SOT, I had a sea kayak that would only dump me if I lost my head and leaned into or away from a wave. If I just trusted the boat, it'd handle quite a bit. I generally will shy away from waves I can't see over in my kayak (3'+), but the waves in Lake St Clair tend to have short wavelengths, so they really toss you around or wash the deck more than they would if they were 3' swells on one of the bigger lakes. I know that paddling with the seas on my quarter, fore or aft, was the most comfortable ride. I know that trying to surf a long kayak is an invitation to slew beam on to the wave. (for me anyway). In our little great lake, I stay within a mile of shore, so I can expect short, sharp, confused chop to show up if the wind is on-shore. I will not go out if the wind is howling off-shore. I'll fight the wind to get out, not to come back. And, of course, everything that isn't strapped down is a gift to the lake. Any pointers from the more experienced crowd? Is my ignorance glaring through in anything I've written? Anybody have a general story about seamanship they want to share? Last edited by Chuuken; 11-03-2015 at 09:30 AM. Reason: typos |
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