Hobie PA 14 Safety Tip

[FishTank]

So I was debating on whether or not to share this story but I decided it was necessary to get it off my chest....

 

 I was at one my favorite lakes and had been fishing all day. The wind started to go from 15mph sustained to about 25mph and I was having a hard time getting back in. I decided to go into a cove to rest when a pontoon came by going at idle speed.  With wind and wake from the pontoon,  I was pushed up on to a tree stump. The stump perfectly hit the transducer mount and pushed it aside, allowing the stump to go into the kayak at least 5in. I was stuck and there was no getting off of it. Also, the pontoon was the only other boat left on the lake but was clear on the other side. I tried for 45min to get off the stump but had no luck.

 

I realized I wasn't going to get any help so I knew I had go into the water. I took my shoes and shirt off, put my life jacket on, checked the water temp (67 degrees), put my feet for a few minutes in the water to get acclimated,  and jumped in. I didn't realize that only the top one foot of the water was 67. The water below that was around 50. I was in the water 10 seconds, stopped breathing and passed out. I woke up floating looking at the sky, holding the bungie cord to the kayak and my heart was pounding like nothing I have ever experienced.  I swam about 100 feet to shore and thought I was going to die. I had experienced a cold water shock response.   

 

I realized later that my body temp must have been high from getting the kayak back and the water was warm at the surface from all the silt stirred up by the wind. I was lucky.  So everyone think twice before you decide to get in the water for anything. 

[J Francho]

Oh. My. God.

 

Glad you're okay, holy hell that had to be scary.

[A-Jay]

Oh My ~ 

So Glad you're OK.

I got head to toe chills reading that.

Thank You for sharing your story.

It just wasn't your time.

Not much more I can say.

A-Jay

 

[Koz]

I'm glad you're OK. That went from frustrating to downright scary.

[flatcreek]

Glad you made it .A true blessing you escaped from what could have been.

[ryanerb]

oh man, so glad to hear you are ok.

 

Did you happen to have a cell phone with reception or VHF radio to contact anyone for help?

 

Knowing what you do now, what would be the plan for 'next time' if there ever was a next time?

 

[Eric 26]

Thank you for sharing this story.

[Motoboss]

Wow!

[FishTank]

1 hour ago, ryanerb said:

oh man, so glad to hear you are ok.

 

Did you happen to have a cell phone with reception or VHF radio to contact anyone for help?

 

Knowing what you do now, what would be the plan for 'next time' if there ever was a next time?

 

I had my cell phone but the small cove I was in was like a dead zone.  I thought about trying to call but the water felt fine to me.  When I was younger I use to swim in a lake with cold water all the time.  It never bothered me but that was 30 years ago. I also got certified for a deep water dive in cold water (40-50 degrees) when I was 20 so I was familiar with acclimating and the feel of being in cold water. 

 

If there is a next time, I might rethink getting in. It scared me pretty good. I am not sure but I think my heart stopped for real. It felt like my blood was being pushed to my extremities faster than my heart could pump it.  It's a pretty weird feeling. Also, I when I got out I didn't really feel cold, no shivers or anything like that. I was really sore all over though, like I worked out for hours. 

[Choporoz]

Thanks for sharing.  Glad you are ok.  Only three things really scare me in my kayak.  Rocks in current are one.  But stumps and wind are the other two.  Stumpy lakes in high wind can be terrifying.  I've had a stick-up jammed in my pedal drive hole in the middle of the night....frightening and disorienting,  but not panic-inducing.  

  I appreciate the warning about getting in the water any time other than summer.  Getting out of a stuck kayak any time is a tough decision, but water temps will be a much higher consideration in the future. 

[padlin]

Thanks for the lesson, glad of course that you made it out.

 

Wish I had someone to fish with this time of year.

[Bankc]

Thanks for sharing, and I'm glad you're all right.  This is a scary thought.  I don't know what I would have done.  I've been stuck on tree stumps before, but never so bad that I couldn't wiggle my way free.  You might want to pack a signal flare or a horn.  I know there wasn't anybody else on the water, but there might be someone near the water that can call for help.  

[FishTank]

5 minutes ago, Bankc said:

Thanks for sharing, and I'm glad you're all right.  This is a scary thought.  I don't know what I would have done.  I've been stuck on tree stumps before, but never so bad that I couldn't wiggle my way free.  You might want to pack a signal flare or a horn.  I know there wasn't anybody else on the water, but there might be someone near the water that can call for help.  

 

Definitely getting a whistle and a horn. My problem was thinking that this was going to be no big deal. I would just get in the water, knock it loose and swim about 100 or so feet to shore. 

[Zcoker]

Wow, that's some scary stuff right there. I'm glad it all worked out for you. Just never know how certain things can turn out. Sometimes things can appear simple to solve yet turn into a complete disaster. Good that your brought up those points about water temp, about the surface being a lot warmer, good thing you quit debating it and brought up the whole story!  Saving yourself is one thing, saving others by sharing info is another. All we can do is share the info and hope for the very best for everyone! 

[CountryboyinDC]

Dang, glad you made it out ok.  That could have gone another way none of us want to think about.  It's drysuit season.  It came all of the sudden this year too.  I hate wearing the things, but it's a lot better than the alternative.  Don't know that a whistle would have helped, or even a horn when there's no one around.  The little Garmins that allow you to send out an SOS might help, or sharing a float plan with someone who can summon help are a couple of other ideas.

[FishTank]

32 minutes ago, CountryboyinDC said:

Dang, glad you made it out ok.  That could have gone another way none of us want to think about.  It's drysuit season.  It came all of the sudden this year too.  I hate wearing the things, but it's a lot better than the alternative.  Don't know that a whistle would have helped, or even a horn when there's no one around.  The little Garmins that allow you to send out an SOS might help, or sharing a float plan with someone who can summon help are a couple of other ideas.

Going alone was one the first things that came to mind. The Garmin might a good idea moving forward. 

 

I have some NRS dry bibs but the weather was 45 degrees in the morning and almost 80 in the afternoon.  I would have cooked in the bibs. 

[CountryboyinDC]

32 minutes ago, FishTank said:

I have some NRS dry bibs but the weather was 45 degrees in the morning and almost 80 in the afternoon.  I would have cooked in the bibs.

Definitely can appreciate that.  Dry bibs really wouldn't have helped that much here anyway.  Once you're in above your thigh, if you don't have a dry suit with gaskets at the neck and wrists (and I'd it doesn't have socks, ankles), the cold water is going to be right against your skin anyway.  Just be careful out there!

[Bankbeater]

Oh wow! Glad you're Ok. My mom use to say when stuff like that happened that your guardian angel was with you.

[padlin]

I've read that kayakers, and I'd add canoeists, should never go out on the water unprepared to go in the water. The question FishTank's experience brings up is do we go by the fishfinders surface temp reading when determining what we need to be prepared for. Being prepared for 67 degree water is quite different from 50 degree.

 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

Terrifying!  Glad you’re okay bud!

[Jmilburn76]

Glad you are still with us,that’s absolutely terrifying.

[Darth-Baiter]

i think my new Outback has the same tranducer pocket.  i will keep this scenario in mind. 

[FishTank]

5 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

i think my new Outback has the same tranducer pocket.  i will keep this scenario in mind. 

 

If you have the 12, it should be the same. Nice thing about the PA, it's super stable. I slid off the front of the kayak and it didn't even come close to tipping it. Getting back in was a little awkward but I think I couldn't have done any of that in a different kayak. 

[Darth-Baiter]

did you ever explain how you freed the kayak?  when you swam for shore, did you abandon the boat?

[FishTank]

56 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

did you ever explain how you freed the kayak?  when you swam for shore, did you abandon the boat?

 

Once my heavy body was out, it started rocking. I pushed up on side handle and it popped right off. 

 

No, didn't bandon it. I put a bungie cord with a carabiner on the front kayak handle and held it in my hand. When I woke up after passing out, luckily I still had a hold of the other end of the bungie. I was able to get back in once I was closer to shore. I was also lucky not to loose anything.