How to handle boat wakes in harbor?
 

This coming weekend, i will try my kayak fishing in harbor for the first time, but can you guys tell me how to handle all these boat wakes when kayaking the harbor...

When a boat wake coming in front of me, i think should be fine, just keep paddle it over, but what should i do if a boat wake coming from the side? do i have to turn and face it? or just let it hit my yak and keep my balance on as good as i can?

I don't think i will face a very huge swell or crazy vessel boat wake, since i just going to stay in harbor, so i just thinking those boat wakes create by yachts and character boats.

Always listen for boat traffic and i always try to face the wave. If the wave is big enought your going to have to learn how to brace.

Hold on really reallly realllllly tight.

Keep your butt loose and keep your shoulders over your kayak and just go with the flow.

A few beers help.

Sounds like someone has been paying hard for their kayak fishing lessons. :D

ROFL

Ummm... not THAT loose!

What bay or harbor? I can tell you that in the Big Bay, depending on the boat traffic, you can get a bad washtub effect going on and some of the smaller vessels create the biggest/worst wake. I face the oncoming wake forward on a slight angle. That's what works for me, on my specific yak. I'm sure the technique can vary based on what you're in.

Just always be aware of your surroundings and traffic, the washtub effect can get a little knarley sometimes but if you are watching you will be ok, like they said loosen up and roll with it

never had a problem in newport and oside is like glass. out in open water though, just stop paddling and roll with the wave. i usually find myself leaning into it a bit as it goes up it. so if it hits the left, just keep your hips loose and lean to the left a bit as it raises to keep your head and shoulders leven then as it goes down repeat to the other side. shouldnt have any problems.

Why keep your hip loose?

You will learn how to roll with the swells through experience. Part of your ability will rely on the primary and secondary stabilities of your particular yak, and part on your balance. Until then, you will feel more stable by taking them head on.

Any wake over 6 inches I just evacuate the kayak.

Jump into the ocean and climb back into your yak when the water is flat. It helps if you lower the weight of your yak by throwing away your heaviest rod/ reel combo.

Its called being proactive!

It works for me.:D

Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

The Kid nailed it. Just hang your legs over the sides.

and Matt is as "proactive" as they come...ROFLMAO:reel:

The wakes you see are not the problem. Its the one's that you don't see that turn your trip into a GOAT F*&^.

You forgot to add squealing and arm flapping. Can't balance without arm flapping.

take your yak out and play with it under a peir... you will be a pro soon enough... or if you want to be really good, you could also go out to "Wade's" reefs during a big swell, high tide, during the new moon, pulling on hoops... make you an expert in no time!:cool:

Best thing that worked for me,was to go out and play In the waves.just you paddle and yak. No gear
Practice entry , ride the waves in,get tossed a few times,feel what is like to get cought sideways.you will get confidence and you will learn how to handle what ever comes your way.all of that while still having fun.:cheers1:

Fish and dive....what wake?


I usually charge the wake and try to launch off it if they're big, just for fun.

Yup. Lowers your center of gravity & acts as stabilizers. & have your paddle in hands to brace/push down on teh water should you start to tip.

you wont flip on a wake. ipromise:)

Some bays are easy as they have speed limits or don't have navy or comercial traffic. Like others said stay aware of what is going on around you, lower your center of gravity, and realize you're gonna get a lap full of water no matter how you take the wake. I would recomend just getting used to your kayak first and starting in a calmer bay. Others may back me up or disagree but if you're in the outer portion San Diego Bay and one, or several, of those huge orange "sea tractor" tugs goes by you are in for an adventure. Mike

Those are the only things I look out for, even when I had my 19' PB those damned tugs would come flying by on both sides and send you for a ride!


Recently however there was this odd looking ship with a flat(almost to the waterline) deck that was hauling serious ass past a few of us near the Coronado bridge, biggest wakes I've ever been in...PB or otherwise. That thing sent people running from the ferry dock! I swear the wake was so bad it felt like it bounced off the opposite end of the bay and came back after the first set passed.

So much great info, thanks!

And yea, just basically i am worry about newport, since is a big harbor, but i think it should be fine, will practice and get use to my kayak in the back bay first.

That sounds crazy for me :eek:

Mazilla, i think those boats/ships are navy SEAL attack boats. Do they look low, black, pointed, fast, and scarey? They come out of Glorieta Bay and just haul ass. I think those rigs have a couple of big helicopter turbine engines and when we see them are only going about 20% of what they can do. Mike

some of you are sick in the head. well most of us are. it depends on yak and rider . my hobie is 36 ' wide . you can stand on it and wiz on a calm day. on the other hand if you have 28 ' wide , like jim would say where your head goes your body will follow. if your leaning off of a narrow yak and wake hits you from the side, yes you could flip. hell i flipped it 1/4 of the times out. :sifone: untill i hired a pro and got a few lessons.

I turn completely sideways to big wakes. Kayaks are narrow, you fit in the troughs and float over the crests. Taking wakes head on is OK if you want to get wet.

It wasn't one of those zodiac style boats, it was 30'+ freight hauler of some sort, it had a high bow and high cabin, but the length of the deck was almost at water level. It looked like it was intended to sink a little to allow something on the water to ride in the middle...if that makes sense.

That guy was causing some major wake, I'd be surprised if it didn't damage something along the way.


Edit to add: the vessel looked similar to this...

http://www.workboatsinternational.co...es/DVS1158.jpg