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Old 06-25-2008, 05:19 PM   #6
dsafety
Olivenhain Bob
 
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Olivenhain, CA
Posts: 1,122
If all else fails...

I am, by far, not an expert at entering and exiting big surf with my Revo. The small stuff is a piece of cake but anything bigger than two feet can be a challenge. I have learned a few things however.

Wait outside until you see a lull, than paddle like hell, trying to stay on the backside of the swell in front of you. As others have mentioned, raise the rudder and lock the mirage drive in the flat position first. If you are lucky, you will be able to gain enough momentum to make it to waist deep water before encountering a breaker. I typically jump out in the shallow water, grab the bow handle and turn the kayak bow into the incoming swell. It is a wet landing but is usually incident-free.

If all else fails you could try what I saw one of the brave sit inside kayak fishers do the other day. He paddled as far in as he could and when he saw a breaker approaching, quickly turned the bow of his boat 180 degrees until it faced into the surf. He then paddled backwards until he reached the beach cutting through the incoming waves with the bow of his kayak. This guy was really good and barely got wet.

Bob
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