VHF radio?? distress equip. - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

cowboybill · 05-09-2010, 08:36 AM

My OP, bring everything you can, but as light as possible...

I am going to add a flair gun and Fog Horn, as once last fall, I was out with 2 buddies near point loma kelp, and the fog just dropped, or formed on us; I mean visibility went from well over 1000 yards to less than 100 yards in minutes...
Then next thing we know, we hear a boat heading our way....closer, closer....Then we see him coming right at ME! We all start waving paddles, and I am blowing hard on a survival whistle, and getting ready to DIVE!
At about 50 yards the guy swerves....and all was OK...but it rattled me for a bit...
It was a lobster boat, going too fast for conditions, trusting radar, but we sure werent showing up on his screen!!

Point is like everyone says; things can change in an instant!
If you think you could need it, bring it! But keep it simple...

After that day, I have also made a point of entering critical points on my GPS, and keep a simple compass handy so if I am out, and fog or darkness or ??? happens, I have some reference points to help me get back...

05-09-2010, 08:36 AM	#7
cowboybill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, CA Posts: 103	safety first My OP, bring everything you can, but as light as possible... I am going to add a flair gun and Fog Horn, as once last fall, I was out with 2 buddies near point loma kelp, and the fog just dropped, or formed on us; I mean visibility went from well over 1000 yards to less than 100 yards in minutes... Then next thing we know, we hear a boat heading our way....closer, closer....Then we see him coming right at ME! We all start waving paddles, and I am blowing hard on a survival whistle, and getting ready to DIVE! At about 50 yards the guy swerves....and all was OK...but it rattled me for a bit... It was a lobster boat, going too fast for conditions, trusting radar, but we sure werent showing up on his screen!! *Point is like everyone says; things can change in an instant!* *If you think you could need it, bring it! But keep it simple...* After that day, I have also made a point of entering critical points on my GPS, and keep a simple compass handy so if I am out, and fog or darkness or ??? happens, I have some reference points to help me get back...