Patience

[Chuck D]

Originally Posted by momo fish

Always love watching others launch as I learn more each time so thanks!

Question, why can't you leave mirage drive in and use that when launching since it's faster and assume that would help breaking through waves. (And supplement with paddle.) Just got a hobie and wondering out loud I guess. I'm sure there are reasons and just want to know why. Thanks


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A couple of reasons for me. First I feel that I have more instantaneous power to push through waves with my paddle. Second there is more adjustability of speed and direction with a paddle then peddle. Lastly is you were to crash and you peddle was not strapped with the bungee it could be painful for you, your drive or both. I feel a lot safer landing and launching with a paddle. The only time I use my drive is launching in virtually no waves, i.e..Baja the Bay and landing with no waves, i.e.. the Bay or calm day at the Jewel.

[StinkyMatt]

I ALWAYs land with the mirage drive in.

There is a bungee that retracts the fins flush against the kayak when you stop using the drive.


Some people launch with the drive in. Just make sure its deep enough before you use them or you will bottom out and likely turn your kayak sideways.. Done that


If you ever bend a mirage drive fin mast it is pretty easy to straighten it out with a hammer.

[ful-rac]

Originally Posted by Chuck D

A couple of reasons for me. First I feel that I have more instantaneous power to push through waves with my paddle. Second there is more adjustability of speed and direction with a paddle then peddle. Lastly is you were to crash and you peddle was not strapped with the bungee it could be painful for you, your drive or both. I feel a lot safer landing and launching with a paddle. The only time I use my drive is launching in virtually no waves, i.e..Baja the Bay and landing with no waves, i.e.. the Bay or calm day at the Jewel.

I like to launch and land with my paddle as well, I don't have the speed the mirage drive has but definitely control.

[JimPat]

So do you put he Mirage drive in and strapped so that he fins are along the hull while launching or is the drive out until deeper water? It looked like Chuck had them in during his launch, might be wrong.

Squid

[lterrero]

Chucky, 45min of waiting is too much when the YT are out there waiting for you!! anyhow good luck amigo in the way back going out.

[jruiz]

Paddle + Pedal + Jump out in knee deep water

Don't forget to have your drive bungeed so it retracts when you stop pedaling

[WildernessWanker]

I've primarily surf launched, only a handful of times have I gone out in the harbor. The one thing I try to keep in mind is that every time you have to be on point and not get lazy. This means leashing or stowing everything on launch, even if you don't roll or tip, breaking through waves will pass a wall of water over your yak and you can lose gear. One of the first times I went out I had my lunch sitting in my tankwell next to my crate. My crate was all secured but my lunch was just sitting there, and after a couple hours I went to grab a snack only to find no lunch sack. It's safe to safe that on launching it was swept off the yak since that was the only real adventure I had up to that point.
I agree with what everyone has said though, it's all about patience and picking your timing. I've never waited as long as 45 minutes, but I've never showed up and just raced out. I always take some time to look at the sets and where they're breaking, it's always easier to launch with the right timing and in the right part of beach.
As far as drive goes, I always launch with my drive out, just what I was taught when I went out with more experienced kayakers. I find I have more immediate control of the yak with my paddle and better holeshot on speed. I always put my drive in immediately past the breakers then will use both to get me a little deeper quicker. A lesson learned from Malibu when I thought I was past the breakers and started situating gear on the kayak only to have a huge rogue wave build and break with me right in the zone. After I got to my feet and righted my kayak the dragged myself to shore, I logged it a lesson learned. I take the drive out on the way in, if something were to happen I'd hate for the kayak to get out of my hands with the drive in if the fins came loose and were down in only a foot of water. I try to be as careful as possible, partly because I don't want to get hurt but mostly because the cost of replacing broken gear draws from my "saving for a PA fund."

[Dannowar]

Originally Posted by WildernessWanker

As far as drive goes, I always launch with my drive out, just what I was taught when I went out with more experienced kayakers. I find I have more immediate control of the yak with my paddle and better holeshot on speed. I always put my drive in immediately past the breakers then will use both to get me a little deeper quicker. A lesson learned from Malibu when I thought I was past the breakers and started situating gear on the kayak only to have a huge rogue wave build and break with me right in the zone. After I got to my feet and righted my kayak the dragged myself to shore, I logged it a lesson learned. I take the drive out on the way in, if something were to happen I'd hate for the kayak to get out of my hands with the drive in if the fins came loose and were down in only a foot of water. I try to be as careful as possible, partly because I don't want to get hurt but mostly because the cost of replacing broken gear draws from my "saving for a PA fund."

You will be utterly shocked at how much easier it is to launch with your drive in


Bungee
Waist deep water
Release rudder
Release fins
Find your moment
Keep straight


Fish

[GregAndrew]

Some good advice here. I would add that what works for one person may not work for another (especially with a different kayak). Also, after learning how to remount your yak, you should go out bare bones and play in the surf. You will be amazed at what you can get over and through. For larger surf, a lack of speed coming in can be much harder to deal with. You are better off to be running out in front of the wave than to get sucked back up to the peak (just like surfers). And, the best landing advice ever, never get caught leaning toward the beach.

[ChristLike]

Anyone interested in my helicopter service(DKOTPter) Dropping the kids off at the pool. Picks you up on the beach drops you off pass the breakers.

$150 round trip

[Chuck D]

Originally Posted by JimPat

So do you put he Mirage drive in and strapped so that he fins are along the hull while launching or is the drive out until deeper water? It looked like Chuck had them in during his launch, might be wrong.

Squid

The Mirage Drive is the first thing I put on my kayak and last thing I take off. It is almost always bungeed in during launch and return. There is no way I would want to take the chance of flipping and loosing my drive, having it bungeed and locked in keeps it safe and out of the way, that has always worked for me.