Knowing Your Limits

I went out during a short window of opportunity a couple days ago and quickly realized I should have stayed home.

Sometimes the urge to get on the water is not always the best thing. I knew it was time to head in when I didn't feel confident enough to reach behind me to stow my rod for fear of flipping.

Hope you find this informational and use it......

Know your limits

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2019 Hobie Outback | 2018 Hobie Compass | 2017 Hobie Revolution 13
Froggin' For Bass and Other Kayak Adventures

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One of my pre trip advisors is NOAA. The site has an hourly prediction of temps, wind and possible precip. where I would like to yak.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... =graphical

According to NOAH kayaking in my immediate neighborhood should be great this afternoon.

If you have tidal impact, there is another service to help you plan on tidal events.

Again this afternoon in my area, tidal impact planning will help to insure that you have the odds for you re a good trip in areas where the tide can have an impact.

http://gofishingforum.net/tide.pl?locat ... n=122.2800

Next is the ability of your yak to handle waves and wind.

Our oasis with the AMAs is very stable with two of us in the Oasis, and we can handle winds up to 10-12 mph and their local waves.

My Freedom Hawk 12 is a fun little yak in protected areas from the wind and waves, and it would be dangerous to go into situations/areas where the Oasis
can handle.

My Freedom Hawk Pathinder with its Stabilizers appears to be more steady than the Oasis if I get caught in more weather than I planned on.

Last, but not least is the biggest variable in yakking, us.

My physical endurance at this time of the year is minimal compared to the end of October due to lack of yakking and sometimes even walking due to the weather. So a 2-3 hour trip at this time is all that I plan. So I need to plan my halfway times/points re when to turn back to the barn. This can be made easier by taking advantage of predicted winds if they are behind you and tidal movements.

Our physical endurance is often controlled by our level of hydration. The lower our level of hydration is, the lower our physical and often mental endurance is.

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2009 Oasis
2012 Freedom Hawk Pathfinder

With the growing number of satellite generated on line weather forecasting services and the equally numerous portable devices to access these services with are we losing touch with our ability to read the environment?

If you are going kayaking you need to know how to read wind tide and swell. Cloud patterns can tell you whole lot about what is happening or about to happen. Weather changes often follow the tides.

I have been lucky enough to have spent a good portion of my nearly 60 years mucking around in small boats, kayaks and surfboards. I have had some nasty frights in that time - and learnt a lot.

As Hanover Yakker says - Know your limits - don't rely on technology and never take calm conditions for granted. It can all turn to custard very quickly.