FALLING OVERBOARD!!!

Hello to all,

Wanted to share a story and get some feedback from the experts. I recently purchased a 2006 Outback SUV equipped with a fish finder and sidekicks. I absolutley could not wait to start fishing and during my inaugeral deployment on Saturday morning I didn't make it 3 minutes before falling over the stbd side as I attempted to install the drive system. I have searched for training videos with little to no luck. I am looking for advice and insights as a beginner and avid shoreline trout fisherman.

Have a great day,

Dino

wow! pretty exciting first trip, eh? I also am an avid trout fisherman and I used an Outback all day on a choppy lake with windy conditions, did not feel tippy at all and managed to stay in the seat area the entire time. I have upgraded to a Pro Angler and it is even more stable than the Outback. I have read that if you hang your legs over the side of the yak it makes it less likely to tip you out. most of the water I fish in is way too cold to do that though.

thanks..i should have used the sidekicks until i get used to the yak

This video shows the basic method of re-entry into a kayak:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuswEAzt3E0

(I would reach over and grab the far side of the kayak to pull myself up rather than the near-side like shufoy does)

Basically pull yourself up far enough so that your stomach is over the seat and then roll over. Your butt will fall into the seat and you can then lift your legs out of the water and swivel around into the normal seating position.

The tricky bit, i found, is stopping the yak from tip up onto you as you pull yourself up. If you keep your head and body low, this helps to prevent that from happening.

Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Paul.

I normally fish bayous and bays on Florida's Gulf coast, and am able to install the drive before I jump in - which obviously makes things easier. While fishing, though, I've noticed the trout here have a way of wrapping themselves around the drive fins (I always forget to stow them) - so I often end up pulling and re-installing the drive while fighting a fish on the open water. In fact, I landed my last speck by pulling him up through the drive well because I just couldn't get the line out of the fin...it worked, but I don't recommend it. As to advice, I'd just schedule yourself a "play" day - head out without any gear and practice pulling and re-installing the drive, as well as jumping off and reboarding the yak. It's worth the time - you never know when you're going over the side, although I will say say I have yet to get tossed from my Outback - even when my son and I accidentally got caught in 4 foot seas. Thanks Hobie! Once you get the feel for the yak, I doubt you'll end up getting wet very often.

I had watched the video of getting back into the yak from deep water, and it didn't exactly work for me. I have a PA, and in an attempt to learn how to get in and out, I went into a little quiet lagoon on the reservoir I was on, and jumped/rolled out. Then tried...I say "tried" to return to the PA over the side into the cockpit as is shown. NOT! I think due to the lack of upper body strength, I couldn't quickly pull myself over the center of gravity for the yak and I kept trying to turn it over, not get in. Gladly, I was on a PA...wide and very stable (in it:? ). I determined if I was going to get back in the boat, I'd have to figure some other way. Yep, over the stern. Was pretty easy that way. Don't know I'd like to try it in rough water, so I am working on not "falling out".
That's my two cents worth for you.

I know I'm a bit off topic here, but after experiencing the same thing, I always push the pedals as far apart as they go, raising the fins up against the hull, that way the line doesn't wrap it...

Many years ago swim class taught me how to get out of water into boat, or onto side of pool much higher than a Hobie kayak. As you are pulling your self into boat a powerful side kick or less powerful flutter kicks help.

First method;
Holding onto side of boat, bob up then down pushing yourself down arms length if possible. Then up into boat in smooth motion using you momentum to help you get into boat.
2nd method;
With full body floating flat on surface face down and holding onto side of boat at arms length. You will need to do small flutter kicks to get legs to surface. Quickly pull yourself forward and up into boat in one motion with legs straight and toes pointed again using your inertia to help.

Practice both methods until they are easy.

Clothes, heavy shoes and life jacket can make this more difficult but do wear life jacket.

I was with diving team in San Diego near Star Of India (historical sailing ship) and saw guy in water trying to get into his dingy with 1ft free board along side of his 45ft sail boat. He had leg hooked over side of boat and tried other methods to get into his boat and would of drown if not saved. A trained swimmer would have no problem. I have pulled myself into such a boat with heavy scuba tanks on with or without fins on.

If you can't swim take lessons.

I thether the yak to myself. You won't be able to get into it if it drifts away from you. I have a paddle float witha stirup. It makes it easy in getting back into yak in current.

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John

Getting your legs up to the surface and basically swim kicking your way aboard while using your arms to assist is the motion I use. From your description, you were trying to climb over the side and your feet were down below your body. Won't work. You basically try to swim aboard while you pull the kayak under your upper body then swivel in after you get your chest aboard. I'll also suggest that you got top heavy in your balance and fell off. It can be done easy enough. The Outback isn't tippy unless you're very light and it's an older hull. As suggested, practice without all the gear. Go out and try it over and over again until you get the hang of it. Our club does a practice and orientation every season. Like you noticed, falling out is easy, knowing how to get back in is more important. Maybe someone that is familiar with it can show you the method. Good luck.

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Yakkingaway
Portsmouth, VA

If you fall out of your kayak, it is easier to climb back in over the bow or stern. If you are a heavier person or have waders full of water and wet clothes, if you try to get back in by climbing back in over the side, your weight may tip the kayak back over on your head.

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I have the outback and don't understand how you managed to tip it while installing the drive. I'm 6'2" and I stand in it to fish and have never come close to falling out even in choppy water. I don't use sidekicks. You'll get better at installing the drive, but I do it seated once I'm in a couple feet of water.

I also practiced re-entry on a warm day and found it harder than I thought it would be - I wasn't wearing a lifejacket though. I reckon they'd make it even harder.

I always push the pedals apart when I have a fish on.

I did the same thing. I went back to the store where i bought my Outback. He said the best rule of thumb is to keep your head" theoretically" between your legs. Don't lean to one side or the other. I tried it and have yet to go overboard again.

I'm like Dunamis--I have a hard time imagining falling out of something like an Outback. Keeping your head "between your legs" is good advice. Keeping it over your crotch is probably better. What you have to do, like in skiing, is keep your upper body over the center of the boat (in skiing, keep your upper body centered over your skis.) Getting your head (& shoulders) over the side of the boat is asking for trouble. I have a Hobie Adventure, and regularly hang my legs over the side of the boat, i.e., both legs over the same side, when I am fishing (anchored) and want to relax a bit. Since there are sharks around, I don't leave them out there too long. Again, you cannot let your upper body stray over the edge of the boat. I'm 6' 1", 198#.

Yakkingaway has good advice for re-entering your boat. If you are older, overweight, and/or out of shape (this description fits many of us,) then you should probably have a paddle float and stirrup as suggested by Popeye.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

The only way I could even see you falling out while trying to install the drive would be getting turned sideways in the surf. If the surf is really big I will sometimes use my paddle because the drive doesn't react fast or hard enouh in huge surf. Under normal conditions you can just stand in the water (knee deep) drop you drive in then hop in.

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