Shark Shields and moving boats.

Some people have these on their Kayaks but is it worth it when the Maker stresses that they only work on stationary objects?

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/na ... 1115683913

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Fair Skies, Max.

Not the best way to sell the product.

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Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!

Hi Max,

I believe the comments around the moving surfer were in relation to the SURF model which is designed to be mounted on top of the surfboad with the electrodes trailing behind. When a surfboard is travelling at speed there may not be good electrode contact with the water. This would not apply to kayak as you would get the Freedom model and thread the electrodes down through the rear scupper holes.

As per the article though (the Natal Sharks Board test and CSIRO shark expert comments) there are no guarantees when a shark is in "full predatory strike" mode.

Having said that I'm going to stump up the cash to buy one as I'm satisifed that they provide a suitable degree of protection for the cost.

Cheers
Grant

That sounds better, are you a kayak fisherman? If so it would be wise I guess.
I can't help wondering though how often a Shark is in, "Not-Quite Full Predatory Strike Mode".

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Fair Skies, Max.

Just when he wants a taste.

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Yes Max I fish off my kayaks and the only time I have seen a shark at close range was when one was chasing a Snapper up to the side of my kayak It got to within 6' before it turned around but it got me thinking about the shark shield.

I have no solid data on the "Not-Quite Full Predatory Strike Mode" but I do know that with the last two shark attacks on kayaks here downunder (Portland VIC and Long Reef NSW) the guys were knocked into the water but were not attacked by the shark when in the water. The guy in Portland was in the water for 15 minutes before being rescued by a boat.

When I fish from my sea kayak, I put the fish in the cockpit between my legs--smelly, but it works. I have a friend, also a sea kayak fisherman, who puts his fish on a stringer which he hangs over the side of his kayak. You guessed it (it is a no brainer, really.) A shark came up grabbed the stringer of fish and flipped him over. Blood in the water, but no attack on him while he clambered back into his boat. He never saw the shark. Here in S FL our inshore waters are quite murky--that is why the fishing is so great. BTW, we don't have Great Whites, but we do have serious sharks all over the place.

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

If someone can tell me how to attach articles I'll post a copy of an article with a photo of a 3 metre great white which had been attacked by another great white said by experts to be 7 (yes 7) metres long. This happened at Stradbroke Island which is in the area I sail so I have a shark shield. Don't know whether it works or not and I'm happy not to find out. One spectator as I was rigging on Monday morning pointed me to an area which is a bull shark breeding ground and suggested that I sail over and try it there as they are only small (as in young) sharks. For those who don't know bull sharks are seriously aggressive. I think he may actually have been serious.

The warning you get with the shark shield suggests that you not do anything stupid but doesn't mention moving boats.

I did a diving course a long time ago and we were told that the best shark deterrent is to 'wet yourself'. I can only assume that if I'd been knocked off my kayak by a shark I'd have no real trouble delivering a dose of deterrent whether I wanted to or not.

While anything you can do to reduce unwanted meetings with Sea Monsters is a good idea and reccomended here is a cheering thought.

A few years ago i decided to look up every, "Shark/Kayak" incident i could find on the Net.
What I discovered was that attacks on non-fishing kayaks were rare, and in no available record had the Shark attacked the Paddler, even when they had been tipped out of the boat and in the water for some minutes or longer.

Shark-ologists say that a Shark knows what it's normal food is but an old or sick shark may be tempted to try something that looks slow and easy to catch.

In nearly all cases, Great White excepted, the shark approached the kayak from the Stern slowly and had what they call an, "Investigative Bite", some of these Mouthings were enough to tip the Yakker into the water but after getting a mouthfull of Poly or Fibreglass the shark then lost interest and left the area.
Some people only felt the bump and never saw it, but Paddlers behind them did.

In Perth a few years ago a Great White attacked a Two-Man Glass Yak violently from below as usual and bit a large mouth-shaped section of the Bow right off, luckily the kayak was fitted with inbuilt floatation. Even though both men were thrown into the water the shark departed apparently dissapointed.

In my Surf Kayak I feel quite safe as there are plenty of yummy young Boogie Boarders around, (We call 'em Smorgas-boarders"), the shark can hear their heartbeats and feel their muscles firing but they cant smell or feel me in my Yak.

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Fair Skies, Max.