I agree
I agree with your post 100% but there are limits. We live in central NM. The race is on the ocean. So I’m only going to have a few days to practice my paddling / Mirage driving and then is the race.
W/o a doubt I will have a Type 4 PFD as well as other safety / rescue oriented objects as well as a good supply of water and food (Hammer supplements) for her to use during the race. I’ll also have a cell phone and a VHF to call for help if it should come to that.
thanks for the suggestion on the Tarpon kayak. I’ll also have a look at that.
OK - ideas then
Having a friend with a boat that can be hailed sounds good. It isn’t supposed to happen, but if things unexpectedly go to hell you could be using your boat for more than originally planned.
Would it work for you to carry something for her that’d inflate really bodaciously using a CO2 cartridge? My experience with anything inflatable is that, maxed out, it provides more support than the foam alternatives.
The Tarpon 160 is more of a paddling
boat than the Hobies and would make a good rescue craft.2 people would overload it but, not to a dangerous extent I would think.
distance
Although you’re in good physical shape, 12.5 miles is a long way for a novice to paddle, especially if there’s any wind. Even 5 knots of wind can slow you down, and 10 knots gets to be a real bear. Paddling that distance has as much to do with technique as it does with strength, so I’d suggest getting some pointers from someone around you, and getting out to a lake to practice. I’m sure you’ve got some good sized lakes where you can go 12.5 miles (even if it takes a couple laps) and you’ve probably got some lakes large enough to develop some decent chop on a windy day.
Nate
Two ideas
– Last Updated: Mar-01-11 3:04 PM EST –
I saw that the new Delta tunnel-hull SOT is finally available, I think it looks like it would be a good escort boat:
http://www.deltakayaks.com/sit-on-top-kayaks/item/13-delta-twelve5-catfish.html
Reviewed here: http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=2599
It has quite a big well in back for supplies, and you can stand up in it to keep an eye on things if necessary.
If you have a suitcase full of money and want a sailing rig, you might look at the Triak, which looks like good fun:
http://www.triaksports.com/
Apparently it paddles well even with the amas and akas in place and looks fast under sail....
Talk about dumb ideas…
You know nothing about paddling but you are going to “save” your wife if she falters. A recipe for two fatalities if there ever was one !
Beginners, SOT’s, and rough water
We go every year to the Cayman Islands where we have a time share. There is a concession near where we stay that rents SOT’s. Most are Ocean brand. The ocean at that location is known for high winds. The kite boarders love it. The winds produce 1 to 2 foot waves on a higher wind day. We go out in the rental kayaks and have a ball. But we are experienced paddlers who teach kayaking. The people who are new to kayaking have a tough time. Their strokes are inefficient and they know nothing about controlling the boat in the wind and waves. Consequently they are slow, get tired quickly (even if they are in good shape), and end up with sore arms and shoulders at about where they turn around. I can’t see that you are any different than those folks. If you are depending on the foot levers to move the boat, forget it. They are much slower than paddling and are not designed for wind and waves. Not trying to dump cold water on your plans but I really don’t think it is a good idea.
Really
Wouldn’t the best option be to find someone with kayaking skills to accompany the wife. I think I’d go that route, yes I do.
my 2 cts worth …
…I would more concerned with your muscles holding up than the boat, since you have never kayaked B4. even with some practice, doing 12 miles in a kayak , a barge of a kayak at that, could be more than your muscles can take. You didn’t mention how soon this race is and whether you intend on getting on a conditioning program or not. with the Hobie, plan on getting wet at any rate in rough water. practice your self rescue’s in case you get swamped and dumped in the ocean. i tested the Mirage drive and similiar drives …i thought they were very tiring and awkward. the seating /foot //pedal angles were all wrong for me. i wouldn’t want to pedal them for 12 miles. I also think if you have to bring another person aboard for a rescue…w/ a mirage drive on board…room for 2 is going too be very skimpy.
Do you bicycle a lot?
I own an Adventure Island and a friend of mine, who was an avid bicyclist, tried it out and loved it. I’ve never seen it go that fast. The Mirage drive really works.
Glad you’re not using the ama’s, it’s harder to paddle when they’re attached.
It’s a very stable boat, even without the ama’s. i think that you could probably “land” her pretty well, especially since you’re evidently physically fit.
The Adventure Island is an amazing boat. I’ve got other kayaks that I like better for paddling, but for sailing, it’s awesome. If the wind dies, just pedal. The ama’s make for an incredibly stable rig.
Go for the new Tandem, I wish that they had it for sale back when I bought my Adventure Island.
good point
good point about playing the guitar. I will have a week’s practice in actual conditions to get to know the boat and its characteristics. I can’t say if that’ll be sufficient time to learn kayaking for this event, but it’s the hand I’m dealt.
I can’t access an open water between now and the week prior to the event. It’s a risk but one I can’t see how to avoid.
Landing
I really don’t think I’ll ever be face with landing my wife aboard anything I will be in. My job will be to see to her while summoning a rescue craft 8 of which will be patrolling the course. In addition, I have a friend standing by with his engined craft.
Good ideas
thanks. I’ll look at both. For this round, my intent is to get something which will do the job and either sell it back to the dealer after the event or leave it for my friend to use and us to use when we return.
So cost is an issue. Given that even modest boats cost $60 / day to rent there, I can buy and sell back an Adventure for less. I’ve made a tentative deal with the vendor already.
We do plan on buying a house near the ocean someday soon. The alternatives you suggest, especially the second, do seem attractive. While we’re not rich, I know what boats cost. Given the slight maintenance of a kayak sort of boat, it turns out to be an ownership bargain compared to most ocean going anythings.
Wife to Rescue
My wife is a highly experienced paddler having spent months at sea in and around Puget Sound exploring and living out - just she and her dog in a kayak. She also kayaks just in general as it’s her hobby (we’re newly weds - 5 years).
I am relying on her assessment of my abilities here. I trust her judgment.
I am an idiot
I am clearly an idiot. Probably slack jawed as well. I have to agree with your summation of the situation.
I do wish you’d read my posts, though. I am not intending on landing her into the kayak in case of distress. Instead, I’ll deploy a PFD to support her and call for assistance from either a committee boat or my friend who will be standing by with motor boat.
Nevertheless, you are right. I’m stupider than a stump.
Again, wife
Well, you have dumped some cold water on my idea here. I 100% believe you but nothing to be done for it. My wife is intending on entering this event and she both wishes me to be her SAG wagon and, as an experienced kayaker, believes it is within my abilities.
I will have a full week to practice in actual conditions along the course. I hope that it will be sufficient to the needs. That’s the best I can do here.
My first idea
My first idea was to contact the swim organizers in hopes contacting a local kayak club. I was going to stand off a bit in a friend’s borrowed motorboat. I don’t wish to use the motor boat as a SAG due to the exhaust and propeller, though.
My wife, as an experienced open ocean kayakers, said she’d prefer me to SAG and also that she thought I could do the job rather easily after my week’s practice in those conditions.
So while I"m not debating you and the others who think I’m in over my head, I will remain over my head if it’s such that I am.
Conditioning
I am in the gym at least 5 days a week both for lifting and aerobic work. That has nothing to do with the race which is 4 Jun. My general physical shape is such that I’d think nothing of doing a 100 mile bicycle ride at any time w/o any added prep.
Our plan is to arrive over a week before the race. I will spend that week in daily practice in the kayak, in actual conditions, which will tell me either I can do it or I’m hopeless. If I’m hopeless, then we’ll have to make alternative arrangements.
While there are no guarantees, I’ve yet to fail at an endurance event I’ve planned for. While 12.5 miles isn’t trivial, it’s hardly the Leadville 100 either. No I never did that, but I use it as a point.
Thanks Redmond
I’m an avid bicyclist who, even right now, wouldn’t hesitate to take off and do a century ride (but not at race pace).
I’m counting on a few things. First, that my wife isn’t a fool. If we’re 3 miles from the finish and she’s exhausted, I expect her to declare before she gets to the point of needing to be landed. Second, I will have a Type 4 PFD in case she overdoes it. Third, I have motorboats available I can call if she needs landing, so while he Adventure may be stable enough for me to do it, I only intend on trying in case of extremis.
I am looking forward to trying the Hobie Adventure if I do choose it over some other suggestions here.
I can tell by your responses…
that you’ll do it, she will do it, and you all will live happily ever after.
Then we are going to make a kayak racer out of you
You definately have to report back when it is all said and done to keep the nay-sayers in their place!
Jack L