Re: [Paddlewise] Lets hear your near death experience. (was pogies vs. gloves

In a message dated 12/28/98 3:27:09 AM EST, wanewman_at_uswest.net writes:

<<  He tried
 to roll twice then, since we were near shore I figured I would just see my
friend
 punch out and swim in to shore.  >>

This reminded my of the last time I almost drown in a kayak. It was this
spring, after three hours of riding my Mariner MAX (a 17 foot Sea Kayak) in
small surf. I had started to make mistakes a sign I was getting tired.
Intending to land I surfed in to shore. Vary casually I stop in shallow water
and toss my paddle in ahead of my.  Why I did this I do not know. It is
something I near ever do!  I always hold on to the paddle with a death grip! I
tip over intending to bale out but my gloved hands cannot find the grab loop
on the neoprene spray shirt. OK I will just pull the sides off. No good! OK I
will push myself out with leg power against the skirt. NO GOOD! I try pushing
off the bottom with both hands. I can't get my head out of the water. I make
another search for the grab loop but can no find it and another pull on the
sides of skirt!  Air has run out and I can see my life running out! I think
this is a stupid way to go! Who will drive my car back home? I try a hand roll
something I near mastered in this Sea Kayak. With one hand against the sand
bottom and my head on the back deck and the other arm stretched out to the sky
I get the boat angled part way up and my head above water. The first thing I
see is Tom Lender sitting in his surf boat four feet away. I call for help and
before the kayak tips over in the next wave, spot about half an inch of the
grab loop poking out of the front of the spry skirt. This time I find it and
get out. 

This situation was created by a number of small mistakes that combined into a
close encounter with termination. 
Operational choices: 
Out to long, decide to exit before I get on to beach, let go of 
paddle.  Not using a sit-on-top:)
Equipment:
 Tight spray shirt with hard to find grab loop combined with neoprene gloves.
No spare paddle.

I now have a large carabiner clipped to the grab loop.
Lets hear your near death experience.
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