NYCkayaker capsized

[David Gottlieb]

Sit on Tops... no doubt they are fun, but has been pointed out they have
lousy secondary stability and getting back on top in rough water, once
capsized, is not so easy....

I watched three SOTs capsize off the Coast of Costa Rica's Tambor on
Christmas Day about five years ago... We had just come back from an early
morning fishing trip with our booty (lots of tuna - the best sushi I ever
had) and were saying goodbye to our boat captain and his crew when the winds
blew up and the three of the 6 kayakers we had just passed went over... They
tried to get back on their kayaks in the chop, but to no avail and they all
swam safely to shore and the fishermen picked up their boats -- which was
owned by the local rent-a-kayak outfit. So sot's can capsize and it doesn't
look so easy to right one in high seas.... But then I have only been on SOTs
several times and had lots of fun, but it was in calm and protected waters
off North Captiva Island in Florida...

I agree that many of these so-called recreational boats that people take out
in the Hudson without skirts or skills or knowledge can be death traps. It
also amazes me that people can rent kayaks from certain businesses without
any knowledge of kayaking skills and aren't even given a skirt or a paddle
float....

Oh well.. Have one...

Anyone going out this weekend????
I'm planning a trip on Saturday from either Palisades, NY or Piermont, NY to
Nyack Beach State Park in Upper Nyack... Anyone care to join me... Contact
me back channel.

 Obviously I am not leading this trip, but I will be dressed properly with
dry suit, carry communication devices, a camera and a hearty lunch.