Water Safety Hints for Sit-on-top Kayakers in Morro Bay &
Gateway to the
KayakMorroBay Yahoo! Group Edited by Mike Baird mike [at}
mikebaird d o t com
The address of this page is http://morro-bay.com/kayak or
http://kayak.morro-bay.com
Readers might best think of this article as
advice only for sit-on-top kayakers. Thus, I will not even discuss,
for example, spray skirts, sea socks, or paddle floats below - all tools for
the sit-inside kayaker. I don't advise that beginners use sit-inside
kayaks, and I do not feel qualified to give any advice to the sit-inside
kayaker. Please note that I am not a qualified instructor or guide.
I profess no credentials or qualifications other than self-learning about
paddling safely in Morro Bay since I started paddling here in 2000.
You alone assume full responsibility and liability for your actions - I hope
that some of my advice you will find useful. Please submit questions,
comments, or corrections to me, Mike Baird, e-mail mike [at} mikebaird d o t
com. Thanks, and Enjoy! Thanks to Stacy Rankin and Curt Johnson for allowing me to use
some of their photos below.
Visitors and first-time paddlers in Morro Bay
often ask members of our "Kayak
Morro Bay Yahoo! Group" about what to expect, where to launch,
safety hints, etc.
This page is intended to organize and preserve some of the answers to those
questions. California Kayak Friends
ckf.org says "This part of
the California coast/bay can be very calm (sometimes) but don't expect it,
expect the unexpected and please prepare for it with all your safety gear
aboard your vessel." Kayaking on Morro Bay can be one of the most
rewarding, healthy, and educational activities you could ever think of!
Morro Bay is largely unspoiled - heavily
populated with over 100 species of birds and sea mammals... The
weather is usually wonderful and the waters calm and fairly protected (even
"glassy") as shown here.
It is also often so foggy that you can't see the shore.
Calm water often leads people to treat the water too casually... and therein lies
a potential danger.
We have some strict rules for paddlers who want
to join us. These rules are meant to alert the paddler to real dangers
that exist. The Yahoo! Group description says in part: "Participants
are required to wear properly fitting Coast Guard Approved Personal
Flotation Devices (PFD's) at all times on the water, and must be able to
perform an unassisted self-recovery from a capsize (almost no one can do
this in difficult situations without the proper equipment (read sit-on-top
kayak) and training and experience). Among canoes and kayaks, 75% of
fatalities are classified as "capsizes" by the Coast Guard. This
suggests that sit-on-top kayaks are the only safe boats for new
inexperienced paddlers. Local kayak rental shops will irresponsibly
rent visitors dangerous sit-inside "recreational warm-calm-water" boats that
even the manufacturers do not recommend for areas like Morro Bay ... mostly
because people like to stay dry. Sit-inside kayaks, if used, must have
bailing equipment and both fore and aft sealed flotation chambers, or fully
secured flotation bags. For all boats, tow ropes front and rear
are required. New paddlers are welcome. We are mature people
paddling sit-on-tops and closed-deck (sit-inside) kayaks, with an occasional
canoe. We like to paddle together on the water, observing wildlife
with respect. Liability Disclaimer: Organizers assume no liability or
responsibility for you. We are not professional guides or
instructors... you alone assume full responsibility and liability for your
actions if you participate."
Here is an expanded
response to a recent visitor's query...
"We
do not recommend using sit-inside boats on Morro Bay unless you are
confident in being able to do an unassisted self-recovery in the event of a
capsize.
Winds can pick up fast and the water can get challenging.
Check the weather first at http://morro-bay.com/weather/.
Twenty-four-hour weather information may be obtained by calling (805)
988-6610. Weather is also broadcast on several of the radio stations
in the area including: KUHL (1440 kHz) every hour on the half-hour and KSMA
(1240 kHz) at 6:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. When emergency conditions
exist, special weather broadcasts are announced on Channel 16 and given in
complete detail on 2670 kHz (after a preliminary announcement on 2182 kHz)
and on Channel 22A. The National Weather Service also broadcasts on VHF
Channel WX1 (162.55 MHz). The Morro Bay Harbor in San Luis Obispo
County is easily identified by the 581-foot-high Morro Rock just north of
the harbor, and by three tall smokestacks at the harbor’s PG&E power plant.
The harbor entrance, one of the roughest on the West Coast, has a hazardous
bar warning posted up to 40 days a year because of turbulent seas. The boat
operator should exercise caution regardless of experience. Throughout the
year, extreme high and low tides result in swift currents inside the harbor.
During stormy winter months, waves up to 18 feet batter the breakwater,
causing hazardous boating conditions at the harbor entrance.
Knowledge of the predicted
tide action will help you understand both the expected currents and water
levels - on a falling tide you can get stuck in the mud easily.
Fast currents can upset a novice paddler, and also make it difficult for you
to return, especially if you are also fighting wind.
There is a tide
chart generator for the
Morro Beach Coast including Estero Bay -- From
sc.edu
-
graphic and a more relevant one for inside Morro Bay and the Estuary
(typically lags ~15- 20 minutes, ~1/2 - 1 foot less) From
sc.edu -
(best) graphic.
An excellent alternate tide chart generator is
at Tideschart.com's https://www.tideschart.com/United-States/California/San-Luis-Obispo-County/Morro-Bay/The Tideschart.com website reaches more than a million visitors a month and provides a lot of information about tides as well as weather, water temperatures and fishing times.
You can see which way the tide is
flowing by looking at boats moored in the harbor - they will almost always
point into the flowing water unless the wind dominates.
Be careful not
to paddle in front of a moored boat or buoy where a rapidly flowing tide
will "clothesline" you much like hitting a tree branch while paddling down a
stream.
If you don't think that this is a problem,
read the story about how two of the six boats in a Morro Bay Winter Bird
Festival kayak outing sank in the bay on Jan. 19, 2004. "Three of our 11
kayakers (the three were in two sit-inside kayaks... one double and one
single) capsized on the return... the very strong current at the time pulled
them under the bow of a moored 40' boat as we were returning from the sand
spit across from, and back to, Kayak Horizons... we had the Coast Guard,
Harbor Patrol, and a private motorized skiff come to the rescue... The main
lesson learned is not to take inexperienced paddlers across the channel and
in front of moored boats during fast tides and strong winds. Telling
inexperienced paddlers not to go in front of a moored boat or buoy has no
effect on some, who will instinctively try to 'get around' the threatening
obstacle." It is just amazing that there was not a fatality during
that event. The
Morro Bay Winter
Bird Festival (2007) has cancelled that activity out of concerns for
liability.
Don't
paddle in the harbor channels where motorized craft operate. If you
have to cross a channel, wait for a clearing and get across promptly.
Don't put yourself into a position of conflict with other boat traffic, and
always yield the right-of-way when you can to all other craft.
Channels
in the bay are shown at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kayakmorrobay/links and
http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/kayakmorrobay/photos.
The best put-in is at the Morro Bay State Park Marina by the Museum across from the
golf course.... this gets you quick access to the back bay nature areas
without encountering boat traffic (which is never bad actually).
A good rule-of-thumb is you can put in at the Marina if there is 1.5 feet of
water (see the tide charts). If you want to paddle starting closer to Morro
Rock you can put in at Coleman Beach across from the three smoke stacks by
the power plant. You can launch at sandy Coleman beach at any tide level.
Warning, on a fast outgoing tide you may be challenged returning in the main
channel near the ocean mouth, especially if the winds are also working
against you. You can pretty much paddle the whole length of the bay in a
long day. A popular itinerary is to paddle to the sand spit peninsula
and take a break, and walk over to the ocean (you have to find an approved
corridor across the dunes, as much of the area is fenced off much of the
year for Snowy Plover protection). On the water, give the wildlife plenty of
distance - there are many seals and birds that are distressed by aggressive
kayakers. If sea otters and seals and birds are looking at you, you
know that you are to close to them. During
pupping season (March, April especially) it is essential that you give
the harbor seals that are hauled out plenty of space. (It is also the
law!)
Smart kayakers wear helmets and wetsuits when exploring our rocky coast areas (e.g., off
Montaņa de Oro) and making surf landings
.
Winds, typically 5-10 knots produce nil chop
,
but can easily change to 15-25 knots in minutes - here the water gets
extremely choppy
.
and Mike ended up assisting via a tow line expert paddler Betty back to safety - no problem
for this properly equipped and experienced team... but first-timers would
have had a real problem. It is
almost always safest to paddle with others. Be cautious however, and
don't get a false sense of security. Your partners may not have the
ability or common sense to able to assist you in the event of an emergency.
Irresponsible paddlers actually become a liability to the group, putting
everyone in unnecessary danger.
Water drownings are the most frequent cause of death in the California State
Park system as described in the PowerPoint presentation
Aquatic Safety in California State Parks where it states that in 2004,
for example, there were 31 drownings and 23 other fatalities. There
were 10,016 Aquatic Rescues in California State Parks in 2004. About
4,000 people die from drowning in the United States each year. The
National Center for Health Statistics says that Approximately 50% - 75% of
all drownings occur in open water. Alcohol use is involved in about
25% to 50% of adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation.
Read about
the dangers of hypothermia -- it does not take long to succumb in in
waters 53-58 degrees. Many drowning victims are actually hypothermia
victims. Survival in cold water depends on many factors. The temperature of
the water is only one. Others include body size, fat, and activity in the
water. By swimming or treading water, a person will cool about 35 percent
faster than if remaining still. Down-proofing -- the technique of staying
afloat, facedown, with lungs full of air, and raising the head every 10 to
15 seconds for a breath -- conserves energy, but also results in rapid heat
loss through the head and neck. This technique reduces survival time by
nearly one-half in cold water. An average person, wearing light clothing and
a personal floatation device (PFD), may survive 2 1/2 to 3 hours in 50° F
water by remaining still. This survival time can be increased considerably
by getting as far out of the water as possible and covering the head.
Getting into or onto anything that floats can save a life. Needless to
say, if you can't swim you have no business kayaking on Morro Bay.
Most paddle outings in Morro Bay are uneventful
as shown here,
and paddlers sense or experience no danger. Here a paddler is shown in
a sit-inside kayak with no flotation in the front end. Her PFD is also
ill-fitting. It is a calm day, the winds are nil, and the tide is
slack, and she is paddling around buoy # 5 at the mouth of the harbor
.
Her boat is not equipped with a bailing device or a pump. In the event
of an unexpected capsize (it happens), if she were paddling alone, it could
be a long cold wait for a rescue, or a long cold swim to the nearest land
(it is not clear what would be the preferred remedy). There is
essentially no possibility of a self-recovery by such an ill-equipped lone
paddler. In this case, her experienced and properly-equipped paddle
partner
has an unsinkable sit-on-top, and is wearing clothing suited for water
exposure. In this situation, however remote the possibility, if
required, the probability of a successful assisted rescue is excellent.
Check List for your Kayak Outing (it is assumed
your boat has adequate flotation and is appropriate for your abilities):
Always take some food and water.
You may be out longer than you expected and you may need hydration and
energy. Some people paddle to the sand spit, walk to the ocean, and on
return find that they are
stranded for six hours until the tide returns (read
this story).
Tow rope on the front and the rear (with
easy to remove clips) - you never know when you may need to tow someone, or
when you will need a tow.
Cell phone (pre-recorded with the numbers
of the Harbor Patrol, Coast Guard, and 911) and/or a marine radio (Channel
16 and 12). The Harbor Department is a service oriented organization
providing boater assistance and emergency response for the waters of Morro
Bay.
Morro Bay Harbor Patrol (805) 772-6256, 772-6257, 772-6254. The
U.S. Coast Guard maintains a 24-hour watch on VHF Channel 16 (156.8 MHz).
Telephone numbers for search and rescue purposes are (805) 772-2167 and
(805) 772-1293 or 772-1294. The Coast Guard Moorings are located at
the North “T” Pier with offices at 1279 Embarcadero. The harbor office at
the city pier maintains a radio watch on VHF Channel 16 and 12 from dawn to
dusk. Harbor patrolmen operating radio-equipped patrol boats are on duty
during these hours and on call 24 hours a day. Their emergency rescue
telephone number is 9-1-1. Business calls may be made from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
at (805) 772-6254. Sometimes the quickest way to seek aid is from a passing
boat. The Coast Guard requires that vessels operating on coastal waters and
on the high seas carry the required number of approved visual distress
signaling devices. Recreational boats 16 feet or greater in length must
carry suitable devices aboard at all times. Boats less than 16 feet,
manually propelled craft of any size, and sailboats of completely open
construction, not equipped with propulsion machinery and under 26 feet in
length, are only required to carry suitable signaling devices between sunset
and sunrise. All the devices must be Coast Guard approved, readily
accessible, and in serviceable condition. All boaters are strongly
encouraged to carry VHF-FM radios on board their boats to call for
assistance should an emergency arise. I think of the Harbor Patrol as
servicing boaters in trouble inside the Bay, and the Coast Guard servicing
those outside the Bay, but clearly both agencies operate wherever needed.
a GPS is useful for relaying your exact
position to first-responders in case of an emergency.
Booties (always be prepared to walk your
boat out of muck - barefoot boating is not recommended)
Paddle leash (you don't want to lose your
paddle or your boat in a capsize - wind and current can quickly separate you
from your boat and paddle)
Signaling devices (mirror, whistle,
flares, air horn)
First-aid kit
Pump with float (even with my sit-on-top,
I carry a pump in case I have to assist others in a swamped sit-inside).
Flashlight
It is often colder on the water and the
sun is stronger. Wear or take suitable protection including a
Waterproof jacket and hat.
I always wear a neoprene Farmer John wet suit - I always dress for possible immersion.
Your paddling clothing should be suitable for the weather conditions and the
water temperature.
Before setting off ensure that all
hatches and drain plugs are securely closed off from any water intake.
Eyeglass holders
Tide chart printed out
Accessible spare paddle (minimum of 1 per
group)
Compass (Morro Bay can fog over in
minutes and make the shoreline invisible). Take a bearing - "north" is
not where you might expect it to be due to the curvature of Estero Bay.
If you have any hesitation in paddling Morro
Bay during your visit, you might want to engage a qualified expert guide.
orchidoutriggers.com
-- Marc Schulman operates six custom-built 17' outrigger canoes at
Orchid Outrigger, (805) 528-2773 Los Osos, CA -
excellent for photographers needing a stable dry platform to observe
wildlife in Morro Bay
This page is intended to organize and preserve some of the answers to those
questions. California Kayak Friends
ckf.org says "This part of
the California coast/bay can be very calm (sometimes) but don't expect it,
expect the unexpected and please prepare for it with all your safety gear
aboard your vessel." Kayaking on Morro Bay can be one of the most
rewarding, healthy, and educational activities you could ever think of!
Morro Bay is largely unspoiled - heavily
populated with over 100 species of birds and sea mammals... The
weather is usually wonderful and the waters calm and fairly protected (even
"glassy") as shown here.
It is also often so foggy that you can't see the shore.
Calm water often leads people to treat the water too casually... and therein lies
a potential danger.
