Breaking a Surfski, not on purpose

A great start to the day of 6' waves off Cowell's beach in Santa Cruz, ended with a bunch of bad decisions and not paying attention to the situation at the shore.

[@PVCLEMM33]

thank you for posting this in such an honest and descriptive way. i felt all the ups and downs!

[@adventures_with_dave]

Thank you. Lots of learning that day....and every day I go out. Too easy to get really hurt surfing big waves.

[@DB-cx6cb]

I appreciate you honest appraisal showing kayaking can be dangerous. And this also shows why we should have another kayaking with us, in case you need rescued, especially in rip tides. So glad to hear you’ll never do that again.

[@BuildingABetterWay]

There are a whole lot of things I will not do, exactly, the same way again. I have gone out and surfed many times since then, and had a wonderful time. I don't do the things that got me into trouble on this day, and other days, but living life is to a certain extent, about taking very calculated risks, or you just sit in your concrete house, meteor strikes, on your concrete couch, no offgassing foam cushions and flame retardants, watching your TV from 25' away, no EMF's frying your brain.

[@quantummath]

No worries brother, things break, that's life. On the bright side, you've got a lifelong Surfki experience that I believe less than 1% have had. Cheers.

[@adventures_with_dave]

Thanks. That was not the feeling I had after it happened, but after my neck stopped hurting, it is how I remember it. Lots of "well, I'm never doing THAT again."

[@calvin2681]

absolutely agree. Also, you have an amazing youtube clip for the rest of your life! Thanks for sharing the video!!!

[@adventures_with_dave]

@@calvin2681 Ha!! Funny thing was, it was the first and last time I took my GoPro out on the surfski. Maybe I learned my lesson?

[@sebastianarze1614]

Damn, this is hard to watch. Were you planning on turning back out to catch more wave or did you stop to see where to make a good exit?

[@adventures_with_dave]

Interestingly, I had another leash in the back pocket of my life vest, but I couldn't reach it. I even tried to take it off while floating next to my boat, but thankfully(safety-wise), the Mocke safety vests are practically impossible to take off while floating in the water. So I decided to go to the beach, pull out and install the new leash, and go out again. I have entered and existed that beach at that point, dozens of times, with zero problems. That day though, there was an amazing rip that I didn't pay enough attention to when I launched from their and got stuck in it while existing my boat off shore, so I didn't crash it into the beach on a shore break wave. 20' out, I was in water over my head and stuck in the rip, and in the danger zone of the break, heading to the pier. My fault, but ended the epic day on a sour note. The hard part was getting crushed into the sand by my now very heavy boat full of water. Luckily, I was unhurt physically.

[@hope4surf]

Wow, that sucks! On the bright side, at least you were on shore.

[@adventures_with_dave]

Yeah, it did suck. Worst part is, I have no idea how I ended up on top of it when that part of the boat was 12-15' away from me 1 second before the wave hit us.

[@gregroles69]

Geez mate, that hurt to watch. Still we've ALL been there and done that if you go catch waves in a ski, and there's only one way to learn. You won't ever get behind the boat and a wave again I'll bet! You also aren't really a paddler till you've snapped at least one ski, so welcome to the club!

[@adventures_with_dave]

Thanks Greg. You made me fully laugh out loud. And ,yes, you are absolutely correct. I will never do that again. I’m lucky I didn’t really hurt myself.

[@yakinsea]

Really too bad. At least your OK; a friend blew out a knee after a dumper slammed his large sailboard into him. I have paddled all of the US Pacific coastline in kayak/surfski hybrids and paddle an intermediate surfski, a Zeplin. Each discipline has lessons for the other. I don't understand why there is so little to hold onto on surfskis while swimming. I get that you don't want anything to slow down the boat when the bow is submerges. A clean bow keeps its speed and is less likely to pearl altogether. Also, you don't want to climb over lines when re-entering. But why not have peripheral lines say 6 or 7 ft. back from the bow skipping the area at the bucket, then back to the stern? I find it imperative to orient the boat into the wave as fast as possible while swimming in surf. Holding the bow with the hull up-side-down is surprising easy in large surf. It works well holding peripheral lines from the side, as well. I added longitudinal bungees behind the seat to quickly stash the paddle outrigger style prior to remounting. It frees up my hands, gives added support, especially nice when exhausted, and is quick to grab. I've never lost the paddle from this. Kayaks have this feature from the factory. Leashes attach in a place that holds the ski sideways, parallel to the waves - exactly what you don't want. I would think that you wouldn't want to be clipped in during large surf landings. Some SOT kayakers use a leash attached to a runner line - bow to beginning of footwell. A fall results in the leash's attachment to run to the bow, which spins the boat bow to wave, just what you want. This keeps the leash short. But then the bow isn't clean, not perfect by a long shot. I guess the answer is to get really efficient in your remount and use your foot straps to hold onto when things go sideways. Also, perhaps go up to a 10 mil leash that is a bit on the long side. And toss stretched out leashes.

[@adventures_with_dave]

Great insight about leashes and surfskis. I could not agree more. My first crash and broken leash was exactly because I tied it off to the footstraps and that held the boat parallel to the wave and dragged me until the leash broke. My new surfski is more specifically designed to surf the waves(Epic V10SLS), but I still need to get the leash onto the bow or stern. Don't care so much on the speed hit if I am upside down in the water without a boat....

[@emersonyang1485]

Wow, hope there is such thing as insurance

[@adventures_with_dave]

Nope, no insurance. Just had to save up for a new one.

[@peterchan5097]

Thanks for sharing

[@BuildingABetterWay]

Thanks for watching @peterchan5097.

[@RedAnchor12]

Was there a previous repair patch at the place where your ski broke??

[@adventures_with_dave]

Not specifically. I purchased the ski used, and it had probably 10 patches on it, as the previous person treated it badly and I didn't know any better when I first purchased it, as it was my first ski. I patched them all myself, and it was great for 4-5 years, no leaks. The problem that ended up breaking it was that at some point, the wave picked me up, slid my ski underneath me, and then dropped me down on top of it. My hips landed right on the middle of the ski, and I felt it resist and then give way on my way "Through" it. They are not really intended for a 200 lb. guy to be dropped over the top of them, mid span.

[@johncheung4005]

can carry leg leash, limit the distance between u and surfski, easy to go into the surfski again. then turn the surfski head toward the wave for cutting the wave. when u near pie , the wave will break, let u and surfski hurt. therefore, quickly move into surfski and tune head direction toward the wave.

[@adventures_with_dave]

thanks John. Yes, but the leash can be dangerous if not mounted on the ends of the boat. I am currently getting an anchor mounted on the end of my Epic SLS to that is slices through the waves instead of getting dragged along with the whitewash, which if you are tethered to it, is very dangerous.

[@user-pp5kj8mm3c]

That's a pity. But the boat can be replaced! Good luck and take care of yourself!

[@adventures_with_dave]

Thank you. I bought a SLS 10 for better surf riding and it is much more fun and much easier to get back into after falling out. And yes, i am luck you have not gotten hurt. Thank you for your kind wishes. You too be careful out there these days. Crazy times all over the world.

[@user-pp5kj8mm3c]

@@adventures_with_dave i've broken one of my plastic kayaks a mounth ago. So, i realy understand what did you feel. Here is the result: instagram.com/p/CRpBaTZlGUa/? And here is the process: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5jQq3ZnppZkeK8 As it say in Russia - for one broken two unbroken are given (aka less is more). Ps. Sorry for poor English)

[@lukeschmidt696]

I feel your pain. Been there. Done that : )

[@adventures_with_dave]

Thanks. Honestly, it helps to not feel completely alone in this.

[@Alastair510]

What actually broke the boat? Was it colliding with you, when full of water?

[@adventures_with_dave]

Interestingly, even though the ski was way off to the right, in my hand at the end of my fully outstretched right arm, the wave somehow pushed the ski underneath me, and I came down on it, with my hips striking the top of the ski right above the break. After I rolled with it and the wave, and then got to my feet, I saw the boat hinging in the middle. Surprising little impact force broke the ski in two. I have an Epic SLS10 now, and it is a much better surf boat. It stays on top the wave, is easier to reenter and much more stable, but not as fast.

[@Alastair510]

@@adventures_with_dave Impact in just the wrong place then. I paddle somewhere that is normally rough all winter; 30knots is a normal day. Bought a plastic ski because I was worried about the ski breaking when I was alone and offshore.

[@adventures_with_dave]

@@Alastair510 Good idea. How does it surf?

[@Alastair510]

@@adventures_with_dave I don't have much experience of surfskis for comparison. Mostly I'm paddling in sea lochs, with steep, confused seas. Out on open waters I'm a bit tentative. I'd say that the nelo 510 ski is slow (I'm comparing it to a K1 race boat) and that makes it difficult to accelerate quickly enough to catch larger swells. That is a bit disappointing, but I like the security of the stability (remounting when I'm alone, 1km off nearest land, with a 1-1.5m breaking swell, I like the stability). Probably 30% of my paddling into the wind I'm slamming, nearly half the boat in the air before smacking down. That sort of treatment is hard on boats.

[@adventures_with_dave]

@@Alastair510 Sounds like you made the right choice. I agree, risk is something for when I was younger and didn't have a family. I count on coming home every night on my own power.

[@mdub1419]

For sale, Epic V10, lightly used, normal wear and tear. no low ballers.

[@adventures_with_dave]

Well ventilated. Equally efficient forwards and backwards.

[@greatape7258]

Are epics made with chopper gun?

[@adventures_with_dave]

Don't understand this comment.

[@mikecrane6096]

Once I had a knee board. I stupidly let the board get between me and the next swell. The board smashed into my face like the grill of a MACK truck.

[@adventures_with_dave]

Yeah, it was a lesson I will never forget.

[@GregSmithPhD]

Ouch.

[@samitavaoifi8694]

Have to find a better entry exit or surf all the way to the inside then jump off before too shallow. 🤙

[@adventures_with_dave]

That was what i tried to do. I was only 20' off shore when i jumped out, but the slope of the sea floor and the strength of the RIP current meant that I could only get my toes on the bottom, and I couldn't resist the current, then I got drawn into the waves. At that point, i didn't want to push my boat away from me because there were people all around and it was a big wave day with a low tide shore break.

[@davidmiller4594]

That's a whole lot of the USD gone

[@adventures_with_dave]

Yep. It hurt for a whole lot of reasons

[@davidmiller4594]

@@adventures_with_dave So glad you got in safe.

[@adventures_with_dave]

@@davidmiller4594 Thanks Man. I appreciate it. Safe and wiser.

[@WeintjieWillie]

Lesson of the day, dont paddle with gloves 🤣

[@adventures_with_dave]

Don't think gloves were my problem.

[@PaddleDogC5]

Epic JUNK

[@adventures_with_dave]

Now, I would agree, but only this Surfski. I have two other Epics that are awesome. This was a Gen1 Ski and they are much, much better now.