Kayak Re-entry Self-rescue - lessons learned flipping my Hobie Compass 2021

Honestly, I should've tried this sooner as it taught me some valuable lessons. It really is important to be able to do this if you go out alone, especially far from shore. It may sound cliche but it's true, safety is #1 and by being safe, we can continue to do what we love to do. I HIGHLY recommend you attempt this with your own kayak, with as much "prop gear" as you can manage to simulate a real-world flip while you're out there on the water. I promise you will learn something by doing this yourself!
#kayaksafety #hobiecompass #kayakflip

[@sergeykhaitov678]

This is very important video. I am 215lbs and quite fit. Flipped - learned… it is easier to flip Kayak back than re-enter esp for heavier person. Have to use your own weight to pull from above opposite side (can not “lift it”) - use either mirage drive or rope. To re-enter - have to position yourself flat on water and pull over the kayak while parallel to the water surface, otherwise it will flip. I use inflatable sleeve for paddle (keep in my life vest pocket) - gives extra handle and makes it easier. Learned to keep gunnels relatively free from all rod holders/accessories (minimum!) - they are going to be all in the way to re-enter. I remind myself my limitations every time i go fishing, trying my best not to go alone… always amazed to see those kayak barges with fishing supply store on board…

[@PeterRanieriII]

Appreciate the comment Sergey, you make a lot of good points based from your experience...too much stuff in the gear tracks is def not good, gotta have some space somewhere to get back in - lol the less stuff the better for sure!

[@BobAquatic]

Great video idea Peter, thumbs up. I bet this will help a lot of people. That kushion looks comfy

[@PeterRanieriII]

Thanks Bob, I'd been brainstorming this for a while, just hard to find time that it was nice but not too nice to fish instead, haha. I do like that kayak kushion, a little pricey but it does make for a more comfortable outing, and I havent even messed with it once since I attached it, like it doesnt get smelly or hold dirt or whatever

[@jamesstiers4990]

Thanks man prob just saved someone's life I will be installing rope on handle great tip

[@xykkkk]

Very practical experiment, always put safety first while on water. Thank you! Other thoughts: 1. Regardless pulling through a rope or belly flip, it really depends on body weight and boat size, which may be very difficult for light weight ppl. 2. When wind speed is bad enough to flip a kayak, recovery would be more difficult than practicing in warm water with nice weather like this. 3. A set of kayak outrigger may be considered, or avoid windy days entirely.

[@PeterRanieriII]

I agree!

[@AmbitiousAngler]

Great simulation Peter! I'm going to buy a safety rope for flipping the yak back over, whenever my times comes, which will happen someday! Some extra bungee cords too. Thanks for doing this dude!

[@PeterRanieriII]

Thanks man, I def reccomend the rope or some type of cord attached to a side handle for the leverage.

[@tammlen2284]

Good vid. My husband and I are new to kayak fishing and are planning to do this the next time we go out. He has the Lynx, me the Compass. We are in our 60's. He's still pretty strong, and I don't expect him to have much of a problem. But I don't have much upper body strength. Will be interesting, to say the least. We do have the hobie rescue steps to try out. I also carry a small cooler box that I have seen used to help boost yourself onto the kayak. Hopefully, these helpful tricks will work for me, since my "core strength" is a thing of the past. We also recently purchased dry suits. Found out we were taking a big chance going kayaking in the spring and fall, when water temps were in the 50's. Will see if that adds to the difficulty, although they will at least give more time to get righted and back in the kayak, if we should capsize in cold water. Again, good vid. Practicing self rescue definitely important. Everyone should do this. Thanks!

[@PeterRanieriII]

That is awesome to hear! I am happy you are researching safety tips for kayaking and finding solutions. It surely is important to try this out and see what is easy and what is difficult as it really will vary on the person and the kayak setup. I'm also very proud to hear you will be using a drysuit! It took me 2 years to realize how dangerous it is to be out there in sub 60F degree water without one. The cost is certainly worth it, and your right it may be a little more difficult to get back in with a bulky drysuit on, I may need to test that out myself. Thanks for the comment, I really hope more people see this and try this!

[@NurShah8636]

All these real hard work, I m sure , it will save some lives and I learned myself a lot as well. Good job

[@ernestovarela3416]

Awesome video! Learned a lot. Good job!

[@PeterRanieriII]

Glad it was helpful!

[@2439vloe]

Thank you for the advise

[@johnsamothrakis4621]

Great video Pete , very informative & helpful, have to give that a try myself, but it’s good to be young, at 66 , might need the rope & step tied into the rope , remember last year when your dad flipped, 🙏🙏🙏

[@PeterRanieriII]

Thanks John, and great point, a rope with a step or loop for you to put your foot in would help get back in. I really should try something like that with my dad. Be safe out there, all the best!

[@PaulyV56]

Your a solid Dude, Pete. My kinda guy.

[@PeterRanieriII]

appreciate it Paul 🤙

[@kb7771]

What's up Peter ? Great video and like always you're always looking out for our fellow kayakers.. please correct me if I'm wrong but did that new addition(baby) arrive yet.

[@PeterRanieriII]

Thanks Mauricio, yep I had my 3rd just a few months ago ❤️ thanks for asking!

[@kb7771]

@@PeterRanieriII awesome congrats brother, man time flies by

[@PeterRanieriII]

@@kb7771 thanks 🙏 it really does

[@MrGreen-sw1ly]

I flip on my Hobie PA 14 twice. All I did was grab the drive and flip it back. I can't climb back on cause it would actually flip again. So I went to the back end and climb myself up. When you're in the water, you sink almost like a nail; floating vest doesn't help much when I am ~220 lbs. I could move my legs to position myself horizontally and that might allow me to reenter. But the back end works for me.

[@PeterRanieriII]

Hey Mr Green, thanks for sharing this. I also heard the PA is very difficult to get back in bc of the lack of secondary stability, good to know the back is feasible. This just confirms that everyone needs to see which way is best for them and their specific kayak. Thanks!

[@MrGreen-sw1ly]

@@PeterRanieriII You are brave to try this and I am not sure if the water is shallow or not. I just saw a news vid on a woman hospitalize from a shark attack in NYC beach. Rockaway beach, Queens, NYC, why that's the beginning of Western Long Island Sound. 😨

[@PeterRanieriII]

@@MrGreen-sw1ly that’s crazy! I just saw the story, wow. I really wonder what they determine was the species. Yeah there is a slight drop off where I flipped in like 12’ bc I wanted it to be over my head of course but the shoreline was close by and my wife was on the shore watching with the kids. I don’t think I’d do this in the sound on purpose lol

[@stevetautog880]

Hey Peter great vid so i always wondered about this Kayak, about if it might not be much easier to get back in from the rear which is nice and flat appearing to make re entry easier and it is also lower to the water I was actually expecting you to do the re-entry from the back maybe you could do another ( I know that is asking a lot) vid but i think it will be very educational to prove that re entry from the rear is MUCH easier than from the side I was actually thinking that they designed the rear that way precisely to help people who might not be as strong as you need to be to do it from the side and the fact that the rear is flat and lower is going to really make a big difference making getting back in thank you

[@PeterRanieriII]

Hey Steve, I thought about trying to re-enter from the rear but my crate was in the way. I do think its easier and more stable from the stern if you dont have anything back there but if you do it actually makes it a bit difficult to slide your weight onto it. Then once your on too you have to manuever back to your seat. I wish I showed this but maybe I can try again. I really think its actually best to enter from the side (at least on my kayak) because it has the pontoon hull design and its actually somewhat stable with secondary stability. Thats why everyone needs to try this with their own kayak though as it will vary with the setup and hull design

[@stevetautog880]

@@PeterRanieriII Peter thank you for the answer and yes I now se and understand your point about the gear being in the way and then the issue of getting to the seat cancel my idea next I am still pissed at myself for the idea I had 6 yrs ago to buy the lightest yak they mak and s I did , after I bought it the next year they came out with the paddle technology on top of that there is no rudder system, ( maybe one could be installed) but without a rudder i soon learned from watching vids that if you canot turn quickly to avoid a big boats wake you will be likely to flip every damn time and on top of those issue then Covid hit and cancelled my plans to move from Queens back to Suffolk so here i am still stuck in Queens in the houe where i grew up 66 rs ago and I am here because I had to provide care giving to my parents, in 2011 anyway get this after watching all your vids coupled with the houses ( 2000) I have viewed in these last yrs, I have discovered that 99% of them do not have natural gas which I must have I hate oil ( costs more and dirty) plus as aman who has cooked his whole life , there is no way I wil ever settle for an electric stove lol seriously so since I have seen you have such great fishing in the Northport area I am seriuosly considering trading in the fresh air of the East for the fishingi your neck o the woods and on the yak thing at this point thanks to no gym ? Covid I feel my dreams of being a yak fisherman are gone and I will have to try to make my last few years in a very small boat like mr John Skinner lol if i do ever move to your area and get a boat you can bet I will be inviting you out on it as I am grateful for all your Vids and especially because you are a good person that I would be honored to call a friend

[@PeterRanieriII]

Wow I appreciate the kind words Steve, it does seem you have a few predicaments going on but I do hope you can get out here on the water soon, whether its in a kayak or small boat. Just get what you think will allow you to get out and fish more, that's the best kind of water craft!

[@mickilkr]

Excellent video! Could your feet touch bottom when you were doing that? Or was the water like 10 feet deep or so

[@PeterRanieriII]

Thanks, yes def over my head, maybe 15 feet or so

[@woodychen8973]

Did you retreat the 🐟? Lol

[@PeterRanieriII]

retrieve the fishing rod? yeah but i did lose some dowels and firewood lol

[@francus7227]

American Flag??? Bugle sounds "Reteat and To The Colors"..... 4 years in the U.S. Army..... Hee hee hee.

[@PeterRanieriII]

I certainly didnt want to lose that flag! hahaha

[@DHSFEMA]

I’m surprised no one called in a SAR

[@PeterRanieriII]

lol its pretty far in the back bay, my neighbor who is always looking out on her porch said she didn't even notice what I was doing when I came back in and passed her, hahaha

[@DHSFEMA]

@@PeterRanieriII lol I with the Coast Guard Aux Station Jones Beach and I would of saved your Fish lol stay safe out there and I enjoy your videos

[@PeterRanieriII]

@@DHSFEMA thas awesome, thanks for watching over us do idiotic stuff, lol

[@DHSFEMA]

@@PeterRanieriII it’s what makes it fun lol

[@LifewithLewi]

Tuanks for this vid bro helped so much knowing what to do....legend

[@PeterRanieriII]

No problem 👍

[@953GO]

Great Video. Thanks so much for doing this (not just once but multiple times!). I am getting ready to buy my first kayak and I want to be well prepared. You doing this really helps. I appreciate the effort. I think it's a really good idea (for me) to do a test roll over somewhere close to shore to make sure I can get back in okay. Also a great idea to check where I install the 'extras' like the fish finder and rod holders to be sure I leave enough room to re-enter. Overall great clip.

[@PeterRanieriII]

Glad it was helpful! I do think its important for to try it out on your own kayak bc like you mention, every kayak is specifically setup up for you and the 'extras' can make a big difference on how to re-enter

[@gm1937]

Peter, very realistic demonstration. If I was nearby on my boat, I would have recognized the kayak and would have attempted a rescue! greetings from Gio, Western Long Island Sound.

[@PeterRanieriII]

Thanks Gio, haha I'm glad I can count on someone to see my bright green floating piece of plastic and come rescue me

[@gm1937]

@@PeterRanieriII I forgot to mention, congratulations on reaching 5k subs! That’s no small feat….not everyone gets there. You probably know of John Skinner who I’ve been following for years, but he represents the far east which is a very different fishery. I was missing representation for the west, but you have filled that gap. Keep them coming. They are highly informative, instructional and consultative.

[@PeterRanieriII]

@@gm1937 Thanks Gio - you da man! I also thoroughly enjoy and have learned a lot through Mr Skinner's videos. Happy to help fill the western gap, although im sure it wont be nearly as much as that man could fill!

[@Sonytherealtor]

Good practical video and glad you were safe

[@PeterRanieriII]

Yes, thank you, glad to hear it!

[@YAYOSKAYAK]

Can’t believe how easy it is to flip the kayak back with the wheels on.

[@PeterRanieriII]

I was so surprised as well. And because they prevented a complete 180, the rods, and gear didn't fall out as much either! Def worth having big wheels like this IMO!

[@CrabbinNFishin]

Great and timely tutorial. Keep up the good work

[@PeterRanieriII]

Hope it was helpful Ben! Thanks

[@lugsneverlie]

Good job Peter! I flipped my revo 13 for the first time a few weeks back turning around whilst putting a fish in the cool bag without realizing I had got sideways on to the waves. It was best thing that could have happened to me, as I’m the type of person who stupidly believes I’ll be ok after watching a few KZbin videos. I got on top and righted it easy enough but with a PFD on getting back in was more tricky than I’d have thought and I flipped it another 3 or 4 times in the process. At least if it happens again when the water is cooler it won’t be my first rodeo. Do you have that mirage drive tied to anything? I’ve read about people losing them and that would make a bad day into a really bad one in a hurry. I got a short kite surfing leash for mine which is perfect attached to a pad eye. Those wheels sure help!

[@PeterRanieriII]

excellent excellent comment Mr Nick, its so true the pdf makes it much more cumbersome to re-enter! And I did the same thing, just watched videos and thought to myself I should be able to get back in, but theres always something you dont think about so best to try yourself. Thank you for mentioning about the mirage drive, I just ordered a kite surfing leash as you reccommended. I havent had any issues of it popping out but have also heard its happened and others always leash it to the kayak as a prevention. Worth the $20 to save $1k! Appreciate the reminder and your experience!

[@lugsneverlie]

Fair play Peter, I don’t think you’ll regret getting that. Mine puts a smile on my face every time I hook it up as it’s about the only thing I’ve added that I got away without paying the hobie price for!🙈🤣🤣