New to the forum but I remember some time ago browsing and seeing a photo of someone that paddles to outer reefs. I'm never going to get the use or afford a jet ski. So I was thinking of getting a kayak together. Would love to hear advice of kayak types, setup for carrying the board and anchoring. Feel I will put in some practice well before I journey out but really curious as to who is giving it a go and suggested equipment. Many thanks
Jo.
offshore reefs can be pretty dangerous if you dont know where the channels and safe anchourage"s are, i see heaps of boats go down!! however i have seen guys doing this on kayaks .good luck
I've played around with this but only done it once. I used a Spirit crosstrainer surfski. It paddles pretty well, all the small ones are just toys imo. It's good as it can get swamped and not take on water. it has straps on the back for tying down stuff and I have a hard foam "rack" there to strap the board to. Not ideal but it works. I've got a small reef anchor on rope and attached to a leggy at the end where it attaches to the ski. Also the paddle is attached to a leash to secure that. There's nowhere good to store the anchor and rope, that sucks. It can go in the storage hole in the front but that mean opening it up on the water and that is awkward and exposes you to taking on water while it is open. I wouldn't feel comfortable in an open kayak because of the potential to take in water in the surf.
pretty sure once the fun police see you have a board strapped on they are going to want to see all the safety gear on board ,flares bailer jacket etc
there good at that
Just a reminder from a few weeks ago involving possibly the same stratch of water
www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/shark-attacks-surf-ski-paddler-at-perth-beach-20120620-20n74.html
I'd likely go with a Pfd regardless of the fun police. Pretty happy to give this a go but given a really big swell no sure how feasible it would be to push one of these out through a river mouth or land it on a beach. I have heard of it done and is certainly a very poor cousin to a jet ski. I was actually thinking of a sit in touring type of kayak. People do some serious ocean journeys in them but not surf if they are giving that a go when the swells up or sticking to mostly flatter days. Could be interesting to report back if I get this up and going. Honestly anchoring is my main concern as I have never given it a go. Got to start somewhere. Appreciate any photos if someone has given it a go so I can visualize how boards are attached. Again thanks
Whatever you do, can I suggest you put one of those 4WD type red flags on a pole on it. Will help you locate it behind the swell lines - and also the search and rescue crew if you get into trouble...
just buy a second hand 3.7m tinny - would be few grand max.
will leave you with some energy for surfing.
Not sure I like the idea of pushing a tinny through a river mouth in a large swell to get outside. Then again not sure I like the idea with a kayak.
Oakes
I have done a bit of kayak ocean fishing in the past and hope some of this info helps.
Go the SIT ON kayak for open water. as you will find it hard to get in and out of a SIT IN.
PFD for open water is a given, also some water, an anchor ( something for a small tiny will do ), a leash for your paddle, a dive knife, some flares and a mobile in a waterproof bag at the least.
Also a MUST is a kayak with a rudder. The wind can push a yak all over the place.
Some good brand kayaks for this would be
- Malibu Kayaks
- Viking Kayaks
- Ocean Kayak
The above 3 are all plastic moulded
And for an Awsome fiberglass kayak you can't go past a Stealth.
These are pretty fast over long distances.
Perth beaches to rotto from memory thats a fair hike (an hour paddle at least) so make sure you have your witts about you. Also It aint easy getting a yak out when its 3 foot or bigger. But it can be done.
Triple check all weather reports before you go.
Nothing worse than paddling into a 20 - 25 knot head wind (yes I have had this happen, not fun.
You could also look at the Hobie kayaks with a foot pedal propulsion but these things are way to to hard to get in and out of surf zones with.
Mate this way would be pretty hard going. IMO I would go something like a second hand rubber duckie surf boat and a 25 hp on the back. But that's just me.
If you do go the Yak option hope it goes well.
Locky is on the money, I've done a bit kayaking in and around Lancelin both inside the bay and outside, a roto-moulded sit-on is far better than sit-in. Much easier to get in and out of if you can't touch the bottom and no issues with being stuck in the kayak if it rolls or you take on a bit of water, it just drains out the scupper holes. Unless you leave a hatch open, or it gets bitten in half you can't sink 'em.
Not sure about the surfboard though, depends how far you are planning on going out, one guy I have seen up here paddles out to HITW on a small wave ski towing his board by the leggie. Keep it simple...
Any decent kayak will probably have some length to it. It will be a bitch to get out through any breaking wave, or likewise back in unless you're a really strong/fast paddler (which I'm not), if the wave is travelling faster than you are paddling the the wave tends to pick up the back end, that tries to overtake the front, turn you sideways and throws you out. Swell lines are easy to paddle in, chop is hard work, just the breaking wave that can be a bitch.
I've done a bit of fishing and some anchored snorkelling and drift snorkels on mine, love it, though recent events have turned me off going too far out for a while 
Thanks locky and Chris. Some good information for me to get my head around and research. Appreciate the advice and gives me a bit more to think about.
Mirage drive hobie would be good for saving your arms, you peddle them instead of paddling. Cost a bit of dough, around $2500 for starters I think. Great for fishing out of too. Sounds like you'd have to find a more protected spot to launch from though.
Almost made a second hand purchase today but hesitated. With that said I have a renewed vigor for the right kayak now. Going for speed and ability to handle some chop. Big decision when you consider that there is at least a new board in a second hand kayak and then add a Pfd, possibly paddle etc which I will probably only use half a dozen times per year. With that said I reckon there cold be some really good summer fitness in this. Will report back on purchase and first mission. Thanks for the advice all. Feel pretty well Informed. Only person worried now is my wife who is suggesting a jet ski might be a better option : )
^^ that's what I have, would be perfect with some sort of home made rack for the surfboard/s over the well behind the paddler.
Two things to consider with something like that is the length and weight. On the water the length is great and the weight isn't an issue but transport and storage needs to be considered.
It's too long for a 6 x 4 trailer because you will have about 5 feet hanging off the back of the trailer, so you will need a 8x4 or 8x5. Or up on the roof racks, they weight about 25 kg and are quite awkward to lift over your head. I can do it alone but it isn't easy, especially after a 10 or 20 km paddle.
Maybe out there but Ive always thought a OC1 would be a better option. nice and light and easy to get in and out of ?
Not sure on a anchor point but pretty sure you could rig up a bridle of some description.
W
At the moment I'm thinking of trading down some length for convenience of transport and storage. Almost bought a 5.46m but really impractical to store. Looking more at somewhere around the 4m mark. Something with a rudder and storage wells so I can stow away the anchor and a few other things. I was considering a type of rack but pretty sure I'll keep it simple and tow the board. Minimal surf break to get through where I'm going so not sure it will be an issue. About 3km out and same back so happy to trade off some speed of travel on the water. Be interesting to see my thoughts on a few different swell directions. Looked a few weeks ago and looked manageable. A bigger more straight on swell Might have me rethinking the whole idea.
Looking for a second hand one as on a bit of a minimalist kick at the moment. Trying not to buy anything new and even selling off some of my old stuff to finance it. Not necessary but makes me think twice about a purchase. Particulary a kayak I will likely only use a couple of times a year. Like the outrigger oc1 but not sure I'd like that out in the open ocean where I'm heading.
If looking to go shorter have a look at the Prowler 13, has storage up front.
About 5 kgs lighter than the 4.5
As for storage 2 x U shaped pieces of steel covered in pool noodle and bolted to the fence . Some where in the shade.
I also used to put a $12 blue tarp on mine to keep the sun off it as UV rays will damage handles and small plastic fittings ect over a year or two in the sun
Thanks for that advice. I think I may have seen this model in my search around. Looks really good just needs a good rudder and seat for a bit of luxury. In reality it will live outside so covering with a tarp is a good idea. Might do a quick eBay or gumtree search to see what pops up this week.
