What would you do....

justsomeguy · Jul 30, 2012

I think you did the right thing. It was a hazard to navigation, and the marine police are paid to deal with that kind of stuff.
Hopefully, it's owner will secure it better next time, eh?

Dan Johnson · Jul 30, 2012

Warren...

Hind sight being 20-20, I think I would have tried to snag it in the opening with an extended boat hook to bring it in close enough to possibly put a noose around the nose and claim it as "salvage"...

With no missing person reported in a kayak, and with no overt signs of having been occupied when it went adrift, I would conclude as you did that it fell off a boat or came free from shore.

MHO

Merlin Clark · Jul 30, 2012

I'd have done what you did Warren.

finding41 · Jul 30, 2012

I would have picked it up as well. Place an add on Crags list under "Found". Give it a month or so and if no takers that can describe the craft. Crags list "For Sale..." or give it to a children's camp.

MrUnix · Jul 30, 2012

What would you have done?

Would have snagged it and went kayaking in the river this weekend

Cheers,
Brad

LuzSD · Jul 30, 2012

would have done exactly as you did, and then worry that there was a person in distress somewhere! I think it is fair to give your contact info to whomever you contact to claim it if its not claimed by the owner. I would not have taken it as finders keepers, for sure.

Paul Mermelstein · Jul 31, 2012

I sail the Chesapeake too, and often hear on VHF of similar findings. I think you did the right thing. Not only a potential hazard to navigation, but possibly, just maybe, someone might be in distress.

dparilla · Jul 31, 2012

We had a kayak drift into our Marina on the Potomac a month ago. Current DC registration on it, no one has claimed it, and the number on the reg. is disconnected. People often forget about the tide (even a foot or two can make a big difference.)

Gail R · Jul 31, 2012

On several occasions, we hear reports from USCG NNE of kayaks or dinghies found floating free. Boaters are always urged to "keep a sharp lookout" for someone in distress and report anything. I've even heard a couple cases where the authorities launched an all-out search after finding one of these adrift. Of course it's possible they were due for a training exercise but just the same, it can tax their resources. USCG NNE urges peoople to write their name and a good contact number on these small craft so that if one is found, they might be able to find out sooner if someone is actually in trouble. Also increases the chance of getting the boat back to its rightful owner.

Which reminds me... I've got to write my name and number on the inside of my little boat.

SEMIJim · Jul 31, 2012

finding41 said:
I would have picked it up as well. Place an add on Crags list under "Found". Give it a month or so and if no takers that can describe the craft. Crags list "For Sale..." or give it to a children's camp.

That's what I would've done if I could've figured out a way to tow it. However, if it was a good kayak, usable by either The Admiral or I, I would have kept it if nobody claimed it.

Jim

Mike1956 · Jul 31, 2012

I was initially thinking that someone might have been in distress, so I would have noted my GPS position and the wind direction when I reported the kayak. I sail on an inland lake and once came across an empty aluminum row boat tied to a bouy in the middle of the lake on a cold gusty day. I sailed circles for a while and couldn't see any one, and noted that it wasn't one of the local rental boats. I guess that someone with a motor boat took the occupant/s back and left the boat tied to the bouy. I reported it to the local marina operator, who said all his boats were accounted for.

I once capsized my kayak in the same lake, & I was unable to get back in nor bail it out. I had to use the rope I carry to tow it into where I could stand to walk to shore. I had a pfd on luckily & the water wasn't cold. I know someone probably knows how to get back into a kayak under the circumstances.

I think that if the kayak was empty and floating without any water in it, it probably was a lost kayak that either blew of from shore or, but less likely, fell off a larger boat. Warren did right by not doing any thing unsafe while he was alone.

MrBill_FLL · Jul 31, 2012

FWIW, I tow a kayak behind my boat... as transportation and a emergency life raft (Sit on top type)

the handle is what I use to tow it with. there should be 2, one on each end. or you could put a line through one of the drain holes in the foot well.

if its a sit in kayak, and has no handle (weird), you can only pick it up and place on the bow of your boat.

-you could have taken it, if you were willing to get wet.

but calling it in is a safe bet... just so nobody hits it at night.

onecoolair · Jul 31, 2012

Warren Milberg said:
While sailing today, I happened on an empty kayak in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay -- not a great place to be kayaking. I looked around for evidence of a paddle or paddler in the water and found none. Being alone, there did not seem to be a way to take the kayak in tow as that would have meant dropping the swim ladder and trying to get a line on the kayak with one hand -- and there were no cleats or mooring bits visible to connect to in any event. I assumed the kayak had fallen off a passing boat, but am not sure as there were few other boats in that area. So I called the Marine Police and gave them a description of the kayak (there were no registration numbers or other identifying info on the kayak) and its lat/long where I found it. What would you have done?

Checked it for cash or gold bullion first. Then check its condition for say damage from a prop. If there is evidence of a posible hit. Then put out an alert. Hopefully no one is in trouble. If not its mine.

Barnacle Bill · Jul 31, 2012

WE call kayakers "speed bumps" on Lake Superior. Bad joke, I know. But there are so many out there on busy weekends, you really have to keep an eye out for them. Sometimes not to easy to see when it is wavy.

Team118 · Jul 31, 2012

...which was better? The sailboat or the kayak?

Maybe leave the sailbot behind and take the kayak as the prize! :dance: