Frying a Battery

[Riley Smith]

Never go sailing when the wind isn't blowing. It's totally useless and dangerous to boot. Of course, I'm a rule breaker and did anyway. At the mouth of the river. As an explanation about that area, we once went 40 miles offshore and it was roughest in the mouth of the river than anywhere on the Gulf of Mexico. So conditions can be anywhere from hurricanes to dead calms with ships and boats everywhere, and sometimes not a one in sight. That time, the tiny breeze was from the north and I rigged and was able to traverse the bayou from the launch to the river. When the wind turned belly up. Nothing. I had a tiny inkling of what was to come when I saw the whirlpool down wind and down current of the buoy marking the channel.

It was too late, I made it past into the current before I could do anything. There are a few words to say in these type situations and I said them all, all the while getting the trolling motor ready and heading east to shallow water while being swept south at an alarming rate. The current was RIPPING out of the river, combined with that tiny north wind, and a high river. I should have gone down and done a better scan of the river. I deployed the anchor and thought about this situation. To my south was the Gulf of Mexico and nothing and to my North was some wind, against that powerful current, and a slog. The poets wax lyrical about those islands that ring our area but in truth, they're only there to catch the dead bodies. There is a whole lot of nothing out there.

So I reasoned I could stay in the shallows and use the trolling motor to round the point and get back into the bayou to Lake Yazoo and the ramp that was protected from the current. I wasn't prepared for a trip out on the Gulf. And it worked but was very painful. Sure, I COULD have sailed maybe. Except it was UPWIND, in unfamiliar shallows, and the wind close in was partially blocked, and not very reliable anyway. It's a shipping channel and  with little control, a bad place to be. I barely made it and the motor was showing definite signs of slowing. The battery was toast although it was time to replace it.
 
 East back to the ramp and load up, tail tucked. Que the voice of Gilda on SNL saying, "Nevermind". And so experience to back that decision on converting to ICE. Your mileage may differ and that's ok too. We never learn anything by playing by the rules.

[Doug SC]

One of the reasons I Like my sea kayaks so much is their capabilities in rough water conditions. As I have aged the motor isn't what it used to be, but paddling done right isn't all that hard or tiring.

Here I am playing in the surf
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Here are two Inuit playing in some really windy conditions rolling and laying on their side.

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[Riley Smith]

The kayak I have used on the beach is not fit for human consumption. It had suffered a hard life and was missing straps and bungees and a seat, so I re-did all that and stowed it under the house. There have been several forays but it didn't fit my purpose very well, being extremely tipsy. Much too little a boat for such waters. I've seen FISH bigger. Anyway, got a much nicer and bigger one waiting on me to try it out. And that's waiting on temps and saltier water.