My Rivercat sank :(

[kfxguy]

Going back to the magnet idea, I've used this before. What I used was a roofing magnet. It is surprising the pull strength and I'm certain that it will attach to something.

Also, for anyone that may lose a boat, even with a life jacket, swimming isn't the best idea and you should never do it. The primary risk beyond one's ability is the possibility of getting tangled up with fishing line or similar. Many folks don't realize that even away from shore, there may be a fallen tree, or a sunken Christmas tree that fishermen use for cover. If that is the case, then there can be a lot of fishing line to get tangled in.

Best practice is to get the best location possible on the boat. This means memorizing/writing down the position on the shore where you stand and the opposite shore. Then, get two more sight marks on either side, preferably walking at least 25' away from the original location where you were standing. This can significantly narrow the search area.

If you haven't already tried the magnet, please try it. You may find that you are pleasantly surprised.

In the meantime, feel free to send me a message and I'm certain that I can make some recommendations to reach the speeds you want to achieve in an inexpensive fashion. I may even be able to make some suggestions you've never considered previously. Safe boating!

Thx, I'll send you a pm shortly. On a side note, I have an identical boat I built for a customer in my shop and there's nothing in the boat a magnet would stick to except the flex. I don't think it's going to grab it......

[Meniscus]

Going back to the magnet idea, I've used this before. What I used was a roofing magnet. It is surprising the pull strength and I'm certain that it will attach to something.

Also, for anyone that may lose a boat, even with a life jacket, swimming isn't the best idea and you should never do it. The primary risk beyond one's ability is the possibility of getting tangled up with fishing line or similar. Many folks don't realize that even away from shore, there may be a fallen tree, or a sunken Christmas tree that fishermen use for cover. If that is the case, then there can be a lot of fishing line to get tangled in.

Best practice is to get the best location possible on the boat. This means memorizing/writing down the position on the shore where you stand and the opposite shore. Then, get two more sight marks on either side, preferably walking at least 25' away from the original location where you were standing. This can significantly narrow the search area.

If you haven't already tried the magnet, please try it. You may find that you are pleasantly surprised.

In the meantime, feel free to send me a message and I'm certain that I can make some recommendations to reach the speeds you want to achieve in an inexpensive fashion. I may even be able to make some suggestions you've never considered previously. Safe boating!

[kfxguy]

That is cool! I could see me using one like that to find mine too.

I'll have to dig that old raft out from under my boat stand to see what the heck it is. We now have a Jon boat that we leave on site for retrieval at our local puddle so my old raft gets zero use. The jon boat with a an electric motor works well but if you can't leave it there it's a pain.

I'll send this one to you when I'm done with it if it works out. I'll probably just loan it out to people on here because that would be the only use it'll get. I'll let you know (well everyone really lol) how it goes.

[Local Boy]

[QUOTE=Luck as a Constant;630589]Don't worry about reviews man. Those people are using them for recreation or sport.
You're just going out to get your boat... You need not worry about the nit picky crap people complain about online. So what if yours doesn't track perfectly straight or whatever.
Just pick a cheap one that floats and be done with it.

Luck hit it on the nail.... That was exactly my thoughts when I bought this... I did not want to lug it on top of my car...and I always run by myself in the open ocean...

I totally do not like inflatables... But, for the low cost, high safety, specific job (retrieve my boat) this fits the bill... http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Quikpa...flatable+kayak

A bonus is the kids love it, when I'm not running my boats...

Aloha

[T.S.Davis]

That is cool! I could see me using one like that to find mine too.

I'll have to dig that old raft out from under my boat stand to see what the heck it is. We now have a Jon boat that we leave on site for retrieval at our local puddle so my old raft gets zero use. The jon boat with a an electric motor works well but if you can't leave it there it's a pain.

[shua]

After much contemplating and procrastinating I decided to buy this.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vexilar-SP10...item4aded762d0

I ordered it this morning. Plan is to hook it to my mono and pull it around slowly (on 4s) and see if I can locate it. When or if I do I'll get in the raft and fish it out somehow. Guess I'll cross that ditch when I get there but I'll have a few things handy. worth a try.

That looks very niffty. I hope it works!! If I lived nearby I would stop by to help & check out that sonar scanner!

[kfxguy]

After much contemplating and procrastinating I decided to buy this.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vexilar-SP10...item4aded762d0

I ordered it this morning. Plan is to hook it to my mono and pull it around slowly (on 4s) and see if I can locate it. When or if I do I'll get in the raft and fish it out somehow. Guess I'll cross that ditch when I get there but I'll have a few things handy. worth a try.

[Jamey]

$500 motor ouch! Take a life jacket maybe.

[CornelP]

You might consider one from this range:

http://www.bicsportboats.com/products/sportyak-213,3,49/sportyak-213-orange-white,589.html

http://www.bicsportboats.com/products/sportyak-245,3,69/sportyak-245-explorer-green-beige,638.html

Very light, foam filled and compact enough for a roof rack.

[Luck as a Constant]

Don't worry about reviews man. Those people are using them for recreation or sport.
You're just going out to get your boat... You need not worry about the nit picky crap people complain about online. So what if yours doesn't track perfectly straight or whatever.
Just pick a cheap one that floats and be done with it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kfxguy]

Me too but I found one that had the tubes rapped in cloth and it had a stiff foam floor insert. Worked pretty well.

For the record, I didn't see in this thread where Travis had lost touch with the fact that he lost a toy and that this is just a hobby. There's plenty of perspective inducing reality out there for us all.

What kayak was it? I've been reading some reviews and haven't found a good one yet.

Your right, upsetting as it is....it's still a toy. This forum possibly saved my life. I want to share my thought process when this was going down.

1st I'm thinking.....almost $500 motor. I'm gonna lose it. Ugh. It's just right there. I can get it. Then I think....how deep is it? I was told 40ft in some spots. Then I remember this forum. The posts people have made about this kinds of stuff. Then remembered when I swam out maybe 20-25ft to get my shockwave 26 when I first got into this. I said to myself then that is never do that again. But then here's a boat sitting out there, lots of money and time into it. Then my last thought was drowning over it and then I thought about my wife and kids looking down on me in a casket. Over a toy boat. Nope. Just not worth it. I'll get over it.

[T.S.Davis]

I'm not really a fan of inflatable boats.

Me too but I found one that had the tubes rapped in cloth and it had a stiff foam floor insert. Worked pretty well.

For the record, I didn't see in this thread where Travis had lost touch with the fact that he lost a toy and that this is just a hobby. There's plenty of perspective inducing reality out there for us all.

[pistol18]

Sucks about the boat sorry.

http://t.dickssportinggoods.com/prod...oryId=13020064

I picked this kayak up last year, after coupons it was $229 out the door with a paddle.
I'm 6'4", 210 and this thing holds me fine and is stable. I Run in a few lakes and the smaller ones I can usually cast out if needed but there's a longer lake with current where the kayak has come in handy a few times.

Side benefit, I've taken it out paddling a bunch with my son and daughter and they love it!

[kfxguy]

Hey Travis,

I've been quietly hoping that you would find your boat, and continue to do so. Perhaps an inflatable kayak? Much easier to transport... I got one, just in case, the situation calls for it to be deployed.
For whatever its worth... You did the right thing.... swimming out is the easy part...swimming back is when most people succumb to the quiet and incessant pull of the depths... happens alot here in the Islands...

Good Luck...and Be Safe!

Aloha

I was wanting a kayak before this happened. Now I'm going to go buy one. I'm looking at a few different places. I'm not really a fan of inflatable boats. I'm gonna make a decision sometime this week. I'm thinking a long pole with a new zip tied in a big rectangle frame being drug behind the kayak may work. I'm a little lost for hope after the camera ordeal. At least they refunded me.

[Pau7060]

I went visit my brother in law. It was summer in at Lake Washigton Wa. Water felt cold getting in >>Note Thomas swims here all the time. Jump off the dock and with min's of being in legs start cramp. I was only 25-30 from shore, I was struggle just to make it that far. At the time i was doing a lot of surfing. Respect for the water is must the bottom can be only a few feet away. Or some thing you can't reach. Kf you made the right choice . You mite post notice around the lake reward for any one finding boat . If there fisherman they mite get lucky snag the boat .