Personally, I think getting into the kayak before the waves push my kayak sideways up the beach is rougher. I can never launch in rough conditions on the first try. I live in an area where there are a number of rivers that empty into Lake Michigan thru channels, so I generally have a calm put-in spot, and the shore here is sandy. Paddling-wise, going thru the channel is the tough part because of all the clapotis waves caused by the steel sea-walls.

Last weekend I paddled launched right off a (sandy) beach directly into Lake Michigan which was a bit ornery with 6' seas. I didn't stay out long, and when I headed back for shore, I did a pretty good job of timing the waves. There were some that were crashing with a good 3 vertical feet of foam that would have put my head in the sand. I came in on more begnign waves, but still ended up surfing along a wave at a good 10mph toward the beach. Exhilirating, yes, but not what I wanted. I ended up coasting in sideways and getting rolled on my side on the beach. I extricated myself pretty quickly, but ungracefully, through my small cockpit and quickly brought my somewhat-water-filled kayak up the beach.

Moral of the story: I think it's impossible to get out of a kayak gracefully when there are challenging waves out there. All you can do is look for the best spot on the shore to launch/land. Sometimes you'll see a calmer spot where it's shallow and the waves have spent their energy farther out. Sometimes the lake bottom will rise, then drop, then rise agin to the shore. Waves will get 'tripped up' at the rise and it will be calmer at the shore in that spot.

Dean

: Hi Dean,

: How do you get OUT of a kayak when the surf is rough? My town owns a
: municipal campground/ boat ramp which I use frequently, and I suspect I'll
: be earning someone $10K for an "America's Funniest Video" soon.
: The area is rocky, so I can't drive the boat into the beach. I'm starting
: to think that the kids from the seasonal campground aren't hanging around
: to catch crabs and feed the seagulls, but rather to get a chuckle watching
: the "old fart" do his acrobatics at the shore line. Basically,
: I've been using the paddle perpendicular to the boat to try an hold the
: bottom, but it is awkward getting the legs out ... any websites that you
: might recommend? I searched and couldn't come up with anything better.
: Thanks, John