Safety

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Build your Kayak Safety Kit

Kayak safety is obviously an important issue if you are going to do any paddling. If you have the proper safety kit on board you can feel confident that you are ready to deal with any challenge that comes your way. For paddling on open water such as on lakes or on the ocean there are 5 key items you need to include in your kayak safety kit: Safety Kit Essentials 1. Kayak Bilge Pump A bilge pump is important because it... (Continue reading...)

Top 6 Boating Safety Tips

Proper boating safety is usually improved upon as you develop more boating experience.  I think soaking up as much knowledge as you can before you head out on the water is the safest thing you can do in order to keep yourself, your passengers and your boat safe. The below boating safety tips can be applied to any type of boat including kayaks, canoes, pontoon boats, fishing boats, rafts or power boats… be they inflatable... (Continue reading...)

Kayaking Safety Protocol

I live close to Okanagan Lake which is 135 km long, 4-5 km wide and has a surface area of 351 km. This lake is extremely popular in the summer months with locals and tons of tourists. It is FULL of speed boats, sail boats, kayakers, wakeboarders, water skiers, etc. Although I prefer a less populated and noisy waterway, I do kayak this lake often as it is so close to where I live. This summer Lake Okanagan has proved... (Continue reading...)

Real Life Paddling Safety Precautions

Recently I read an article on our local news website in my hometown. Two men were paddling in their inflatable canoe (from the picture it looked like a really good quality one) on the very large Okanagan Lake in my area. They were training for a race that was taking place the following day that included running, cycling and paddling. Experience made no Difference These men were very experienced with kayaking and had a... (Continue reading...)

Reading the Weather Before & During a Kayak Trip

I have always wanted to be able to easily read the weather without having to look it up online or hear it on the radio. For kayaking, knowing the weather is extremely important. I have had the misfortune of being out on the ocean having a happy paddling experience when sudden winds picked up and no matter how hard I paddled, I seemed to get nowhere and if I stopped paddling I would get blown backwards. Let me tell you... (Continue reading...)

Safety Information for Ocean Kayaking

For those of you who love the experience of ocean kayaking there are a few things that need to be considered before starting your trip. The ocean surf and the weather can be very unpredictable and if you are planning a kayaking trip of any length or distance you will want to check navigation charts, tides and currents, the marine forecast and weather as well as the surf forecast. To be honest this is not my forte. Anyone... (Continue reading...)

How to Safely Wet Exit and Swim with your Kayak

When a kayak capsizes we are automatically dumped from our kayak. If exiting an overturned kayak has not been practiced it can be a scary experience. There are a few simple steps that can help to calmly slide out of your capsized kayak and keep hold of your paddle while you are doing it. If you are recreational kayaking in flat water and are wearing your lifejacket then you do not need to be too concerned about being... (Continue reading...)

How to Empty a Capsized Kayak

Have you ever had the misfortune of tipping your kayak in the water… with you in it? If you are wearing your lifejacket this is usually not that big of a deal. It can happen easily and if it does you need to know how to empty the water out of your overturned kayak. Just a little bit of extra water in your cockpit can greatly affect the balance of your boat and make it very difficult to paddle. Hopefully you will be... (Continue reading...)

Packing an Inflatable Kayak First Aid & Safety Kit

If you have a standard first aid and safety kit that you have with you at all times while kayaking then you don’t ever have to worry. You know you are prepared for the worst and you can enjoy and have fun. Packing your own safety kit is easy… you just need a few essentials. Below is a list of items to have in your first aid and safety kit: Waterproof bandaids – for cuts, blisters and owies Waterproof matches... (Continue reading...)

Inflatable Kayak Safety Tips

There are always safety risks while traveling through water and kayaking is no different. By being aware of a few safety precautions you can glide through the water worry free. Safety Tip #1 – Always wear a lifejacket that is securely fastened so as not to slip off in the rapids. Safety Tip #2 – Dress for the elements. Being too cold, too hot, or very wet makes for a lousy kayaking experience. Safety Tip #3 –... (Continue reading...)