Deep Water Re-entry w/ Children - Important safety practice with kayaks

Kayaking is an enjoyable and relaxing sport that draws large numbers of people of all ages, shapes, and sizes to the nearest lakes, rivers and streams in their areas during the warmer months of the year. However, it is more than possible to kayak at all times of the year as long as the weather permits it and the water is not frozen. While kayaking is often a safe and relatively stress free sport to engage in, as with any sport or situation that involves bodies of water, there are still several precautions you should be prepared to take to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you. If you happen to be paddling or kayaking with children, it is even more important to be aware of basic safety principles and techniques so you can not only take good care of your life but look after the younger members of your kayaking group. One of those situations where both you and any youngsters around you should know how to take care of yourselves is the all too common scenario of deep water re-entry. This article will discuss some principles and safety practices of deep water re-entry so you and your children can practice them the next time you are out in your kayaks on a still body of water.

If you ever plan to go kayaking or fishing in bodies of water that are deeper than you are all, you will want to make it a priority to be comfortable with getting back into your kayak if you happen to fall out of it while on the water. Learning to do this can save your life. If you have children who go out with you onto the water in their own kayaks, this is a skill that you should have them learn as well on the off chance that they also fall out. A great time to learn such a skill is during the summer when the water is likely to be a bit warmer, but you can practice it at any time of the year as long as you take the proper clothing precautions.

Kayaking and Safe Drinking Water

A kayak is already limited when it comes to space for stowing gear, so it is prudent to go out on the water armed with the knowledge and compact gear to acquire safe drinking water. Knowledge of water filtration and purification are the fundamental keys to a safe and enjoyable kayak adventure anywhere in the world. This article will deal with purifying fresh water since desalinization of sea water requires different equipment. There are desalinization filters that could fit on a sea kayak, but freshwater equipment is much smaller.

What’s In The Water?

Group Paddling Techniques Put together a group paddle right.

It is important to keep safety as a top priority whenever you are planning an outdoor sport or expedition such as going kayaking on a lake, a river, or a stream. This is particularly important when you plan on going on a group trip. When you educate yourself and anyone else who will be going along with you of the dangers you might have to deal with, you are better prepared to handle difficult situations. You should be prepared to admit any limitations you have in skill, ability, or equipment, and also be aware of any limitations that exist among your partners. However, if you are prepared with the necessary plans and equipment for difficult situations, you can eliminate most, if not all, of the potential challenges you might face. A good safety protocol for paddling in groups on group kayak expeditions should include contingencies for maintenance, practice, planning, and preparation. This article will discuss some tips related to the aforementioned areas of group kayaking considerations.

Regarding maintenance, you should always inspect your equipment before you set out on a group kayak expedition so you can become aware of defects and damage before you are out on the water. The most critical thing to look for during such inspections are leaks, as they will reveal themselves once you are out in the water, and it is better to discover them ahead of time on dry land. When checking for leaks, you should inspect the hull of all of the kayaks that will be going out into the lake and look for holes or cracks. You should also check the gaskets of the hatches for signs of wear and tear. Inspect the drain plug and see if it has begun to fit poorly or if it looks worn. Also be on the lookout for seemingly minor things such as broken strap eyes, as such pieces of equipment can lead to larger problems, such as preventing you from using your knee straps when you are in your kayak. All of these inspections and maintenance that is deemed necessary can be taken care of on the shores of the water so there are no delays for your companions or the launch of the expedition. It can help to use some sort of check list to help make sure that you have all of the equipment you need and that it is in seaworthy shape.

VHF Marine Radios & Com Devices For the Kayaker

You can easily make the argument that if you are a skilled kayaker or part of a group of skilled kayakers, you will not have a need for VHS marine radios or other devices for wireless communication. There is no need to drop everything at this moment and scramble over to the nearest marine radio store for a VHF radio; the choice is a personal one that depends on a number of factors including your personal circumstances, needs, and financial situation. However, it would be disappointing to find yourself in a disastrous or even merely unpleasant situation and realize that you could have prevented the situation from reaching its present level of severity if you had simply remembered to bring your cell phone or radio along with you when you left home.

There are many practical reasons for using a radio to keep in touch with fellow kayakers on the water. Besides the potential downfall of having yet another instrument to keep track of and manipulate while you are in your kayak, having a radio present can remove a lot of potential guesswork about the intentions and whereabouts of other kayakers. A good radio communication system can also help you steer clear of miscommunications and negate the need for shouting at each other over the surf and spray of the water. This article contains some information about the different types of communication devices that are available for kayakers today.

Using the English Gate for Better Canoe Control

Americans call it the English Gate, the English call it the Wiggle Test, but the blame needs to end up somewhere. A method for improving personal control of a kayak or canoe without having to travel to great lengths to large bodies of water, the English Gate or Wiggle Test is easy to set up, invaluable to use, and will provide you with hours of priceless practice in maneuvering your canoe.

Every boat is different when it comes to control. Just like every bicycle, motorcycle, or car has its own quirks based on not only the make and model type but the individual wear and tear it has seen, every boat, canoe, and kayak, handles differently. Some may pull more to one side or have a tendency to arc over time. It’s important to learn about your vessel’s eccentricities before putting it to actual, rigorous use, and the English Gate will help you to do just that.
First of all, you need a small body of water—even your swimming pool or a nearby pond will do. Any body of water with enough room for a little more than three lengths of your vessel and one or two widths will be perfect. For beginners, it’s better if the water is standing still, at least for the first few tries, and wind could cause unnecessary complications. Find a quiet puddle to set up in and claim it as your own.
As the name implies, you will have to build some kind of gate. This is easily done. There are two easy ways to build your own English Gate; one involves buoys and the other broomsticks.
For the buoy method, use empty milk containers of a gallon or more or empty bleach or detergent bottles. For increased float-ability, shoot these full of insulating foam that you can find at any hardware store. Grab some nylon twine or other strong string and tie each of your buoys to a brick or a concrete or cinder block. Make sure your rope is exactly the right length to keep your buoy partially submerged in the water with the line taut.
Or you can string a rope across your body of water and tie two broomsticks to the middle, also about four feet apart. Make sure the tips of the broomsticks dangle haplessly in the water like shark bait.
It’s important to have a watch that is waterproof so it doesn’t get damaged with all the cool stuff you’ll be doing. Use the watch to time yourself and try to beat your top time every time you repeat a pattern. Soon you will be seeing obvious and genuine progress.
Here are some standard patterns you can use with your improvised English Gate to improve your skills with the canoe.
Start by paddling straight through the gate, turning around when you reach the other side of the pool or pond, and paddling back through the gate. Complete this exercise by turning around once again and once again paddling back through the gate for a third time. How did you do? Try it again and see if you can improve on your first time.
Next, start by paddling backward on the outside of the right pole or buoy. Once you reach the opposite side of your body of water, switch directions and paddle forward this time going through the gate. When you’ve reached the opposite side, once again paddle backward, this time outside of the left pole or buoy. To complete this exercise, switch directions one last time and paddle forward through your English Gate. Quickly check your watch to determine your time. After a short rest, try this pattern again and this time try to make a slight improvement on your time.
Feel free to invent new patterns or ask more experienced boaters for tips. If you’re human, you will probably cheat a little bit occasionally by pushing against the side or bottom of the pond or pool. After all, there’s no one around. That is fine at the beginning. Once you get more proficient with your vessel you won’t need to cheat to make excellent time and you’ll find yourself more skilled and challenged than ever before.