KAYAK
SAFETY ARTICLES
Visit
also Tom's TopKayaker Shop: Safety
Gear Department
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Tom's TopKayaker Shop - For navigation supplies, lights & a variety of kayak gear. Purchases Support TopKayaker.Net |
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Properly Fitting A Child To A PFD or Life Vest Life Vests for kids are sized based on the weight of the child. Each life vest is printed with a weight range. There are three basic sizes |
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Kayaker's Guide To Avoiding Injury & Paddling With Disabilities, Sports Injuries & Joint Pain by Marna Powell - Every one of us should be adaptive paddlers. Outfit your boat to fit your body. Learn to paddle with good form and technique! Proper posture while kayaking will solve and prevent many physical discomforts. |
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Paddling
in Traffic and Judging Collision Course by Tom Holtey
Indepth article of kayakers in boat traffic situations with diagrams, and simple techniques for avoiding collisions |
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"How To Avoid Becoming Shark Bait - A Guide For Kayakers Against Shark, Alligator or Crocodile Attacks" |
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KAYAK CAVING IN HAWAII & ASIA By John Gray Caving skills for kayakers, a verteran kayak caver sharing paddling skills necessary to enjoy this thrilling sport. |
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Kayak
Lights & Kayak Lighting Techniques For Dawn, Dusk & Night
Paddling This is exactly what you need to know about how to light your kayak properly. Stories illustrate night surfing and dusk paddling precautions. |
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We
Steer By The Stars & Toward The Fire
By Jo Hu Join a two mile paddle in the dark for an evening of good food, friends, and night fishing on Kapapa Island of Oahu's windward coastline. |
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Fall
Paddling Fun & Precautions |
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A
Kayaker's Guide to Understanding Hydration & Preventing Dehydration,
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How
To Purify Wilderness Water & Stow Water on a Kayak
In this
article we'll explore some hydration systems and purification methods
to make sure your fluid intake solutions are just a sip away.
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The PFD Knife, Don't Leave Home Without It by Trevor Gardner Trevor Gardner, of the New South Wales Sea Kayak Club explores the reasons to carry a knife while sea kayaking in this entertaining essay. |
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HOW TO RESCUE A SWAMMPED SIT-IN-SIDE KAYAKER by Tom Holtey In this article you will learn how you can rescue a sit-in kayaker using your sit-on-top kayak while paddling in mixed fleets. |
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DIVE
FLAGS by Tom Holtey Divers must use a dive flag for safety and … It's the law! Divers already know this, or at least they should. Snorklers, free divers and even swimmers can benefit from a flag too. Instruction here on dive flag regulations and mounting methods. |
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Kayak
Towing Methods & Equipment by
Tom Holtey |
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Solo, Tandem Kayak Re-entry by Tom Holtey - Getting back on your kayak from deep water is one of the most important things that you need to know to best enjoy the advantages of a sit-on-top kayak. Excerpts from his books "Sit-on-top Kayaking, A Beginner's Guide" & "Tandem Sit-on-top Kayaking." |
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Signal
Devices By Athena Holtey Proper use of appropriate signal devices are an essential part of every kayaker's safety protocol. They let others know that you need help. There are Signal devices used primarily for emergency; and there are signaling methods used to simply assist paddlers in communicating to each other. |
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Preparation: The Key For Going It Alone...Or In A Group Audrey Sutherland is fondly thought of as the founder of kayaking in Hawaii, but now enjoys regular trips to Alaska. We purified this interview, leaving just her comments for you to feast on. |
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"PFDs - Life Vests: Life Saving Reasons To Wear One; How To Choose The Best For You & Your Children" by Stan Bradshaw. |
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"Harbor
Kayaking: The In's & Out's" by Athena Holtey An unexpected "side trip" after a storm at sea teaches many lessons; one everyone should be prepared to put to use whether you paddle near busy Harbors or not. (For quick harbor tips click) |
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"Group
Paddling Techniques" by Tom Holtey Put together a group paddle right. This article, first printed in "Lifeline," outlines all the details of organizing a group paddle, from choosing Lead and Sweep Paddlers to coordinating a "Float Plan." |
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HYPOTHERMIA Any time you are exposed to the weather and the elements you run a chance of hypothermia. This article deals with signs, symptoms, treatment as well as preparation and prevention. |
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Cold Weather Clothing and Paddling Tips by Tom Holtey Sit-on-top kayakers can extend their paddling season by preparing with proper clothing and understanding some basic principles. |
| "Individual Paddler Responsibility List" by Bob Walls, The best way to make sure everyone is prepared. Put together by Bob Walls for Hawaii's Kayak Club "Hui Wa'a Kaukahi." When paddling with others, few things are more frustrating than unprepared paddlers. It often means a late launch which can lead the whole group into bad paddling conditions, require a stretch of resources and even jepordise the safety of all concerned. Whether you paddle alone or in a group, let Bob's list help you be prepared. We've modified it a little to apply to general group paddling situations and added Tom Holtey's "Safe Kayaking Check List" to round out the lesson. |
| "Paddling
in Lightning and Rain" by
Kevin Ching & Joseph Hu A club paddle goes electric and kayaker's group skills are put to the test. Included in our feature story are suggested readings and a summation of "Lessons Learned." |
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THE TEN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INDIVIDUAL PADDLER By Bob Walls
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SAFE KAYAKING CHECK LIST By Tom Holtey
When paddling with others, few things are more frustrating than unprepared paddlers. It often means a late launch which can lead the whole group into bad paddling conditions, require a stretch of resources and even jepardise the safety of all concerned. Whether you paddle alone or in a group, let Bob's list help you be prepared. We've modified it a little to apply to general group paddling situations and added Tom Holtey's "Safe Kayaking Check List" to round out the lesson.
| 1. Familiarize yourself with the Planned Paddle. Prepare yourself for conditions according to the rating assigned, and equip yourself with required and prudent personal safety equipment. Address any questions on these preparations to the Trip Leader. |
| 2. Arrive at launch site as early as necessary for kayak and kayaker (this means you) to be rigged and ready to launch at the scheduled time, and to actively participate in car-pooling in advance of launch time. |
| 3. Check in with the designated Trip Leader & sign a waiver if required. |
| 4. Inform the Trip Leader of any limitations, intentions to deviate from the paddle plan, or other special situations (for example, the need to vary from the scheduled take-out). |
| 5. Be responsible for briefing any non-member guests on the planned route(s), group paddling practices, and emergency procedures and signals, including the universal paddler SOS signal: paddle held vertically as high as possible. |
| 6. Stay in sight or communications with at least one other paddler. If equipped with a VHF marine radio, monitor radio channel assigned by the Paddle Leader. |
| 7. Don't paddle past the designated Lead paddler. |
| 8. Keep the Trip leader informed of any special situations that arise during the paddle, either directly or by passing the word through the designated Sweep or other paddlers. |
| 9. Have fun! |
| 10. At the end of the paddle, check in with the Leader, which will relieve him or her of further accountability and officially end the paddle. Provide any feedback or suggestions, which may assist in planning future paddles. |
| Courtesy of Bob Walls of Hui Wa'a Kaukahi, Honolulu, Hawaii |
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Safe
Kayaking Check List
Compiled by Tom Holtey with John Enomoto and Joseph Hu THIS IS A LIST OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT THAT ALL SIT-ON-TOP KAYAKERS SHOULD CARRY |
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| PFD or "life vest" (coast guard approved) | |
| Drinking water in waterproof container | |
| Paddle leash / leg leash or "life line" | |
| Bilge pump | |
| Knife | |
| Signal devices: whistle, signal mirror, flare, smoke, dyemarker, See Rescue, air horn | |
| Cell phone &/or radio in waterproof bag or "CellSafe" - EPIRB or PLB | |
| Paddle Float and Rescue Stirrup | |
| Spare paddle | |
| Proper clothing, aquatic foot gear & hat | |
| Flash light (waterproof) &/or strobe light for dusk or night | |
| Tow rope - Rescue Vest or Tow Belt | |
| Helmet for surfing, rock gardens & seacaves | |
| Float bags for an extra measure of safety | |
| Repair kit: duct tape, spare parts, tools, etc. | |
| Sea anchor for extream wind conditions | |
| Sun screen | |
| Sting aid to relieve the pain of man-o-war or jellyfish stings | |
| First Aid kit in water-proof bag or container. Check regularly | |
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