Kayaking Mistakes That Can Kill You!
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- čas přidán 28. 06. 2024
- In this video, we look at the top 5 kayaking mistakes that can prove deadly, and how to avoid them. The good news is that kayaking is a very safe activity, and serious accidents are rare. But with any activity that involves the water, situations can become serious very quickly, and so you need to be aware of the things to avoid.
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Gear I use and suggest:
Paddles:
Aqua Bound Recreational Kayak Paddle - in4adventure.com/ea2o
Aqua Bound Durable Touring Kayak Paddle - in4adventure.com/sorx
Aqua Bound Performance Touring Kayak Paddle - in4adventure.com/p42x
Aqua Bound Whitewater Kayak Paddle - in4adventure.com/1vur
Gearlab Outdoors IPIK Greenland Paddle: gearlaboutdoors.com/collectio...
PFDs:
Recreational Kayak PFD - in4adventure.com/jhza
Touring Kayak PFD - in4adventure.com/odyssey
Fishing Kayak PFD - in4adventure.com/cvmb
River Kayaking PFD - in4adventure.com/27kg
Dry Wear:
Dry Suit - in4adventure.com/nmrj
Dry Top - in4adventure.com/Flux%20Dry%2...
Semi Dry Top - in4adventure.com/7sbl
Paddling Jacket - in4adventure.com/Stratos%20Se...
Shorty Jacket - in4adventure.com/i0gg
Paddling Pant - in4adventure.com/fdb2
Base Layers:
Lightweight Shirt - in4adventure.com/6yvx
Expedition Weight Shirt - in4adventure.com/6mzo
Lightweight Pant - in4adventure.com/28tt
Expedition Weight Pant - in4adventure.com/spy9
HydroSkin Shorts - in4adventure.com/qica
HydroSkin Pants - in4adventure.com/uby7
Warm Weather:
Long Sleeve Paddling Shirt - in4adventure.com/anss
Short Sleeve Paddling Shirt - in4adventure.com/Guide%20Shor...
Short Sleeve Paddling T-Shirt - in4adventure.com/fc6n
Surf Shorts - in4adventure.com/Benny%20Boar...
Footwear:
Expedition Boots - in4adventure.com/Boundary%20Boot
Wetsuit Bootie - in4adventure.com/5yp3
Wetsuit Shoe - in4adventure.com/dlan
Water Shoe - in4adventure.com/sfcj
Other Paddling Gear
Gearlab Deckpod 2 (Deck Bag): gearlaboutdoors.com/products/...
NRS WRSI Current Helmet - in4adventure.com/x4cq
NRS Drylander Shock Cord Sprayskirt - in4adventure.com/yiup
Surf Ears Ear Plugs - in4adventure.com/7sfb
GoPro Hero 11 Black - in4adventure.com/j22e
Zoleo Satellite Communicator - in4adventure.com/1e6s
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Thanks for talking about safety. ALSO: Alcohol and Rivers don't mix.
beer on the pier...river, lake or ocean. Leave the booze behind. Not just alcohol either, drugs impare you also.
@@JonPaddles 💯
Can’t tell you how many idiots my friends and I have saved who were drunk af.
Thanks Ken. When I rode a motorcycle on street and track the mantra was “Don’t dress for the ride, dress for the slide.” With kayaking, dress for the dip.
When I started kayaking about 12 years ago I came from a waterski background which included taking off my pfd when I was in the boat and not skiing. So, I did not wear my pfd when paddling in my kayak and resisted doing so - plus I am a strong swimmer. Had a few unexpected incidents in my kayak over the years including getting flipped into cold water (disorienting) and I quickly became a firm advocate for wearing a pfd at all times. Where I live locally, most deadly kayak and SUP accidents in freshwater lakes result from not wearing a pfd.
Yep. I almost drowned in Mexico on a placid little piece of lake. Got separated from my kayak and thought my swimming was strong. I was mistaken. Over the years, my endurance has hit dirt. I began to panic, feeling my strength fading. (They say "don't panic" lol. You are definitely gonna panic! I tried floating, rolling on my back to float... just kept getting pulled lower. I remember specifically thinking before I went under "this is why people drown! Exhaustion!". I yelled "help" to some girls sunning themselves on the shore but they didn't understand English and in my panic I forgot to speak spanish. Just as my head went under my toes touched the bottom and i was able to claw my way into shallow water. Lesson learned. PFD ALL THE TIME!
Yikes! Glad there was a happy ending, but that's scary!
I like wearing a long sleeve shirt for UV protection and splash water on it to cool off. A bandanna folded up wet around the neck also protects against UV and really cools down the body. GREAT VIDEOS!!
I do the same and now only my legs are permaburned lol might have to wear some tights under my shorts lol
Arizonas rough for a genetic red head.
But the hoodies are great even in 100+, keeping it wet like you said it’s quite refreshing
@@nunzioification I also take a very light towel with me. When I feel my legs getting burned I just wet the towel and lay it over my legs. My wife is English so she has taught me all of these fair skin ideas. LOL
@@Rottingboards yeah I figured that one out after my legs turned medium rare lol
Be mindful of soft bottoms especially near shore when stepping or getting out of a boat, canoe or kayak. It can suck you down like quicksand. Cause you to lose your balance and be a victim of shallow water drowning. I've also learned to get in and out of a kayak when the whole length is parallel to the shore.
Took my first swim and self rescue(sea kayak) in open water on Wednesday. My PFD was so valuable. It actually took me a few minutes of treading water while trying to configure my paddle float and pump out the cockpit to remember that I could just float. All your videos are great, Ken, this one is fantastic.
Great learning experience you just had having to do a self rescue!
Thanks for the kind words!
I too forget that I can just float. I think I float just slightly lower in the water than I do when treading water without a PFD, so my brain just tells me to kick a bit. Not a panic thing, just a learned habit I guess.
This is so important. Between last Monday and Tuesday in my region 4 people drowned. None were paddlers, but the first rule here was not followed, none were wearing PFDs. Some tried to swim in rivers. One tried to use a jetski on a lake when he couldn't swim, without a PFD. (the other two, yes there were three non swimmers on a jetski without PFDs, were saved by some women on SUPs.) I am a strong swimmer but still always wear a PFD because an accident is an accident.
Incredible that people who can't swim go on open water instead of taking swimming lessons in a pool
Probably most important video on this channel. Thank you!
I capsized in water over my head with just a mild 1 foot swell. It was terrifying even though I had my PFD on and had practiced assisted rescue. Luckily it was a training session and after many attempts I was able to get back in the boat, however, it was a terrifying lesson that I will never forget. Please, Please, wear your PFD and never just strap it to the deck, you will never get it back on after a capsize.
What a valuable lesson! It's so true that doing rescues in rough conditions is VERY different than flat, calm water.
@@PaddleTVand that's why you should practice rescues in the conditions where you might need them
A small add-on to #4 - when you don't have right paddling skills and techniques, don't be a show-off in bad weather for the sake of recording it and looking for attention.
Thank you Ken for pointing out these dangers clearly and briefly. 👍
Getting back into paddling after 15 years away from the hobby. Thank you for this perfect refresher course!
Very welcome!
Hi Ken As a fellow fresh water paddler something I wouldn't have thought until recently of and you missed. Is the danger of tidal currents. A peaceful body of water can end up with very high currents potentially out to sea as the tide changes. If going in the ocean make sure you get local knowledge about tidal currents.
I have learned so much from
watching Paddle TV videos.
How to paddle...Where to paddle...
Where Not to paddle....learning how to choose
the proper gear...and things to consider including
weather....In Florida we must consider stormy
weather that moves in quickly....and how to deal with
wildlife...like alligators. We paddle all year long...
During summer months boat traffic is a real issue.
Kayaks and paddle boards are slow so make sure
you can be seen.
log jammed rivers in Scotland isnt a problem it:s usually shopping carts
In the southern US, it's chickens. 🤣
In the midwest USA it's cows. 😄
😂
I would like to see a video on how to get a kayak and canoe off a log with high current. I have come across several people with this problem who needed assistance. They didn't understand the weight of water.
Such important information. Thanks for the video!
Thank you for the refresher on the dangers of paddling! Great video and great presentation!!!
Great job! Thanks for taking the time to cover safety on the water!
Another great video, Ken!
What concerns me a lot is some of these folks who post there kayak river camping trips here on CZcams. They are usually in overloaded sit on top kayaks and it seems like they are never wearing a PFD. Just sets a bad example for someone just getting into kayaking.
Great video Ken. I see so many paddlers out there with no PFD and not wearing a dry suit, or even a wet suit in cold water.
Great talk!
100% the first thing someone should do, is.
take the "Transport Canada Certified" Paddle course or
take the "ACA/Coast Guard American" Paddle craft course
Theyre both free, and either will probably save your life at some time in the future. Pick one.
Thanks Ken!
Great tips!
Thanks Ken
Having been involved in numerous rescues. It’s so frustrating that what you’re talking about is even an issue. But there it is. Along with the resistance of many people to accept advice. Unfortunately, you can’t fix stupid.
More great information Ken. While I was watching I was ready to say a cotton shirt is great on super hot days if you wet it first. But then right at the end, you mentioned that.
I had one arrow in my quiver and you pulled it out Haha
Newbie here. I have a fear of deep water so I'm still confused as to why I love paddling so much. But my local lake where I learned how to paddle, there's some sort or drainage thing in one corner. Don't know what it is but you can hear it a good ways out. I avoid that at all costs. I don't know what it is but the sound spooks me off and I don't plan on investigating.
Dress for the dip, not the trip.
We recently had a drowning in a local river because the experienced kayaker had a different kayak (Hobie with the pedal drive) he had issues with it and fell out, getting sucked into the paddlewheel of a ferry.
Could you please do one of these about kayaking in lakes, especially with motor boats? Thank you for all these videos, I learn at least 1 new thing every time
Good man!
Good commonsense points 👍
I’ve got a 600 pound weight limit and always bring some gear and sometimes too much for an unexpected night out, strong wind is my concern, but at minimum I bring water filtration and purification because I’m just not drinking lake water, I bring emergency blankets and bivies, extra snacks and water, fire kit, and a hand gun because mt lions, and skunks are no joke of course dry clothes are a must in cold weather and even a wool blanket. I should have a garmin but I don’t. I honestly have a foolish fantasy of having to finally use my emergency kit lol
Wise words indeed
Awesome Video. Was paddling yesterday and happy to report that I really were thinking about most of your tips in advance :). I learned it a harder way than watch your video but still happy.
Glad it helped!
Good video as always and very important information! These reminders save lives. Thanks for putting the information out there. Best wishes from Swedish paddle waters.
Cheers!
Great video and had never heard about log jam dangers on rivers, even slwer rivers. We hit them last and this year on lake that is actually damed steep canyon stream. It was difficult last year to push logs and stumps out of way, this year blocked us until rec kayak shived a way thru for us ..but still caught some sideways and started going over. High country stream was cold, but we dressed for hot day.
My fav cold water hot day piece of gear is a short sleeve paddle jacket. I have done several cold water swims in mine and it works great.
Awesome tips! As an outfitter I totally agree and will share this safety video on my site. Stay safe everyone!
Stacy
MAD MUSKY WATER SPORTS
McMinnville TN
Thanks Stacy!
PFD also has pockets which is great too
Other hazards that I learned the hard way. I do not go in the ocean, but Barnegat Bay I do. My first trip I was out at the inlet at low tide on a paddle kayak (Wilderness Ride 135), where it becomes a magical place with sand bars and new islands. Then you notice the channel markers are being pressed down and almost submerged by the flow of water to the ocean (in this case Loveladies channel). I should have just waited a few hours for the tide turning. Instead I fought it at a standstill, but I had sand anchors so when I got tired I dropped it and caught a few fluke, but it was brutal. I now have a Hobie so I can use my leg power but still the current is tough. I also fish the Hudson. Striper season in cold water with drysuit. All is calm as you leave the tributary after catching river herring as bait. You arrive at the Hudson and the wind is blowing straight down and its almost gale. Droping anchor in deep water with a kayak I knew the parameters but being blown around I lost my last anchor and had to cut it loose. I continued fishing and had people cursing me for getting blow close to land where they were fishing. Could not stay in position.
Most of these are extremely obvious but you wouldn’t believe how many people I see without life jackets on big lakes, especially paddle boarders.
I often don't wear my pfd on lakes, but always keep it on hand. Mostly because I have an inflatable and like to swim off of it.
I'm 6'5" so I stayed with IK's and rafts. All the manufacturers say they have kayaks that "fit" people my size, but I never found one that I could comfortably get into, let alone get out of in a dangerous/emergency situation. For every world class whitewater kayaker who is over 5"8" or so, and I'll show you an NBA all star who is less than 6." It's fine with me, and I love watching Dane Jackson videos, but he and his best mates,, Bren Orton. one of whom drowned recently, I would guess average around 5'5" . Big people and extreme kayaking do not mix.
Also: STOP USING A PADDLE LEASH!
I've seen more than one recreational paddler almost drown when their paddle leash got caught in something in the water. As a whitewater kayaker, I hate seeing these knowing how dangerous they are for real. Things can go south quickly, even in class 1-2 rapids on creeks.
Self rescue and assisted rescue are very hard to do and should only be the last choice. Paddling within reach of shore and always wearing your PFD is a far better plan.
Strongly disagree! If you learn and practice self-rescue, it is foolish to abandon your kayak. If the paddler is not physically able to learn or practice self-rescue, they should NEVER paddle alone. Of course, I'm speaking about flat water (lakes and ocean), not rivers.
@@garysapper8716Agree. And yes, it may be hard, especially in waves. That's why you should practice. Several times a year. First in calm water, moving on to more tough conditions. Always with a buddy or two.
@@garysapper8716 I would generally recommend against paddling alone anyway, so much can cause a self rescue or swimming to shore to fail even if they would usually be capable of it.
Ken, thanks for this vid. As always, great tips. I especially enjoy your humor! I want to get into kayaking but don't swim. Is wearing a PFD enough to let me do it in calm waters, i.e. not flowing?
I would say yes, although you'll always want to paddle with someone who can tow you to shore if you end up swimming.
PFDs for if you expect to float even when you don't have something to float on. But if you want to paddle to where you want to dive...
I'm new to kayaking .. if you're in current rough windy water why not just put a rod tether or sumthin around the leg so if you go swimming your kayak is always within reach ?
Entanglement hazard. If you're tethered and flip over you could get entangled, especially if disoriented.
Definitely a good idea to keep hold of your paddle and kayak if you get dunked, but I'd advise against tethers.
I worked in Sea rescue, and this personal flotation aid is not really helpful when you fall down somewhere. Because they can slip up and hinder you from breathing. I would wear one for padeling in water < 15°C but above this thing is more of a hindering object to movement than it helps. I would recommend a helmet.
For sailing sportive always necessary to have a proper lifewest with a string between your legs.
in sea kayaking a lot of people don't understand the weight of a wave and that the fore of a wave increase vastly when it gets bigger.
If you wear a dry suit, you need to bleed that excess air. Hold the neck seal open and do some squats. Also they are deadly in a river environment stuck in a low head dam.
PFDs are recognized by law as problematic and not required in big surf (paddle)board activities, where you need to duck under oncoming van sized dumping or curling waves without being buoyed out of your craft. There is a compromise by using a co2 inflatable vest that doesn't automatically inflate when wet. I will use this in future on my sitdown-paddleboard-kayak or sit-on-top one but I have little patience with repacking it to dry or replacing cartridges by expiration dates. Ducking surface wave carnage lets you avoid being dragged to shore; I hold my paddle fore and aft like a jouster to prevent wrenching away underwater.
As I understand it in that situation the craft should have a tether, so the board itself is there to grab on to as a buoyancy aid (while a canoe/kayak will easily have floated out of reach)?
Roasted Young People with no sunscreen is what I often See.
I am a total novice and I have a question about PFD use. On Pawleys Island in South Carolina the tidal creek is a popular place to paddle or float on inner tubes. It is not over your head even at high tide. I have floated it on a cheesy inner tube at mid tide. Please help me make a case for my family for wearing a PFD when kayaking or Sup use on the creek. I'm a horse trainer and I always wear a helmet when riding so I agree with being prepared for the unlikely need for these types of protection. People on the creek seldom if ever wear a PFD.
Thanks in advance for any insight or advice.
It's been close to 25 years since my first week of lessons at liquid skill. Was that Chad making an appearance in the boat re-entry segment.?
Ha! That's awesome! No, it wasn't Chad, but it does look like him, doesn't it?
Temperature management on the water can be challenging. What are your thoughts about the 120 rule? If the water temperature plus the air temperature is less than 120°F, then wear an immersion suit. For Centigrade use 32°C.
Bad rule. If it's 22c here and the water temp is 10c, which is basically every spring here. You're going to get hypothermia real quick.
I've seen someone on the verge of hypothermia mid August here, water is around 20-22c, they took an unexpected swim in cotton and were fine at first but as the sun went down they were starting to get real cold even though the air temp was still above 20c.
I'd be worried about cold water gear up to about 20c. Air temps don't really matter very much, water affects your body temperature about 4 times more quickly.
@@prophecy66 Can you think of a formula which would work? If the Sun is out, that does give a lot of wiggle room. You can always bask in the Sun if you get wet, even if the water is cold. No Sun does mean less options.
@@iviewthetube water temp < 20c = wear immersion gear.
It can make those really hot days a challenge when the water is still cold of course. In that case Id suggest rolling to keep your body temp regulated while wearing immersion gear. Otherwise wait it out until the water temp doesn't require immersion gear.
You can probably get away with a degree or so below 20, but it highly depends on your own body. So I think a safer rule is immersion gear below 20C water temp.
@@prophecy66 Everyone is different. I frequently see people swimming in the Puget Sound when the temperature of the water is 9°C. Hypothermia is just as much of a threat as hyperthermia. My performance in a drysuit at 32°C and above is almost zilch and I am not going to keep doing rolls to keep cool because I am carrying equipment like GPS and Marine VHF. Although they claim to be waterproof, salt water will get to just about everything. When it is sunny at 32°C, I will consider how close I am to shore and how smooth the water is. No matter what, there is always some risk.
@@iviewthetube like I said it's highly dependent on your body. I personally wouldn't wear a dry suit at 32c myself either. Luckily by the time it gets to those temps here the water is generally around 20c so I'm in shorts and a UV shirt.
1) Straw Hat with brim. UV protection and can get wet for cooling.
2) Long sleeve water shirt that gets splashed on when hot. UV protection
3) Bandanna folded up wet around neck. Also UV protection on neck where my hat sometimes doesn't cover.
4) Very light towel to cover legs when they start to burn. UV protection only used when sun is strong. And wet when getting hot.
I'm a Geneticist and Microbiologist. UV can really upstart cancer in cells. Please protect yourself.
My wife and I go on 8 hour river floats. 🙂
All great info!
Good points. Just one question - when did life jacket become PFDand why? They have the same amount of syllables, but one is way more descriptive and easier to remember. I have to try to figure out what people are talking about whenever they say PFD and that it’s a life jacket and not a way to turn a document into a photo file. Are people in general just more prone to jargon, therefore we can’t just say life jacket anymore?
Ha! Good question! Life jackets refer to flotation devices that are designed to keep people alive by floating them, whether they're conscious or not. To do this, they have a big hunk of flotation behind the head (a big collar), and the majority of the other flotation is in the front of the body. This has the effect of floating people in a backward leaning position, facing skyward. These are great when you don't need to swim, because you're too far from shore to swim or because you can't swim. On the flipside, they're terrible for actually swimming or... paddling. Personal flotation devices (PFDs) are designed to be swimming aids, that allow the user to be active. Because of the different distribution of the flotation, they don't float people face up and out of the water, and so unconscious swimmers will still drown.
@@PaddleTV oh cool, glad I asked, because I thought they were the same thing. Now I know there’s an actual reason for the “change” in verbiage. Also glad to know that the PFD I bought for kayaking will allow me to swim, since I’m mostly kayaking in still lakes and not rivers, so if my boat tips me over I’ll be able to swim kind of a long way. I really appreciate your reply!
Also good to know if I decide to bring someone who’s not a good swimmer, they will probably want to wear a life jacket.
Is there a Canadian version of the American paddling course?
Paddle Canada has courses for all levels canoeing kayaking and paddleboards.
@@johnnewman431 Awesome, thanks!
Which NRS PFD model is that ?
Looks like an old ninja or vector
I love to use my whitewater kayak without a skirt I've had some sketchy moments😂
In England its raw sewage😢
Something i see very often..people kayaking out in the middle of bodies of water...that's just not smart...no reason to be out in the middle, unless to cross....a kayaker was hit & killed by a barge recently....NO REASON TO BE OUT BY A BARGE IN THE MIDDLE
Wear your PFD 100% always
If not
It will be you just PFYS instead of just PFD
Helmets om fast water,3 kayakers minimum
👍🛶
Wear a Pretty Freakin' Dumb? What?
Yup! :)
I wouldn't compare a life jacket to a seatbelt just because seat belts have actually killed more people than save them sadly
Also, the earth is flat.
On the assumption you are actually serious, just to be polite, how about you throw out some sort of support for that outrageous claim?