Justin & James Answer Some FAQs

Safety questions:

1. What are the basic tips for preparing to go rowing, canoeing or kayaking?

You should be able to swim;
You must have skills, fitness, knowledge, and equipment adequate for whatever conditions you might encounter;
You need a clear understanding of the potential hazards and you must stay alert for them. This includes knowing the latest weather forecast;
You should practice in advance with safety equipment and rescues;
If capsized on a windy day, stay with your craft and paddle. Losing them is frighteningly easy as they can blow away faster than you can swim;
You should have a plan of action (and a back-up plan) worked out in advance for any emergency including capsize and separation from your craft or separation from your group;
You should get a comfortable lifejacket and wear it whenever you paddle;
You should have plenty of secure flotation in both ends of your canoe or kayak; and
Avoid alcohol.

2. What about the equipment, what should I look out for or check?

Routinely check your equipment for damage and wear;
Check that your craft has flotation, secured both in the bow and stern adequate to float a swamped vessel level and minimise the amount of water that must be removed. Flotation in only one end will encourage your craft to become vertical in the water, making re-entry virtually impossible without the help of a larger boat;
Be careful with your equipment so as not to create a trap with your ropes, loose gear, spray skirt, paddle leash, or other items that could prevent a "wet exit"; and
Carry repair kits for your kayak and paddle, as well as for yourself (first-aid kit).
Check that your lifejacket is in good condition.

3. What are some safety tips regarding the use of 'spray skirts'?

In a kayak, check that your spray skirt fits tightly enough on the cockpit rim so as to be resistant to being popped off by a wave dumping into your lap. Shock cord loses its elasticity and stretches with time and use so it may need to be readjusted later;
Practice capsizing and "wet exits" so you know how to remove your spray skirt and climb out (if you wear gloves, can you find the grabloop with them on? Underwater with your eyes closed?);
Practice alternate spray skirt removal methods in case the primary one is unavailable. Some include: grasping the shock cord in back, reaching down inside through the waist tube and with palm up pushing the straight fingers out to one side, leaning to the side at the hips to create a fold in the fabric to grab, pressing down on the coaming rim and pushing the fabric out to the side to grab with your fingers. Since none of these will always work practice them all and place them in order of likelihood of success for you and your equipment.

4. Should I carry a lifejacket?

Absolutely and not only carry it but wear it;
You should wear it because if the wind and waves come up you may find it very difficult if not impossible to put it on while in your canoe/kayak. Don't fool yourself into thinking you can put it on if you capsize. You can quickly become separated from your canoe/kayak (and lifejacket) if you capsize in wind and waves.

5. Do I need to put flotation into my craft?

Maximum flotation in both ends of your canoe or kayak is a must;
The flotation needs to support the boat level while you sit in the fully swamped cockpit. It must also provide enough freeboard at the cockpit to minimize further water entry during pumping;
The flotation could consist of large airtight float bags, waterproof gear bags, truly watertight bulkheads and hatches. Prudent paddlers back up bulkheads with float bags (or gear bags) or use bags so the failure of any one system isn't critical; and
If in doubt about flotation, consult the manufacture or supplier.

6. Apart from a lifejacket, what other safety gear is essential?

Some other gear to consider is as follows:

Bailing device

It is essential to have some means of getting water out of your craft;
In a canoe, a traditional bailing bucket can do the job.
In a kayak, a high capacity electric, hand held or deck mounted pump is better than a bucket because they can be used with the spray skirt closed to further water entry. A large sponge is nice for the last inch. These items should be readily available but stored securely so they won't float (or sink) away. A hand pump full of water will sink so tether it or add a float collar to it. Consider carrying a back up water removing device such as a bailing container or even second pump.

Towline

Nylon braided line and parachute cord are strong and stretch to absorb shocks, but nylon sinks so needs a float attached. A piece of closed-cell foam can serve as the float as well as a place to wrap the line to keep it from tangling. The tow point should be near the paddler (or attached to a harness worn by the paddler) so the towing canoe/kayak maintains maneuverability and the line can be quickly jettisoned.

Appropriate clothing

A wide range of adventure/ marine clothing is available these days and can include a sun shirt, thermal wear, wet suit, dry suit or even survival suit. No matter what you choose, always ask yourself: could I swim in this if I had to? If you are in any doubt, put on a lifejacket. In fact, when it comes to a lifejacket . just wear it.

Other gear that should be considered if taking on longer paddles would include the following:

First-Aid Kit

An appropriate first aid kit is a good idea especially if touring or going on long paddles.

Repair Kit

A roll of duct tape (kept dry and with the canoe or kayak) can temporarily repair almost any damage to your craft, paddle (with a splint), or even flotation and gear bags. A more extensive repair kit would include spare fittings and more permanent hull and float bag repair materials.

Radio

A handheld VHF radio is a good idea for paddlers in remote areas where help is not immediately available. A VHF radio allows access to weather information, to contact other craft and to raise the alarm in an emergency. They are available in waterproof models or can be kept in a waterproof bag.

Emergency Locating devices

If thinking of making long trips or heading into remote or quite locations where help is not close, consider taking an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. Such devices have saved many people in boating incidents. You could also consider the following: flares (hand held and aerial), dye marker (day only), V sheet, airhorn, signal mirror or strobe light (night only). Many of these items are made quite small, inexpensive, and are available at outdoor equipment or marine supply stores.

Water

You can become dehydrated during a long paddle or when paddling on a hot day so make sure that you take sufficient water with you.

Sun protection

Always wear a hat/cap and plenty of suncream when paddling..it's very easy to get sunburned when on the water on a sunny day

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