Bob Zelley, a very experienced local paddler, recently sent JP and I a list of "recommendations" he has compiled through
his years of sea kayaking. I'm willling to bet that he learned most of these through the School of Hard Knocks.
Reading through these I noted quite a few that I had also learned "after the fact".
RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR BLUE WATER KAYAKERS TO CONSIDER
Collected
by Bob Zelley Yard1ey, P A
~ Know what
time the sun sets when you paddle; you do not want to paddle in the dark.
~ There is no
better substitution for paddling improvement than time spent on the water paddling.
~ Do not depend
on your equipment covering up for any short comings you have in experience, skill or physical fitness.
~ A supply of
drinking water is more important to your physical well being during the first three hours of paddling than a snack
~ Except for
your kayak and maybe a paddle, never put anything on the top of a vehicle as you are packing or unpacking. You will forget and it will be lost.
~ Rain hats and sun hats are
not the same'. A proper rain hat is lOOt waterproof and will cause sweating on sunny warm days. After experimentation, always
take one of each. Gore-Tex may enable one hat to do both jobs.
~ Carry sun
block and insect repellent in an outside pocket of the lifejacket. Zippered or buckled pockets are best.
~ A nice morning can turn into
a windy, cool and even wet afternoon. A long sleeved paddling jacket that is wind and rain proof should be included on any
paddling trip of an hour or more. The jacket should be accessible to you without getting out of the kayak. The same is true
of a rain hat, drinking water and snacks.
~ When paddling with a group,
find out what their on water plans are. Paddle with kayakers whose on water interests are similar to yours. Hooking
up with a group you do not know very well can produce an unpleasant and even unsafe situation.
~ Do not expect your paddle mates or other boaters to be responsible for
your safety. No one can paddle your kayak for you. You cannot get out and walk if problems develop. Know your limitations.
You are on the edge of you limits when fear sets in.
~ Learning and practicing self
rescue and group rescues in a pool or small pond is fine. But, it is only a start. Rolling, paddle float re-entry, and group
rescues most also be tested in turbulent conditions. Take advantage of warm water to practice in conditions that are most
likely to cause a problem.
~ If you plan to paddle in cold
water be sure your clothing will do the job. Put on your entire cold water outfit boots to hood and wade into the water. Then
go into chest deep water and flop around in the water. If you feel relatively okay, no cold water shock and no leaking, you
are set to paddle'. Stay close to shore just in case'.
~ Keep the inside of all water
containers clean. Resist putting anything other than water in your containers. Do not use "old water". Dump out each container
at the end of a trip. Do not fill fresh water book into the containers until the morning of the day they will be used.
~ When bringing
a kayak to shore in a current, head upstream into the current as you beach. In doing this, the stern will not be brought around by the current.
~ Physical
fitness is not a skill. Skill is not physical fitness. Neither one is experience.
It takes
all three to have an enjoyable and safe paddle on interesting water.
~ It has been a long day. You
had a good time and you are tired. As you approach your vehicle you realize the keys are missing. This can become a horror
show. I have two options worth considering. Have a key attached to the outside of the vehicle. The underside of the vehicle
is a good place to wire the key in place. Another alternative is to carry the key in a zippered or buckled pocket in your
paddle jacket or life jacket. The key should be carried in such a way that rolling and wet exits will not shake it loose. Do not trust Velcro closed pockets.
» Straight line paddling a problem?
Have a compass mounted on the foredeck of your kayak Be sure you can read the numbers and letters on the compass while sitting
in the kayak before securing the compass to the deck. When on the water, practice paddling by the compass heading.
>.. If you would not do it while paddling alone, do not do it
when-paddling in a group.
Rough water, high wind., or
a long crossing will get every one's attention. Few, if any, of your paddling partners will be watching you. The most one
or two may be able to do is point out to the guys in the Coast Guard where they think they last saw you.
» Have a place for all of your
paddling gear' at home and in the kayak. Run a visual check before leaving home.
If you pack the vehicle the evening before, pack everything. Remember, "out ,of sight, out of mind". Everything has a place
and everything is kept in its own place.
» Bring a watch along on all
paddles. How long you have been paddling, how often you feel a need to rest, the time to start back to the put in location
and when to start to look for a tent site for the night are all important. The watch must have a strap long enough to fit
around the outside of a paddle jacket wrist seal or a dry suit's gasket. I have gone one better. A water resistant watch without
a band is contact cemented to the outside top of my spray skirt. Whenever I want the time I just look down at my skirt.
» Knowing your average rate
of paddling speed is important. Use your chart to locate easy to find features that are one to five miles apart. Paddle these
distances as normal a paddle effort as you can. Keep track of the numbers with a china marking pencil. As time goes by, you
should be able to establish average paddling time between many locations on your home waters.
During the first ten or twenty
minutes after launching from a new location, turn around and note landmarks and water marks that you will be able to
~ upon your return. Water and radio towers, stacks, steeples, and bridges are good. choices for long distance dead reckoning.
Marinas, boat shops, and the numbers on buoys are useful as you near the take out.
~ As you paddle with a group
of kayakers, suppose you decide you wish to leave the group. If the group has a designated leader, tell him or her you are
leaving. If it is a thrown together group with no leader, blow your whistle to get their attention and announce your plans.
If you are sick you may get one or two from the group to paddle back with you. If you need towing, say so. If you and your
equipment are all right and you want to do a different paddle that day, tell the group your intended plans. If you get back
to the take out before the rest of the group, leave a note on one of the vehicles belonging to the group on the water announcing
that you have returned safely. Never leave a group activity without notifying someone in the group.
