Making Your Kayaking Trip Safe

Being locked up in a stuffy office for hours on end is no fun. After you have put in some hard work you may want to get outdoors to have some fun. Some people really enjoy kayaking. Before you go out on your boating trip, it is important that you think about safety. Kayak anchors and kayak leashes are a couple of different accessories that will help keep things secure in your vessel but there really is so much more. In this article we are going to talk about different safety tips. We will also talk about products you can use to be safe.

Before you venture out into the open waters remember safety comes first. Whenever you get all of the equipment that you need together then you should make sure that you have the proper leashes to hold the things that you need directly to your vessel. This will make it much easier for you to keep track of everything that you need. Do you plan on fishing whenever you are out on your trip? If you do then it is important that you get anchor so that you will be able to stop the kayak in the place where you want to fish. Going out in open water is always a great idea and many times the biggest fish will be found here. If you plan on standing up and fishing you should invest in attachable floatation devices that will hold your craft upright.

As you begin to think about safety there are plenty of things that you need to remember. Before you do anything you should always make sure that you let someone know where you are going to be. You could even tell them which route you are going to take. In case you get injured or have any other problems this would help the search and rescue efforts. Also make sure that you tell someone about what time you plan to return so that they do not get worried if you are not back in a certain amount of time. Life vests should always be a must but sometimes people think they are being brave by going off without one. It does not matter whether you are a good swimmer or not, it is best to wear a life jacket when boating. There are now life jackets that are quite fashionable and will allow you to be safe without looking funny.

To make sure that you get any lost equipment back, you need to have your address or phone number listed on each piece of equipment so if it is recovered someone will be able to contact you. There are plenty of honest people that would be willing to return your equipment to you if it were lost for some reason.

These are just some basic things that can help you to be safe on your next kayak trip. Make sure that you follow these rules and you should also make sure that you take any recommended advice from instructors that want to help you improve your kayaking experience.

---

Stewart Wrighter has recently found several items for a camping trip by searching for the term kayak anchors on the internet. He ordered kayak leashes on the internet to use for an upcoming fishing trip.

Kayaking

Lights on the Lake 2013

Paddling Lights on the Lake

Kayaking

Canoe Building
Report 4 – 23 Hours to date

Canoeing

SUP Pro Talk Workshop with Suzie Cooney

This is an educational and informative 2 hour, 3 part video on stand up paddling. All levels will appreciate this all points overview and in depth production.This video was produced on Maui as the SUP

SUP Pro Talk Workshop

Chesapeake Light Craft - Sassafras 12 Canoe Project

It has been a little longer than I wanted but finally I am getting started on our next project, the Sassafras 12 Canoe. Since this is a winter project and my garage is too cold, this project is being done in my basement. This will really be a challenge since the space I have available is limited and I will not be able to complete the project in the same room as I am getting started.

Read More Canoe Building

 

Adirondack Paddling features color maps of every route, GPS coordinates for put-ins and takeouts, suggestions for multiday trips, more than 150 color photographs, and it introduces the Meander Quotient. By Phil Brown.

"The Adirondack Park has thousands of miles of rivers and streams and countless lakes and ponds. Where is a canoeist to begin? Adirondack Paddling has the answer, or, rather, many answers. Phil Brown, the editor of the Adirondack Explorer newsmagazine, has chosen sixty trips that will appeal to flatwater paddlers of all tastes and abilities, from parents with young children to hard-core wilderness junkies." --Kate Williams, executive director, Northern Forest Canoe Trail

288 pages. Paperback. More than 100 color photos, and more than 60 color maps. $24.95. ADK members pay $19.96.

Adirondack Paddling

Canoeing

Greenland Kayaking

By Marc Fredmen

Any reference to kayaking gives rise to images of gushing rivers or calm lakes amidst warm tropical forests. However, many would be surprised to know that kayaking was invented in the freezing lands of the Arctic. It was in the snowbound nation of Greenland that kayaking was first practiced before it came to be accepted by other countries.

Greenland Kayaking – A Few Facts

The contemporary form of kayaking has greatly been inspired from the kayaking style practiced by the Inuits in Greenland. The kayak was first designed by the Inuits and is known as ‘qajag’ in Greenland. In fact in 1600 and 1700AD, most Greenlanders were experts at kayaking. This was mainly because the Greenlanders used the kayaks to hunt seals and fish.

However, by the 20th century, kayaking almost disappeared from Greenland to be revived only in 1983. However, due to the persistent efforts of kayaking organizations and dedicated kayakers, Greenland kayaking has again become very popular.

While kayaking in Greenland, paddlers get an opportunity to paddle past massive icebergs and huge mountains rising from the sea. Another exciting location for kayaking is the inner fjord systems near Kulusuk Islands. However, not everyone can kayak in the freezing waters and requires the paddlers to have some concrete kayaking experience.

This is mainly because paddlers must negotiate tough weather conditions, ice-cold water, navigate tides (for sea kayaking) and good at rescue tactics. Yet another pre-requisite for kayaking in Greenland is the right choice of apparel. It is recommended that paddlers use a dry suit or a combination of a wet suit and anorak dry suit. East Greenland has a host of kayaking locations that challenge the skill of the paddlers.

Qaannat Kattuffiat

An organization that began in 1984, Qaannat Kattuffiat (literally means kayaks’ club) works mainly to preserve the traditional kayaking techniques of Greenland. Within a year of its inception, the Qaannat Kattuffiat had 1000 club members. The organization is based in Greenland but has now spread to various countries.

The US chapter of the organization is called Qajaq USA while the Copenhagen chapter is called Qajaq Copenhagen. The Qaannat Kattuffiat holds training camps and workshops to propagate the traditional kayaking skills.

The biggest contribution of this organization is that they have identified and brought together the few handful kayakers who knew the traditional form of kayaking. These experts then taught the keen enthusiasts the several techniques and nuances of Greenland kayaking.

This organization works in every sphere to encourage traditional methods of kayaking, which includes organizing training camps, kayaking contests and events, lectures by experts and providing forums for paddlers to discuss various issues on kayaking.

There Qajag USA annual calendar is full of exciting kayaking events and competitions. It includes Traditional Arctic Symposiums, Annual Gatherings of Paddlers and training camps. It also involves week long celebration of Greenland kayaking which consist of live demonstrations, slide shows and practical lessons.

These events have greatly led to the increase in awareness about Greenland kayaking and allowed enthusiasts to learn the traditional techniques of this sport.

About the Author: Marc Fredmen, an experienced paddler and author shares information on various aspects of kayaking. Check out the history and origins of kayaking here.

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=408171&ca=Recreation

Kayaking