Paddle Float Rescue

Kayaking is a nice leisurely exercise that is great for all ages and all experiences, but there are inherent risks that you are taking when you chose to put a small boat onto the great blue ocean. Even the most experience sea kayakers may flip from time to time so always try to hit the water with someone, and make sure that you have someone on shore who is expecting you back at a certain time and knows the proper steps to follow should you be an hour overdue.

However there are ways to perform self rescues should you find yourself upside down with no shore in sight. One of the most effect rescues for sea kayakers is known as the Paddle Float Rescue. This is a rescue that can be performed with one person, and in slightly choppy waters (but it does get trickier!). 

We found a video depicting the paddle float rescue. While this is a great rescue, it can be difficult if you  are not experienced and haven't practiced this particular rescue before so we encourage you to take a look so that if you ever find yourself in need of a rescue, you will at least have seen this one before.

Watch the video for a demo on how to do the rescue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8fGu7EdhPc

The only addition I would make to this video tutorial is to emphasize the need to keep your weight on the paddle float. If you don't and accidentally place too much weight on the side of the boat opposite of where you are entering, you get the infamous 'yellow rainbow' which the video tutorial took the time to show you.

Ocean water can be quite cold so you want to minimize how much time you spend in the water. If you cannot get into your boat, get your feet on the paddle float and get most of your body out of the water. This will give you more time out of the water and provides an opportunity to blow on a whistle, or signal nearby boats that you are trouble.

Remember, anytime you take a boat on the ocean there are risks. Dress for the water temperature, and always prepare for getting wet even if you don't plan on it. Make sure that you are either with someone, or there is someone on land that is waiting for you to get back. 

Hope you have found this information helpful and we wish you the best of luck on the water.

Stay safe and we hope to see you in the sea kayaking community.

-Maine Kayak

Maine Kayak: A day on the Ocean

I have been working for Maine Kayak for about a month now and despite how often I am helping people get down on the water and encouraging families to get outdoors, I don't get to see the water often. However, I took the initiative on a day off to come in and join an Instructional Clinic held by one of our guides Gary.

Over the next four hours I had one of the best days off that I have had so far.

Having worked at a summer camp, sea kayaking was not something I was specifically taught, but by using canoes I had an idea of what a draw stroke should look like or how to do a proper sweep. And sure I had an idea, but not a single clue at the potential those ideas could hold.

Before leaving Maine Kayak we made sure that we were equiped with wetsuits, spray skirts, bilge pumps and all the amenities needed for a day in the water. Especially Gulf of Maine water.

Gary started the instructional clinic with describing all of the terminology of the boat, such as chines and what rocker is. He certainly spoke with the confidence that is a trademark of a real State of Maine Guide and after some real basic instruction in kayaking form we hit the water ready to get wet. And wet we got.

After paddling over 65 degree water to get to a sheltered pocket beach, we abandoned our paddles and started, one by one, taking a plunge and flipping the boats over to to see how long we could stay in our boats upside down. 

"Time Dilation" was the two words that Gary said to us shortly before we found ourselves upside down in a boat underwater. Time dilation is the phenomenon that as your adrenaline kicks in, seconds turn to minutes and time spent under a boat last much longer than what is traditionally felt when safe and dry. Gary started by flipping his boat than drumming his fingers to a beat, upside down, in the water for about 5 seconds. I attempted the same but made it a remarkable 2 seconds as my nose filled with salt water and the panic of cold water struck me. Once above water I had time to relax and start to enjoy the water as my wetsuit started to work properly.

Time after time we flipped the boats to practice all of the rescues that I have been instructing people on how to do, but had never done myself. T-rescues, cowboy rescues, bow rescues and paddle float rescues to name a few. We learned that you can actually float a boat sideways with your elbows in the water while keeping the boat from flipping over. In one four hour period I successfully executed at least one of every rescue, managed to stay underwater and enjoy my own drum beat on my upside down boat for 5 seconds, and learned valuable rescue skills that would be crucial should I every find myself in a kayak on the deep blue sea.

Maine Kayak's basic instructional clinics provided me with skills that left me feeling confident on the water, much more mentally prepared for the unexpected and provided with quite a few laughs as I flipped my boat again and again. Talk about a day off from work.

Maine Kayak Website