Kayaking Expert Teaches Self-Rescue Techniques To Recover Sit-On-Top Kayaks

Oct 19, 2023

If you’re worried about your kayak flipping or capsizing, just follow these recovery tips and techniques from Kayaking Nation!

Experienced kayakers make righting their kayaks look easy! But righting a kayak is a skill all kayakers should be able to do, which is why Kayaking Nation has released a guide full of kayak recovery tips and tricks.

The guide provides several self-rescue techniques you can use to recover when your kayak flips over. It also recommends some measures you can take to prepare for capsizing as well as some accessories that can help with recovery.

Go to https://kayakingnation.com/how-to-recover-if-your-kayak-flips to find out more.

In ideal conditions, most kayaks stay upright without much effort. However, big waves, strong currents, and weather changes can cause kayaks to flip, and when they do, you must know how to recover. In its new guide, Kayaking Nation is showing you how to safely and efficiently right and re-enter your kayak.

The self-rescue techniques highlighted in Kayaking Nation’s new guide range in difficulty from beginner to advanced. The sit-on-top, sit-inside, and paddle float techniques are considered beginner because they involve exiting your kayak, flipping it right side up, and re-entering it, whereas the Eskimo roll technique—which involves flipping your kayak while still inside of it—is regarded as advanced.

In addition to the type of kayak you're righting, some external factors can help determine which self-rescue technique will be most suitable. For example, hazards such as rocks, downed trees, and other submerged objects can seriously impede your ability to right your kayak. Furthermore, whether you're alone or with a group can influence which method will be most effective.

If you happen to be kayaking with a partner, there are recovery techniques that the two of you can perform together. Assisted re-entry, which involves one person stabilizing the kayak while the other attempts to climb back in, is the standard technique; however, there are many others available depending on the circumstances.

To make self-rescue easier, the guide recommends some accessories that other kayakers have found useful when recovering, including personal flotation devices, spray skirts, paddle floats, bailing buckets, kayak sponges, and personal locator beacons. Like the kayak itself, all of these accessories should be thoroughly checked before heading out on the water.

Kayaking Nation also encourages you to get out and practice recovering from a flip. This can include going to kayaking courses or workshops and learning from professionals or going out on the water with a friend and taking turns acting out different scenarios. The key is to practice in calm and controlled environments so you can get comfortable performing the techniques.

“While flipping your kayak may initially be disorienting and unnerving, knowing what to look for and how to recover your kayak is crucial for your safety and confidence on the water,” said a spokesperson for the website. “You can quickly regain control of your kayak by staying calm, assessing your surroundings, and employing the appropriate recovery techniques.”

About Kayaking Nation

Kayaking Nation is a go-to destination for kayaking gear reviews and educational resources. Its contributors are all experienced kayakers committed to providing unbiased information and opinions.

Know what to do when your kayak flips by visiting https://kayakingnation.com/how-to-recover-if-your-kayak-flips

Web Analytics