Go kayaking they said, it would be fun they said

For the past 10 years I have been kayaking all types of bodies of water from fresh to salt, ocean to lake, and river surf, and  in various conditions from calm to windy, and have learned to dodge idiots on the water with boats, and jet skis. There are many ways to help improve your kayaking experience, and help keep you safe on the water. Kayaking can be a very fun activity but can be dangerous, tough and stressful at times. Doing some of these things will prevent that.

Paying attention to boat traffic is crucial when paddling in high density especially by bridges. Areas with multiple boat wakes can come at the same time sending you overboard very quickly. To avoid the "washing machine" point your kayak towards to the waves and don't stop moving. Recently I watched my friend get caught in the washing machine and it took her almost ten minutes to finally get out. I highly recommend avoiding it. This can be hard to do around bridge pilings because of the sharp current changes. You must get out of these areas as quickly as possible. 

The act of paddling helps a great deal with turning, and being able to go fast. Some things that can help with paddling effectively. Making sure your hands are equally spread apart helps with getting more leverage in the water. When you paddle, when your paddle first hits the water make sure you get full extension and hit the water perpendicular with the paddle. Making sure you paddles are also correctly oriented is also important.

Some basic safety measures and storage tips include bringing a life jacket. This should be obvious because everyone capsizes and its inevitable. We kayaked in Florida so the water was warm but in other places the water could be cold and a life jacket could just keep you warm enough to survive.  Wearing polarized sunglasses and long sleeve polyester shirt to prevent sun burning. Bringing a dry bag and a phone bag are also essential for keeping valuables in place.

Other random tips include breaking your paddle down in half when paddling through thick mangroves. This can help you navigate these tight environments.


www.deviatingthenorm.com/blogarchive/2016/12/221/kayakkeys

https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/how-to-get-back-in-a-flipped-kayak/

#kayaking #mangroves #boats #water #saltwater