Must Have Paddling Safety Gear | How to Kayak or Canoe 

I always enjoy your videos. I to have been kayaking for thirty years. I have only once had a scary incident . I had just re varnished my cedar strip kayak and was excited to get back on the water. It had been windy all day and was still early spring in Missouri. In the after noon the winds had died down so I headed out. I was in such a hurry I forgot over half the thing I always take with me. My 4 year old daughter wanted to go and wouldn't stop bugging me until I agreed to take her. So I grab our life vest both my paddles, a towel, hats, some water and snacks. Any time I took her I would put airbags in my kayak and remove the back hatch cover. It added floatation and doubled as a back rest for her. That was her seat. We left and it was 78 degrees f. and 3 mile an hour winds. This was a lake and section I knew well. The trip out was uneventful until we stopped to take a brake and that's when things started changing. The winds started to pick up rapidly and my daughter started getting cold. So we started heading back and she used the towel to stay warm. About 300 yards across the lake she said she didn't like the bouncing of the kayak. I told her to think of it as riding a horse. Thirty seconds later she said but the water is to deep daddy. At the moment I was hit in the back by a wave and I noticed the front of my kayak was way to high out of the water.. I looked back and we're she was sitting in the back hatch was under water completely. See I had been in such a hurry that I didn't grab the airbags. Without the hatch cover I was taking on water fast. I calmly explained to her what we would do next. I told her daddy would role the kayak on its side then she would swim out of the kayak. Then dady would follow . At the time she would hold onto daddy while he emptied the kayak of water . Then daddy would put her in the cockpit. I stayed out of the kayak while swimming back to shore . The kayak no longer took on water because I was swimming and she was in the middle. Once we were back to shore I flagged down a couple bass fisher men. I knew these guys were local and we had met on a few occasions . They put her on the bass boat and put a nice jacket on her. I paddled back to our put in spot alongside their boat. I didn't take on any water with her out of the kayak. When we got back I thanked them and even offered them some cash wich they refused. I got the spare towel out of the car and dried her off after removing her wet close. I left her bottoms on and put her in her car seat. I started the car and fired the heater up. I dried off and removed all but my under shorts. We drove home and everything turned out ok. You see I had been in such a hurry that I forgot or figured I wouldn't need that safety gear. In over ten years of paddling I had never needed any of that gear. I always took it anyway. While I was swimming my daughter was asking if daddy was going to drown. I told her daddy would be fine because the boat was floating and I could use it to rest. What I didn't tell her is that daddy was getting cold fast. That was my real concern the water temps were still cold and the winds had increased to about 20 miles an hour. I learned a very valuable lesson that day do to my negligence . I have never been paddling again without my safety gear. I have never needed it since either. I felt really stupid about being complacent . I praid the whole time after things went south. I am thankful my daughter and I were fine in the end. I am also thankful that my kids or I have never been kayaking without our PFDs. Even though the conditions were ideal when we left they changed rapidly. It went from 78 degrees to 55 degrees in just a mater of 30 mins or less. Winds went from about 3 to 5 miles an hour to over 20 miles an hour. I like what you said about PFDs, wear them. They do you no good as a seat cushion or if you end up in the water. By the time I had swam back to shore with kayak and daughter in toe I couldn't feel my hands. I was shivering uncontrollably . If I had not been wearing my pfd I'm not sure if things would have turned out as well as they did. Thank you Ken for these videos to inform new paddlers and as a reminder to seasoned paddlers also how important it is to always be prepared. Sorry for rambling on so long but I felt it was appropriate to share my story.

Sunscreen, bug spray, paddle leash, a couple of big sponges to put under your legs for a little break, gloves, water, wide hat with neck protection, PFD

Something that most people don’t think of is a good hat that keeps the sun off and can be dunked to use as an instant cooling device. Nothing worse than being sunburned or heat stressed or dehydrated miles from shore. A cheap foldable hat with neck flap works wonders for me.

TL;DW: 1: Personal Floatation Device, make sure it's comfortable 2: Elemental Protection Gear. For heat: a Hat. For cold: depends 3: Fuel for your body. Food and Water. 4: Communication Device. A Cellphone or VHF Radio or Zoleo. Make sure it'll work when wet and remotely. 5: Footwear. Make sure it's appropriate for water, slippery surfaces, and the ambient temperature. Other Gear: Bilge Pump, Dry Bag w/ an Overnight Kit, Paddle Floats, Tow Line, Signaling Device, First Aid Kit, Extra Paddle. Use Common Sense!

A GPS to radio in your coordinates if you're in distress on the ocean, you need to know where you are. I have a fishfinder/GPS combo as well as a handheld GPS for a back up. Medical emergencies happen. Flexseal tape if your hull cracks or gets punctured in addition to a bilge pump. Sit on top kayaks can fill up with water and sink. A knife. A compass. 3 day/night flares, a white light that can be seen 360° for 2 nautical miles. A VHF radio with DSC, don't go cheap as your life may depend upon it. A small air horn and a whistle. A first aid kit. Cyalume light sticks in case something happens to your light source, keep them in your PFD. A personal locator beacon, a strobe light. Fresh water, lots of fresh water and something to eat. Dress appropriately for the conditions of where you're yakking. Bring a pool noodle, extra flotation never hurt anyone. Your cel phone. A safety flag so boaters can see you and don't run you over.

Ken, what I’ve got, I owe to your encouragement in these videos. I got a dry bag with sunscreen, sunglasses, bug spray, whistle, first aid kit (small/basic) and a Sawyer water filter. Going to add a stainless multi-tool and fire starting kit. Outside of the bag, I keep a pump, paddle float, floating cellphone case and water bottle. I have a sun hat, paddling pfd and spf-50 apparel. A throw/tow rope is next. I need to carry emergency food and a bigger dry bag for an emergency overnight. My current locations for paddling are tame enough. But as i expand my range, I need to get more serious about safety. I’m going to look into the vhf radio idea. My list is a little long, but isn’t that extensive or heavy. What I currently have loads quick and is easily usable. Thank you Ken for the very wise and practical counsel.

I just spent over an hour dunking myself and self-rescuing with the NRS paddle float. Never did that before. Self-trained.

Got my cali case after seeing it recommended here! Thanks I'm so glad I got it.

Great video! Glad to see the whistle made it... cheap as chips and I have one on all my PFD's. I'm a big fan of a cheap waterproof watch, it's way too easy to lose track of time on the water and get caught out by tides and the like.

Just the other day someone was saved from the sea (Southern England) 'cause the rescue services spotted their pink cap. I've never understood the demand for blue, black, green etc. p.f.d's. Okay, I do look nice in blue, that's the main thing. Why are radio's black? I take forbidden fruits to eat, Mars bars, Snickers etc. Great vid.

Re the VHF radio: If you're kayaking on a canal such as the Erie Canal, VHF radio may be the easier/preferred way to communicate with the lock so you can pass through. Re signal whistle: In some places (e.g. NY state) a signal whistle is legally required for people piloting small unpowered boats such as kayaks. Check the regulations wherever you're going.

I never thought of the overnight kit. I do it on a long day ride or hike...so add it to the kayak list.

#6 and arguably most important - yourself!

Excellent and comprehensive info as always, Ken! Thank you!

A well explained and thoughtful video, well done. I'd check your radio antennae carefully as it looks bent enough to have damaged the internal wire!

Wearing a rescue knife like the ESEE Imlay Rescue Knife on your PFD where it can be quickly reached in an emergency can be the difference between life and death if you become entangled in lines or gear or other things that are holding you under the surface.

Thank you for sharing this list of 5 safety gear.. I appreciate these excellent training videos!

This is brilliant. Thank you so much for caring and sharing so much!

I’d really enjoy you attending one of the free virtual paddle craft safety classes my Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla puts on twice a month. I welcome critiques. Ami du Canada

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="330">5:30</a> I wouldn't recommend using a water filter in any rivers near urban areas. Oftentimes these areas have leaky sewer pipes that result in bacterial contamination of the waterways. While you can filter out the bacteria, you can't easily filter out the toxins that they release without more sophisticated technology, such as those from a municipal water treatment plant.

Great advices, Excellent and very clear explanations, you are doing a great work, thanks.

I’m hooked on this channel’s videos

wow right off the bat that cell case looks great, 100% cool spomnsor

Thanks! This is very informative!

I also carry a compass in case of fog or mist.

Excellent advice!

Excellent advice! Being prepared to overnight can help one avoid the perils of *Get-There-Itis*

Great advice, thank you. For newbies like me, do you think you might be able to do a video on paddles? From the basics of blade orientation, through to the advantages of different designs? I’ve seen comments in some videos on YT where people say “you’ve got the blade the wrong way round”, and for me it’s not immediately obvious why.

Yay for footwear! I also benefit from a long paddle leash attached to the yak. When a big wave wave ejects me it keeps me close to the boat but also the paddle can be brandished underwater to keep me from being pounded into coral. Helps in shorebreak launches and landings too.

FYI: a smoker is a term used by kayakers and canoer's for any water craft with a motor.

Thanks, Ken. 🙂👍🚣‍♂️

As usual, great work! Thanks for going beyond your basic gear.

Also gloves. I can't find any good gloves for kayaking. Either they sell winter gloves which are not good to wear in the hot summer, or sailors gloves without fingertips. Fingertips and nails is where I want to have the most protection and not less. These are kind of injuries which are late to notice, especially when busy kayaking against wind or in some quick waters (antiseptic in boating bag is handy). There is certainly empty market niche for kayaking gloves, because nobody thought about it.

Thank you Paddle TV. I'm just curious about it all because I have a brother that's taking his grandson on a canoe trip in Algonquin. Set to go about a week from today. What bugs me is the mosquito. Truly a nasty critter, which somehow, you did not mention. Thankfully I'm in Alberta, so I'm a little bit safer from all of that. But Ontario, my God man. That is mosquito heaven, and the black flies too. Be safe, yes, for sure. Thanx for the vid.

A VHS marine radio is not a toy radio, it allows communication with large commercial vessels and with the coast guard. In most countries, the radio operator (the user) must have completed a government approved training and be issued a certificate before being allowed to transmit with this kind of device. If you just want a radio to have a casual chat with your friends on the water or on land, get a waterproof FRS radios instead. These radios do not require any form of certificate or licence and are cheaper.

PFD, 1st Aid Kit, Pump, Extra Paddle, Tow Rope (I actually lent my tow rope to a mom who's kid had flipped his kayak over and swamped it in the middle of Bishop Lake last weekend) , Extra Water, A snack, Xtra drain plug, change of clothes, towel, sunscreen ... what was that filter cup!!

I do almost all river kayaking, and for me a couple leashes are essential. One for me and one for my paddle. Is there some reason to avoid leashes I have not thought of? Thanks

Any medication you need or MAY need. (EpiPen? etc.) Bug repellent! (What could have been an awesome day can turn into a horrible 3day weekend if all the mosquito larvae hatch and decide they love your wife!) Sunglasses with floating keeper, they get burned too. Keep a spare vehicle key hidden on the vehicle and show trusted trip buddy where it is JIC.

Don’t laugh at the floating cell phone case ! I’ve lost 3 iPhones over the years in my yaks. Dorf goes padding I know but it happens !

Something I think you should include is a compass

What brand is the water filter you were using?

Hey! Where is that "Poisson Blanc" bottle from? Is that from reservoir poisson blanc?

The one item you didn't mention that I bring in all my kayaks is a good loud whistle attached to my PFD. I never hit the water without one. I have used it more times than I can remember especially if there are smokers around.

Ahoy Ken! My safety kit is: PFD, spare paddle, pump or sponge, water, sun protection cream, cap or hat, gloves, powerbank, 10 m line, and some food. Is it enough? Don't know, but works for me.

Did he say "WETEVER"?

If you are too cheap to buy water shoes stay home or go to the beach. I have 2 pair & neither cost me $7

Ken is a great explainer, but he needs to quit trying to be a comedian. He is just not funny.