Boating Safety

Kayak Caveat Part II

Kayaks can definitely be fun, but they should also be approached with the same respect given to larger boats.

For the last decade, kayaks have continued to grow in popularity. They are light and relatively inexpensive and are a great way to exercise and explore lakes, rivers and coastal waterways. But using one correctly isn’t simply a matter of starting to paddle.

Learn the Basics

Every kayaker should receive proper instruction on how to use the boats. There are videos on Youtube that cover the basics, but BoatTEST.com encourages newcomers to get personalized instructions. In most areas, there are rental services that will take out a group in a directed outing to teach basic kayak operation. Additionally, kayakers should not just have a lifejacket on board, they should always be wearing one.

 

A group outing is a great way to learn the fundamentals of safe kayaking.

Disturbing Reality

In 2018, the last year for which the United States Coast Guard published records, 48 kayakers died in the U.S. Many owners of larger boats carry kayaks for recreation when at anchor, so they need to know the risks. Additionally, every powerboater encounters kayakers when on the water and he should be cognizant of his wakes that can overturn a kayak.

Each week, BoatTEST receives reports from the USCG of boating accidents and the number that involved kayakers is noteworthy. In the first edition of this story, we reported on 21 accidents involving kayaks from May to August and 14 of those wound up being fatalities.

Many kayak rental operations and dealerships offer instruction.

 

Fall Accidents

On November 15, despite rescue efforts, a 20-year-old man from Sunriver, Wash., became trapped underwater and drowned while kayaking on Canyon Creek in southwestern Washington. Clark and Cowlitz county emergency personnel were informed that a kayaker was trapped underwater near the Yale-Merin hydroelectric dam. The kayaker was identified as Blaine M. Davis of Sunriver and when he was removed from the water, deputies tried to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies said Davis had been wearing a lifejacket and appropriate gear for whitewater kayaking. He was also wearing an emergency locator beacon that had been activated.

The day before in Portage, Ind., a man drowned after he may have fallen from a kayak, according to the Porter County Coroner’s office. Carlo Ernandes, 42, was transported from Dombey Lake to Northwest Hospital Portage Campus and the coroner’s office was dispatched to the hospital. Ernandes was found unresponsive and is believed to have fallen from a kayak on the lake. The accident was still under investigation and the coroner’s office said it was going to perform an autopsy.

 

One skill that anyone who plans to be a recreational kayaker needs to know is how to extricate herself from an overturned boat.

On September 26 in Gilford, N.H., a kayaker was struck by a boat while paddling on Lake Winnipesaukee. The New Hampshire Marine Patrol said the man was hit at about 5:15 by a 32’ powerboat and received a gash on his leg. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. No one in the powerboat was hurt.

That same day, a woman in Berne, N.Y., was hospitalized after an incident on Warners Lake. The Albany County Sheriff’s Office received a call at 4:25 p.m., saying a kayak was overturned and the woman was in the water. She was assisted by boaters after they saw her struggling in the water. She was transported to a local medical facility for further treatment.