Kayak 101 – Basic Rules and Etiquette.
Kayaking has become a sought after sports activity for many people today.
If you own a kayak, you may already be familiar with the basic rules and etiquette which are essential for every kayaker. Maybe not.
Let us learn more about it in this article.
What is the history of kayaking?
The arctic people, Inuit or Eskimos, were the first people to create kayaks thousands of years ago.
It had a wooden structure, or whale’s skeleton, which was covered with the seal’s skin. A small hole was made in the middle to provide some room for the paddler to sit.
These people used the kayaks primarily for hunting and fishing. Its ability to move stealthily enabled the hunters to sneak up close to their prey and catch them.
Back in those days, kayaks differed greatly from region to region, and it had different designs.
Most of the early kayaks were made of wood, and skin was the most common material used to cover the boat.
Gradually, people started using a variety of materials to built kayaks.
In the 1740s, the Russian explorers discovered that Aleutians were very skilled sea otter hunters, and the reason for their success was kayaks.
Aleutians were also excellent boat builders. They took the basic kayak design and built different kayaks for various purpose including hunting, fishing, and transportation.
The Aleutians were forcefully made to hunt for the Russians because during those days Otters were a valuable commodity.
Along comes the 1800s
Kayaks were introduced in Europe in the mid-1800s. The popularization of recreational kayaks can be credited to John MacGregor from Britain.
In 1845, he built a series of canoes which was popularly known as “Rob Roy.”
He explored the waters throughout Europe and published a book called “A thousand miles in the Rob Roy canoe,” which was a record of his entire adventure.
The book was a huge success, and kayaks became increasingly popular ever since then.
Kayaks enter the Olympics
In 1924 at the 8th Olympiad which was held in Paris, kayaking was included. Albeit only as a demonstration sport.
It was only in the year 1936, that the kayak race was officially introduced in the Olympic games which took place in Berlin.
The first fiberglass kayaks came into being in the 1950s. This was a game-changer as kayaks made out of fiberglass were lighter and stronger than traditional wooden boats.
Later on, plastic kayaks were introduced in the 1980s, while most modern kayaks are made of Kevlar and other sturdy and light materials.
Even in the modern-day, kayaks are not only used for sports activities. But because of its versatility, they are also used by explorers.
In addition, kayaking has lots of health benefits and is being picked up by many people as a hobby, and as an alternate work out activity.
Are you required to wear a life jacket when kayaking?
- Yes, most states require a PFD but check your local laws.
A life jacket or a Personal Floating Device (PFD) is the most important safety gear which should be worn whenever you go into a lake, pond or sea.
It is not something you should take for granted, as it is your life that’s on the line.
According to the American Canoe Association, about 70 percent of the people who were drowned in accidents involving rafts, kayaks, and canoe, in the past few years occurred because these people were not wearing life jackets.
In spite of all the warnings, some people refuse to wear a life jacket.
In fact, they come up with a lot of excuses. Some reject PFDs by saying that they are excellent swimmers.
There is another group of people who will say that it’s just a small pond and that they will swim ashore if something happens.
If you work in this industry or have been in it, you may have heard people saying these things when they’re given a life jacket.
Some boaters are not aware of these facts, and the dangers involved.
While some are well aware of it, but they still choose to ignore the warnings. If you fit into these categories of people, you need to give it a thought seriously.
Your life is at stake here, why risk it?
PFDs are not something heavy which will spoil your fun. Over the years, the quality of life jackets has improved a lot. Modern PFDs are much lighter, softer and more comfortable.
Why you should wear a life jacket?
Being on the safe side is always a wise thing to do. Regardless of the level of expertise, you have in swimming.
Do not be fooled by the size of a lake or how calm the weather and the water may seem, you never know what might happen.
The weather may suddenly turn violent, and kayak capsizing can happen in split seconds.
If you’re not wearing a life jacket, keeping your head out of the water will be the first thing you will struggle with.
However, it would be a different case if you have your life jacket on. Instead of struggling to resurface, you can go ahead and help others.
You may have seen the professional boat racers wearing all the necessary safety equipment.
There is a good reason why they are always prepared. In a worst-case scenario, medical emergencies like a heart attack, heat stroke, muscle cramp, or even a boat collision, can happen anytime.
Even in such cases, you would be much safer if you have your PFD on you.
How do you unload and launch your kayak?
If you are using a kayak cart, it makes it a lot easier for you to unload your kayak.
If the distance between your vehicle and the water is a substantial distance, consider getting a kayak cart.
Most kayak carts can be easily assembled or disassembled. It works pretty much like a wheelbarrow, so the wheels of the cart carry most of the weight.
Also, it’s easier to load your boat on a cart.
Launching a kayak.
Before you enter the boat, ensure that you have put on your life jacket, and other safety gear.
To make a smooth entry into the water, get your boat to the edge of the water, boat launch or a sloping beach is the ideal place to launch a kayak.
Here, you’ll want to keep your boat afloat, but make sure that it does not float away. Place your paddle across the cockpit perpendicularly and place one of your feet in, be seated and get the other foot in.
Be sure to make use of the paddle to add more stability when making an entry into the cockpit.
Use the paddle to give yourself a little push, and you’ll be ready to start paddling.
Do kayaks have the right of way?
Kayaking on a hot summer day is a lot of fun. If your area is populous, it’s obvious that there would be lots of other people with different types of boats.
Paddling in crowded water has its benefits too. For example, if someone is in trouble, there will be lots of helping hands, but on the other hand ‘the right of way,’ is questioned.
This question has raised a lot of controversial opinions and answers.
Kayaks do have the right of way, but the thing is that it’s not really applicable, or practical in many cases.
It’s because of the fact that kayaks are human-powered; it has the right of way over other bigger vessels powered by sails and engines.
However, it comes down to commonsense, and as stated, the right of way which kayaks have is frequently challenged.
Would you consider it a wise thing if a kayaker decides to exercise his rights by getting in the way of tanker or a cargo ship?
In most cases, favor goes to the larger vessels, because their size constraints them to a particular path.
In other words, they are not designed to take quick and sharp turns. Whereas kayaks have incredible maneuverability, it is the responsibility of the kayakers to stay away from the path of the larger vessels.
That being said, if paddlers are always making way for other vessels, it would be less fun and annoying at the same time.
So, it is a better choice and a lot safer to paddle where larger vessels cannot go.
Also, most large ships follow a certain path in the water, so try to avoid that path.
In addition, it is hard for the big boats to spot a small boat from a distance. Even if a boat or a ship manages to spot one in their way, they wouldn’t have enough time to direct the vessel away.
You cannot always expect others to know the safety rules, or assume that they see you and take necessary action.
Whether you’re in their path or they’re in yours, you should always be aware of your surroundings when kayaking.
The right of way won’t undo the damage if a collision happens.
Don’t block the path for others.
We made the best use of the weather today by kayaking in the nearby Snake River.
The typical launch dock is at Centennial Park and it was starting to get crowded, as pleasant weather Saturdays tend to do.
Launching wasn’t an issue, surprisingly. We happily launched our kayaks into the river and headed for Pillar Falls.
An easy 35-minute paddle to the east.
This is our favorite local kayaking destination because it takes us directly underneath the Perrine Bridge.
The Perrine is the last bridge in the United States where it is legal to base jump from the bridge.
You have to buy a license from the local Visitors Center and you are legally covered.
On fair weather days, you can see as many as twenty jumpers leap from the bridge and land just south of the river banks.
Once passed the bridge, we ported at Pillar Falls… or at least attempted to. Upon arriving at our usual place, there were two empty kayaks sitting right on the water’s edge.
As we paddled around we noticed this had become commonplace for the day. Proper etiquette would be to pull your kayak up off the shoreline to allow for other kayakers to beach and exit.
We ended up pushing by a few kayaks and pulled ours up a good ten feet to make room for others arriving behind us.
I took a picture of the two kayaks sitting abandoned in the middle of the shoreline.
They were still there an hour later when we left Pillar Falls.
Can you kayak anywhere?
Kayaking is one of the most versatile paddle sports which can be enjoyed in lakes, canals, seas, or rivers.
If you’re an experienced kayaker, you can pretty much kayak anywhere. As for the beginners, it is best to choose a calm river or a canal.
In some countries, there may be restrictions in certain places. The rules concerning the use of kayak differ greatly from country to country, and state to state.
In countries like Germany, and most parts of the UK, there is no restriction in most of the rivers, but you may be required to have a license.
Before you head to the waters, it is highly recommended that you do a bit of research on the river or a lake you choose.
There are some rivers which require you to get a pass or a ticket from the authorities.
Whereas in some cases, the river that you choose for kayaking may be affected by some dangerous substances or wastes from manufacturing plants or hydroelectric plants.
Furthermore, there are some lakes which are privately owned, and they may have some kind of restrictions.
So, it is always the best practice to research useful information from the local people or the authority if you’re in a new place.
Can I kayak on canals?
Kayaks are very versatile, and its incredible maneuverability allows the paddlers to navigate through even smaller canals with ease.
But kayaking on canals can be dangerous. So it is advised not to paddle alone, especially if you don’t have much experience.
In some canals, the water moves at a fast pace in a narrow channel, and this is powerful enough to flip over a kayak.
Canal water can be deceiving, it may look calm, but the undercurrent may be flowing really fast.
Canals have spillways, steep slopes, and deep water, and it can be too dangerous for those individuals who cannot swim.
If you plan to paddle your kayak on canals, be sure to check that there are no restrictions or laws which may land you in trouble.
Are kayak considered boats?
- Kayaks are considered boats in many countries.
To support this answer, let us take a look at different definitions of a boat. According to Wikipedia, “A boat is a watercraft of a large range of type and size.”
While Oxford Dictionary defines boat as “a vehicle (smaller than a ship) that travels on water, moved by oars, sails or a motor.”
So, we can say that a kayak is a boat.
Again, the question arises, what is the difference between a boat and a ship?
To answer this in simple terms – a boat is a small watercraft that can be carried by ship, whereas a ship cannot be carried by boat.
Did you know that all submarines are boats according to the Navy?
What are the three golden rules of kayaking?
- Utilizing the torso rotation to get the upper core muscles to aid the arm with each stroke.
- Mastering the power position for an improved paddling and prevent shoulder injuries.
- Being physically and mentally prepared in case of a capsize.
Those golden rules are meant to provide you with an efficient kayaking experience and provide you safety.
Conclusion.
These are all that you need to know about kayaking, and its rules and etiquette.
As a beginner, make sure that you seek the help of an expert.
As a general rule, avoid kayaking alone, and don’t forget your life jacket.
Oh, and move your kayak out of everyone else’s way when you port somewhere popular.
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Happy Paddling!