What to Do If Your Kayak Flips Over
Kayaking offers a mix of fun, fitness and interacting with nature. Still, you should always be ready for surprises, such as your kayak capsizing. Follow these steps so you’ll know what to do if your kayak flips:
Stay calm. Don’t lose control because freaking out can make things worse. Remember, kayaks are made to allow you to flip them back over.
Check yourself for injuries. Before you flip your kayak back over, make sure you haven’t been hurt. If you have, try to wave for someone to help you.
Hold on to your paddle. Try to leash your paddle to the kayak or just keep it in your hand. Without your paddle, it will be more difficult to fix the problem.
Flip the kayak back upright. When you’re dealing with a sit-on-top kayak, turn it over by flipping it with your paddle. If your kayak has a cockpit, you might need to work harder to flip it – a paddle float can help you do that.
Get out in the water (if needed). If you’re in a kayak that has a covered cockpit and a spray skirt, you’ll have to make a wet exit by pulling the loop of the spray skirt and pushing your way out of the cockpit.
Climb back into the kayak. After you’ve flipped your kayak upright, you’ll have to get back inside. If it’s a sit-on-top kayak, you can just hoist yourself over the edge. Getting back into one that has a cockpit can be more tricky and you might need a paddle float to help.
Remove water from your kayak. Use a bilge pump or just your hands to get rid of water in your kayak before you start paddling again.
Look over your situation. After you get back into your kayak, stop to look everything over. Make sure your kayak isn’t damaged and that it’s safe to keep going.
Call for help if necessary. If you can’t get back onto your kayak or you’re hurt, you need to call for help. Blow a whistle, use a signal mirror or a waterproof VHF radio to get someone’s attention.
Get to know how to save yourself. The best way to prepare yourself for a flip-over is to learn how to save yourself once you’re in a safe place. You might try taking a class where you can practise safety skills.
Always be prepared and practise how to deal with a flipped kayak so you can be prepared. Never go kayaking by yourself and always wear a life jacket. If you know what to do if your kayak flips and stay calm, you should be able to handle a bad flip and continue having fun on the water.
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