Paddling and heat stress
In August 2011, I went on a kayak trip with Tampa Bay Sea Kayakers. We launched in the morning at Sunset Beach in Tarpon Springs. …
Vessel safety checks and National Safe Boating Week
For years, I have been presenting recreational boating safety programs to boating, sailing and paddling clubs during meetings, symposia, picnics, training, on-water trips and other …
Transporting and launching
Most paddlecraft average 6 to 20 feet in length and weigh 20 to 100 pounds. They can usually be handled by one person—or two for …
Night paddling
Night paddling can be fun, but it’s important to be prepared when paddling in darkness. Many paddlers enjoy the beauty and peace of moonlight paddling. …
Should paddlers take a boating safety course?
Early on March 26, 2024, the container ship Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing the catastrophic collapse of the bridge and …
Paddling rivers and creeks
Paddling inland rivers and creeks can be fun as it offers changing scenery in a more protected environment than open water, and the current can …
Paddlers and vessel exclusion zones
While exploring a mangrove estuary, a group of kayakers came upon a waterway marked with a buoy at the entrance. The white buoy had an …
Paddlecraft rescue and towing
In The Ensign Spring 2022, I discussed capsize recovery and stressed how important it is for a paddler to hold onto the boat during a …
Paddlecraft vessel safety checks
As an experienced paddler and vessel examiner, I know that many paddlers don’t see themselves as boaters and rarely take boating safety courses. Paddle sports …
Cold water paddling
Water temperatures start to drop as we head into fall and winter. While paddling in cooler climes can be a lot of fun, paddlers need …
Life jackets for paddlers
A life jacket, or personal flotation device, is the most important personal safety device for boaters, and all mariners should wear one while on the …
Capsize Recovery
Paddlers new to the sport or those occasionally renting a boat are focused on all the fun they will have exploring rivers, lakes, or the …