Top 5 Kayaking Mistakes | Don't Learn these Lessons the Hard Way!

Everyone makes mistakes when learning how to kayak. In this video we talk about the top 5 mistakes that new kayakers make, and how to avoid making them!

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0:00 Introduction
0:30 Upside Down Paddle
2:04 Drip Rings
2:46 Not Prepared to Flip
3:38 Dressed for immersion
5:15 Use a dry bag
5:47 Don't Wear Flip Flops
8:29 Getting Back On the Kayak
10:03 Bridging Your Kayak

[ryancooper]

Great video. A fantastic follow up would be another 5 mistakes but aimed at more experienced paddlers. Maybe something like: "5 Bad Habits Self-taught Paddlers Often Develop"

[margaretmathis]

Novice paddler here. Sometimes the best lessons are learned from experience! Recently went on a guided river tour. My footwear of choice was a pair of water sandals (not flip flops). They were OK, until I flipped and had to get back in the kayak. As an older and less fit lady……I chose to swim to shore and reenter from land. There was mud. Lots of deep mud! I learned about the suction mud has on a flat sandal bottom when you try to pull your foot up! While trying to make my legs and feet work to get my butt back in the cockpit, my feet were STUCK! I felt so incompetent, as the tour guide kept telling me WHAT to do, but I was physically unable to do it! Lesson learned.

[dannyroberts]

On a very sad note Ken Id like to thank you for this video. I say that because in April of 2023 a father and son went kayaking on a local lake in my area. They left in kayaks late morning but did not return by late afternoon. The wife called local authorities and a search took place. The news report said they were wearing blue jeans and or sweats and a winter jacket. Both kayaks had been found by the next day. When asked if they were wearing life jackets, no one knew. My biggest fear was no they were not. The search took place on land and water. That area of the lake they went missing on was deep up to 180 foot. Both bodies were not recovered for 24 days. I did not know these two men but my deepest sympathy goes out to their family.

I have paddled this lake many times with both my kids over the past 22 years living near by. I don't know if they actually drowned or surcumed to hypothermia. We may never know. When they had not been found by day two my biggest fear was that they had sunk to the bottom of the lake. Our local search and rescue teams, law enforcement and out of state teams did their best. In the end it was tragic for the family no matter what. I say all this because my sister lost a 16 yr old son to drowning. They didn't find him for 3 days and that was the worst three days of her life. This is why wearing a PFD is so important. You are more visible if you are on the surface of the water than you are at the bottom. These are the things I think about before I go out on the water everytime.
I am not passing judgement on anyone here. About thirty years ago when I first started kayaking I had a very similar experience happen to me. It was my first time kayaking in cold weather. Middle of December, snowing and winds around 5 miles an hour and gust of up to ten. I was about 350 yards from either shore line when tragedy struck. I was watching a bald eagle glide inches above the water less than 40 yards in front of me. I laid my paddle down across my cockpit to grab my camera. I was still in motion and the water cought one of the blades. It started rolling toward me. I dropped my camera and grabbed the shaft of the paddle. When I did this I took a death grip on it and in two seconds I was upside down in the water. I did not know how to get back in or even role it back upright. I did have on a PFD but I was wearing blue jeans, thermal underwear, a sweat shirt and a winter jacket. I was also wearing tennis shoes and regular socks. I had to make a wet exit and tried to get back in my kayak on several attempts without success. I finally made the choice to swim to shore with kayak in tow. The wind was fighting me all the way. I was all alone not even another boater in sight. I decided to ditch my life vest and kayak then swam as fast as possible to shore with my dry bag. I started my truck to let it warm up and I ran laps around it until I warmed up a bit. I then stripped down to my underwear and swam back out to retrieve my kayak. I swam back to shore got in my car to warm up . I dried off with my towel then loaded up my boat and drove home in my skivvies .
Yes I made it out alive but I very easily could have surcumed to hypothermia . I made allot of mistakes that day but lived to tell about it. After that day I bought a spare paddle, paddle float and propper cold water paddling cloths. I also learned several self rescues techniques including rolling. I had not even told my girlfriend were I was going paddling at. I always let her know know we're I'm going and a time frame of my return. She has been my wife now for 27 yrs and both my children are avid kayakers. My daughter is now 25 and my son is 22. I have pushed safety harder than anything but I was young and hard headed back then and learned the hard way. Like I said earlier in this story, I am not judging anyone just pointing out how important these tips you gave are . Both for the kayaker and your family to prevent tragedy or to aid in recovery if tragedy should strike.
P.S. Thank you again Ken for this video you are able to reach such a huge platform, more than I ever could.

[mtslyh]

"Wear the life jacket". Amen! Seems like every time I turn around I read about some kayaker drowning somewhere in the US because they had a jacket in their kayak but they weren't wearing it. The latest story was a guy in an inflatable kayak on a lake. He tipped and the wind blew his kayak (and his vest) away from him clear across the lake. People nearby watched him go under and never come back up. Flipping in a calm lake should NOT have been a life ending event for this man. Wear the damn jacket folks!

[kazeryu]

Nice tips. One I can think of would be to get a good pair of polarized sun glasses, so you can avoid running into a sand bar, rocks, ect. They really do make a difference, and allow you to see through the surface glair.

[lonnierussell]

Just one note about when you are entering or getting out of your kayak with it pulled up parallel to the shore, do not let the hull rest on the bottom below the hull, my son caused a crack in his roto-molded kayak doing this. When he put his foot in the kayak and transferred his weight to it the hull was sitting on some rocks, oyster shells or some other type of debris and it caused his hull to develope a crack. So when you enter or leave your kayak from shore - go ahead and get your feet a little wet and push it out so it floats a bit when you get in, or when you get out stop a few feet from shore and get out and drag your kayak to shore, thus eleminating the chance of cracking the hull. oh yeah! this applies to canoes also.

[KreeH]

Regarding clothing and shoes, I think it would be a good idea to choose with swimming and being submersed in the water in mind. Some clothes/shoes combinations can be very different and difficult to move/swim in when wet. Loose fitting, heavy fabric, and cotton come to mind. Also practice exiting and getting back into your kayak wearing the same clothes and footwear that you would be normally wearing during your kayaking adventures.

[dalenees]

Here in Florida even the novice gets back in their kayak quickly with LOTS of alligators around.

[annemaryschaefer]

Great tips. Thanks for the video, I appreciate you helping folks kayak comfortably, and trying to help us not look like a doofus!

[mosulmedic]

Ive paddled for years. I always used the drip rings for reference points. I'm definitely guilty and learned something good today!

[optimus]

Per kayak initial entry : I orient my Pungo 90 degs to shore if at a beach or nicely sloped launch. I then straddle my legs over each side of hull at the seat and slip my butt in. No issues with rocking back n forth and it makes for an immediate launch straight out. I never step in because it puts too much pressure in one concentrated spot and eventually could cause oil canning. Never had issues with that 'bridging' thing, Roto Molded kayaks are pretty strong along their keel

[FullaTeeth]

Thanks for the instructions, my kayak is arriving in the mail soon so we will be in touch.

[amosliburdamosliburd]

I enjoyed the paddling safety course. Learned some new bits.

[BlackFastback]

that last bit about getting into the kayak from shore is even more crucial for the various types of "portable" kayaks which tend to be more flexible and would be unevenly supported.

[rtshaffer]

Went out on my second kayak excursion. Won't say my form was perfect (far from it) but I was very conscientious about not keeping my paddle upside down! Didn't want to be too doofusy! 🤣🤪

[johnstewart]

Nantahala river is always 45°. Dress appropriately even if the air temp is 80. Safe paddling.

[dg]

I have a short sleeve splash top in cooler water with warm weather. Works well even when I swim. I also have canyoneering shoes and they are awesome.

[AlasCon]

Love your videos, and thanks for informing us about the ACA safety course. Just did that one, bit hokey but informative and very useful nonetheless. Listed you in the post-course eval asking how I found out about it: figured it'd be good for them to know.

[KMLifeadventure]

Yes I seen many people do the same things you mentioned. Good video cheers

[OldNavajoTricks]

I was thinking of using an old pair of rock climbers for my feet, laced looser than I would to climb in ofc but they'll dry quick enough.