How to Avoid Flipping Your Kayak | How to Kayak

In this video, we talk about how NOT to flip your kayak - whether you're a beginner kayaker who wants to avoid flipping, or an experienced kayaker looking for some tips on how to avoid flipping when paddling in rougher conditions.

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[PappaMike-vcqv]

Paddling is what we do between involuntary swimming sessions. Your point about bracing versus rolling is right on. As we become elderly paddlers, maintaining enough flexibility to roll is tough and rolling frequently flairs the arthritis in my back and neck. So, well done.

[tombowater]

Just bought my first Kayak and these videos have been a huge reason why i finally pulled the trigger on starting my paddling journey. Thanks Ken. Tom in the U.K

[PHSeaKayaks]

Your opening statement is so very true - we've lost count of the number of people who've expressed a fear of capsizing to us, and we know we had those same feelings ourselves when starting out too. Your video is perfect for giving people the tools and knowledge they need to ease those worries and get out there! Glad you saved those snazzy sunglasses, too! haha.

[DAODEA]

So.… “loose hips saves ships?” 😂
my wife and I were watching the video and she just came out with that!
Love your videos

[dannyroberts]

Another great video Ken. My kayak of choice to paddle 90 percent of the time is my cedar strip Guillemot Single touring kayak. I built it about 21 yrs ago. It is 21" wide and 17' long. Anytime I teach a new person how to paddle I show them on dry land how to get in and out . Then I teach them how to rock their hips side to side while keeping their torso upright . I stand in the water beside them for safety. Then I have them flip the kayak and make a wet exit. Usually any fear they have of flipping is gone within minutes. I find most people's fear is turning turtle and getting trapped in the kayak and drowning. I always have on my PFD and require anyone with me to wear theirs also . Most of my paddling is done on lakes or mild rivers not white water. I have only flipped unintentionally once in 29 yrs of kayaking because I stay fluid or limber in my kayak. I have paddled in the ocean with waves over six feet and even had my kayak mostly under water at one time. I have never feared for my life. This is why I love your videos so much. You point out the dangers but back it up with good sound techniques and defuse unnecessary fears. I believe like you that allot of people miss out because of misguided fear of the unknown. I believe most people are at allot higher risk just driving to work and home everyday. Thanks again Ken.

[scottpratt]

flipped over today in a sit on top kayak and realize how many mistakes I made. I never heard these tips either before and I plan to use them next time. Good content.

[tykematlack]

My husband and I just purchased two Sea Eagle 393RL’s and I love any kind of boating, paddling, rowing etc. On our first journey into our nearby lake I was about 50 ft offshore when I heard splash, there was my husband flipped over in one foot of water. I couldn’t stop laughing, although I felt for him. He’s not a boater and will be 80 this summer. He was a good sport about it though. We’re looking forward to lots of kayaking this summer, not in whitewater though. Ken we watch lots and lots of your videos and you’re so interesting and fun too. Keep them going and keep smiling, we love you!!! Tyke and Fred from outside St. Louis, Mo

[yakinsea]

Long time Oregon coastal paddler here. Super clear instruction, though I have a small difference in perspective. Keeping one's head centered - critically important. But I view the braces to be fluid and incorporated into other strokes, mostly the forward stroke and done early, before one is already half over. I am a high cadence paddler and my go to technique is to use the back end of the forward stroke to blend into a low brace by simply rotating the blade a bit to flatten it on the surface by delaying the exit, which with forward momentum gives enough support to put my entire weight onto the blade, if desired. Using this technique I have a brace available every half second or so and use it before I actually need it in most cases.

If I need more, then I use the same technique but cut my stroke short and slap the water, same motion, just done early and forcefully. Also, a hard plant gives decent support without delaying my propulsion, as in catching a wind wave when even a quick brace means missing the wave. Learning to use an aggressive plant when wobbling a bit in my surfski has helped tremendously.

There are times when one needs a straight up classic brace, such as in surf, but I much prefer using half measures early and often, if needed, in a continuum between no brace and full on serious brace.

[Fishaholicboy]

I’m so happy that the videos are coming out every two days recently!

[earlmcivor]

I just finished my first level sea kayaking class and you summed up a lot of what we covered. Now I’m hooked and want more! Great content!

[mikeellisonhimself]

Great explanation of the brace 👍. I'm going to practice that as a paddle skill. I'm conscious that I'm fine straight-up paddling and using canoe strokes but apart from that I tend to keep my paddle out of the water because I'm nervous about accidentally unbalancing myself.

[jlafayet]

The bracing stroke is such a complex and bewildering set of motions that all need to fire off in a prescribed sequence and it’s hard to make sense of how it even works, but this video describes it perfectly, creating that light bulb moment for the rest of us without the need to do 50 rolls beforehand. Thanks for the fantastic tutorial!

[deaninchina]

Tight hips sink ships!!

I learnt to brace mostly by being on the sea and trying to paddle fast to catch waves. Often got a bit unstable and bracing sort of came as part of it. Agree that learning to roll makes it a lot easier, and it will make you totally unafraid of actually going in. You will be able to try to see how far you can go and still use a brace to stop rolling completely.

Often the best way to keep the boat stable is to keep paddling, each time you put the blade in it is giving you some support. If you stop paddling then you have nothing other than your core strength to try to keep the boat upright.

[just-dl]

my 'yak is narrow enough I can roll to the side (decent secondary), and slap that rascal to bounce back up. I'm not doing it right, but, I find that the logic of what you said in this video is very relatable, because I've pushed myself back up a handful of times, keeping head up at 90* is key (true on motorcycles, too), and movin' them hips is one of the best things I've found to stop floundering, and right myself. However, one thing I've noticed that's maybe different, or just a different way of experiencing the same thing...not sure, yet. But, lets say I'm listing to starboard... you mentioned "pulling" up with the lower ("starboard" in this case) leg; I find that slamming my hips the opposite way helps...in a sense, i'm shoving my kayak under my leaning upper body. I *think* I'm pulling up with my right leg, as I'm shoving my body+kayak with my left hip in opposite directions. Twisting in a sense. I hope no one walks in right now, I'm trying to test the motion in an office chair...."No sir, I'm fine...I don't need medical assistance, I was just practicing a kayak maneuver....No sir, there's not much water in the server room. Yes, sir, that's a good thing...." Yeah, I'll wait til I get home....

[jenniferlauck]

Hilarious facial expressions, Ken! Laughed out loud many times. Silly...and smart. Great tips too.

[maryhenry]

Ken’s teaching of techniques is always so clear and helpful. Another good paddle technique that I use, both when pausing for a mid-lake break and especially when climbing out of my kayak in shallow water, is to really extend my paddle far out to the side, keeping it shallow like a pontoon, holding it with one hand. Just remember to look at the paddle, as in Ken ‘s low brace demo. When pausing mid-lake I extend my paddle from a position in front of me; when exiting my kayak, I extend it from a position behind me, again using one hand to hold. Especially important to keep eyes on the pontoon paddle when exiting.

[yjjk]

I love watching these just for Ken's expressions!

Finally got my new Itiwit X500 on the water last week, and had to resort to the brace a couple of times. If anything, I think my hips are reacting too strongly to the boat leaning; I found myself snapping the boat left, right, left, making it worse until I consciously stopped moving. It's going to take some getting used to after the Intex Challenger and its flat bottom. And I know I'm going in the drink at some point... but some good tips here to put that day off a little longer.

[FrankLadd]

Great video! I'm guessing that you learned to roll first with the C to C roll. The whole slapping the water idea for bracing may come from that. I usually need a brace most when I'm on a wave and another wave messes that wave up. I think because I learned sweeping braces from Greenland paddling I use them all the time. So for a low brace I sweep forward and for a high brace I sweep back. And some times when the wave is really too big I stay swept back laying in the water until things are more reasonable and then I sweep up to get upright again. Mind you I'm not very good at this so swims in the surf are part of the day. Thanks!

[soihavetoplay]

Fantastic tips, I am going to the lake and start practicing until it becomes a fun and I lose all fear. Cheers!

[margaritakuilan]

Hello!!! I am a beginner kayaker planning to take a lesson but I’ve done tandem with hubby even though I was so scared!!!! I am a non swimmer but I really enjoy kayaking!!! Can’t wait to learn more!!