The following information comes from Paul Barnard, from US Coast Guard Heartland. Paul is a Recreational Boating Safety Specialist for the Coast Guard’s Eighth District. He wrote the following article. Included is part one of two.
The Florida Panhandle is part of my territory. The recent kayak capsizing off the Panhandle has a lot of people thinking about and discussing safety. For what it’s worth, I am also an avid kayak fisher.
Let me take a moment to share a few thoughts with you. Wear a life jacket. I prefer an inherently bouyant PFD for big water. Everyone should expect to capsize or go overboard at some point. Everyone should practice self-rescue (capsize/re-right/reientry ) in a safe environment with a buddy or two present. Do this in the gear that you will wear while fishing. It’s very different doing this with layered wet winter clothing.
Use the buddy system.
Have reliable means of communication. Cell phones should be kept in a waterproof pouch in a PFD pocket. I have layers of communication when I operate on big water or remote water. A PLB fits nicely in a PFD pocket or clipped to a belt. Some PFDs even have handheld VHF radio pockets.
When you capsize, you only have what you have on you or what you have access to. I carry an emergency ditch kit that stays out on deck in a floating waterproof bag or box.
File a float plan with a pic of your kayak. A float plan will tell where you are launching, where you intend to go, how long you anticipate being gone, who is with you and what kind of gear you’ll have on board.
Thanks to Sherrie, we will always remember safe boating is no accident. Check back next week for part two!
Thanks to Sherrie, we will always remember safe boating is no accident!
If you would like to learn more about vessel safety checks, please contact Steve Hults, Staff Officer for Vessel Examinations at steve.hults@uscgaux.net.
Please contact us for more information about our safe boating classes or learning more about getting involved in the Auxiliary, check out our website at www.uscgaux.net follow us on FaceBook @ Apalachee Bay Flotilla 12 or contact our Flotilla Commander Phil Hill at pnkkhill2000@yahoo.com.
Please contact us to learn more about getting involved in the Auxiliary, check out our website at www.uscgaux.net follow us on FaceBook @ Apalachee Bay Flotilla 12 or contact our Flotilla Commander Phil Hill at pnkkhill2000@yahoo.com
The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas. The Auxiliary was created by Congress in 1939. For more information, please visit www.cgaux.org.
