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 two 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…
Our pedal drive systems are very reliable, but we should have tools to tighten parts of our fin drive or parts of our pedal drive like the cranks or the pedals. I know most of us with pedal drives take a paddle, but padding a heavily laden large pedal yak is a challenge even in good conditions. Paddle yakkers should have a back-up paddle.
Watch the weather. Look up the MARINE weather forecast and the real-time National Data Buoy Center conditions. Check the weather radar before and during the trip.
Choose the right kayak for the job. A big box store open cockpit sit inside kayak like the one involved in this incident is the wrong kayak for big water fishing. Closed hull sit on top kayaks are the best choice for offshore and big water angling. While few kayakers choose open cockpit, bulkheaded, purpose-built touring and surf kayaks with foam and or flotation, they are sea worthy enough for the task.
Prepare not for where you intend to be, but for where the forces of nature may place you when things go wrong. You may be planning on fishing the outer bar, but if things go wrong, you may find yourself much further offshore.
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.
