How to stay safe in your canoe

As with all watersports activities, you need good swimming skills as a basis to be safe in a canoe or kayak. In addition, paddlers should always wear a suitable life jacket with adequat buoancy when going on the water. Training courses for beginners and advanced paddlers are available to acquire basic boathandling skills. Whether beginner or advanced, it is always more fun to go in a group - and it is also a lot safer in case you run into any kind of trouble on the way.

Life belts & helmets

The specialist exhibitors in the World of Paddling at boot Düsseldorf offer a wide range of life belts for the special safety requirements in canoeing, kayking or rafting. Many of these have clever, additional features like small pockets, straps and hooks which allow the paddler to have all he needs on the way within easy reach. In addition, those who want to explore wild waters, like mountain streams, should protect themselves with a suitable helmet and carry a portable bilge pump, which comes in handy not just after capsizing.

Paddlefloats
Paddle floats are entry aids to get back into the canoe from the side after capsizing. After capsizing, the  floats are placed on the paddle blade and inflated. Thus, the paddle can be used as an outrigger to stabilze the canoe. Two loops are provided for securing the paddles. A large additional drain valve ensures fast air discharge after use. The floats can also be attached to the paddle shaft with a Velcro strip.

General codes of conduct
For any kind of leisure activities on, in or under water, there are some basic rules that should generally be observed. Whoever spends their spare time anywhere near the water, should for their own safety always be able to swim safely as well as know and respect their own limits. Also, always leave a note with someone on shore about your planned trip, where you are heading and when you plan to be back. Wearing a suitable life jacket should be a matter of course for all boaters, whether sailors, motorboaters or canoeists, stand up paddler, kiters or anglers. For their own good and as a role model for young people, who are often rather hostile to this type of security measure.

Autor: Tom Stender