Before You Go – An Outline of Considerations Before You Go On the Water

Paddling in the Northeastern America’s (New England and Canadian Maritimes) is a sea kayaker’s paradise. Thousands of islands, an intricate coastline and four ecosystems offer us the chance to turn our adventuring dreams into reality – if we are responsible. We can experience lighthouses, pelagic birds, marine mammals, remote islands and wild pocket beaches if we plan, prepare and paddle as Darwin would advise. We are captains of our ship, both legally and morally. We are responsible for ourselves, even when traveling with skilled paddlers. We are responsible for our impact on the islands, and the rural communities we travel through. Are you prepared? All planning and preparation enhance your day on the water.

The following tips and ideas are not meant to be a complete and total statement on the elements of a good trip. Successful expeditioning, whether for a month or a day, results from the sum of our life experiences. If you have reasonable questions about your preparations…do more. Regardless, do prepare.

Competent, coastal kayakers’ know that their Judgment, Knowledge, Experience and Skills determines their readiness to prepare an appropriate route based on the three big variables, Environment, Equipment and People. This is Seamanship, the selection of an appropriate course for your vessel with due regard for your crew, weather and sea states.

So be realistic, be serious and remember it’s about fun … all of this is possible.

Preparation and Planning

 

Analyze the Group. Know your groups’ physical skills, emotional and medical limitations, paddling abilities and personal expectations.

Chart Realistic Routes. Determine routes appropriate for your group’s abilities and interests considering commitment, safety and exposure to the sea and the weather. Choose several routes for your groups’ realistic experience and abilities, while leaving safety margins appropriate for that particular journey. For more info see Trip Planning, and The Float Plan.

Resources. Use resources including navigational charts, topo maps, cruising guides etc to identify possible problem or danger areas, emergency evacuation options, safer alternatives and key decision points. Resources.

Access. Research parking, put-in and take-out options, and determine public and private coastlines and islands, so you can land without being hassled or challenged.

Landings. Be clear what coastlands are open or restricted accesses, bird nesting islands, seal haul-outs, wildlife restrictions, and traditional local use areas or have other reasons to be avoided in order to finesse your landing options. Identify possible emergency landings for each leg, if any.

LNT. Layer in appropriate LNT policies to your intended journey’s launchings and landings. See Leave No Trace In Maine, Environmental Ethics.

Contacts. Write out in a waterproof format emergency phone numbers, relevant VHF channels, local marinas, search and rescue personnel, sheriffs, emergency rooms, poison control, bird and marine mammal rescue organizations. For more info see Emergency and Planning Phone Numbers, and The Float Plan.

Communication. Determine best methods of communication and pinpoint low-receptivity zones. For more info see Communications, Emergency Radio Calls.

Reprovisioning. Figure possible fresh water re-watering spots, grocery options and relevant landings for rest, re-provisioning and camping.

Forecasts. Listen to, download, and study relevant marine, offshore and land forecasts for your area to determine the range of weather and sea states you may encounter. For more info consider taking our Ocean School On-Line Weather Course, or see our suggested daily minimum forecast analysis, The Weather Board and our Trip Planning Materials for the area you are considering paddling.

 

Weather and Sea States. Know the anticipated water temp, air temp, tide and current statistics, dew point, wave height and period, and anticipated wind speeds and direction for each leg of your journey (and be ready to adjust the timing or route for actual conditions experienced). For more info consider taking our Ocean School On-Line Weather Course, or see our Weather Board and our Trip Planning Materials for the area you are considering paddling.

Leadership and Decision-making. Discuss and agree on your groups’ personnel, methods and model for decision-making. All paddlers should know of the danger areas or zones where critical crux moves and possible turn-around points may change the float plan. Determine leadership with relation to particular tasks. For more info see Leadership, Who’s In Charge?

 

Equipment. Test all gear and practice packing into the actual boats – what is packed where? What do you need daily access to? Plan for needed visibility, communications, landings, re-supplies, launchings. Do you have compass (es) even if you have a GPS? Food and water? Visual Distress signals? Sound signals? Clothing appropriate for the water? For more info at least consider our Lists on Equipment, Repair and First Aid.

Float Plan. Prepare one. Leave with a trustworthy individual and maybe on dash of your car, if its in a public area. For more info see our suggested Float Plans.

Before Your Launch

 

Paddling Skills. If you haven’t previously determined the following (oh oh!) develop a realistic portrait of each group members’ skills and comfort  - their stroke ability, bracing,  rescue techniques and their application to the anticipated conditions. Basic Assessments.

 

Possible Courses. Be certain all paddlers know the intended route, the options, included danger and safety spots, crux decision/bailout points, possible rest spots, campsites, distances of each leg, contingency plans, safe landings? Navigation.

 

Safety Practices. What problems are anticipated? Who can handle which problem? What are the communication options between the group and with outsiders that will work in the anticipated conditions? Consider what on-water patterns may be required in relation to the landscape, and the groups’ ability to conform. Scenarios, Communications, On Water Patterns.

 

Emergencies and Rescues. Do members know what to do in various emergency or rescue options? How do you handle a lost person, on land? on the water? – what do you do when? Can you perform rescues in the conditions you are planning to paddle in? How many are geared and trained to perform effective tows? Emergency and Safety Planning, Rescues, Towing.

 

Leadership. What method of decision-making works for your group? How will daily route decisions be made? Is someone in change in a true emergency? Will the group accept forceful leadership in a true emergency? Who can be counted on for what? Leadership, Who’s In Charge.

 

Sea State and Landforms. Everyone should know basics of anticipated tides and currents. Leaders should anticipate effect of the sea floor and landforms on the wave and swell shape, the changes due to tidal currents and possible landings within these changes. Wind and Waves and the Effects of Landforms, Tides and Currents,

 

Outfitting. Are chosen boats and gear a match for the conditions? Determine each paddler’s available safety gear. Who can effectively use which tools? Determine seaworthiness of each boat and paddler. Are you happy with the groups’ bulkheads or airbags? Who can rescue that boat in the anticipated conditions? Kayak Design, Safety Equipment.

 

Chart Work. Are planned legs and anticipated conditions available and acceptable for all? What are transit times per leg? Headings? Decision points? Options? Safety zones? Exposure areas? Are you able to start off gently while group loosens up and checks itself out? Navigation, Charts and Compasses.

Launching and Landing. Do all paddlers have the skills to launch and land in anticipated conditions? Are boats safely packed, trimmed and sealed up carefully. Launchings and Landings.

 

While On the Water.

Position on the Water. Plan to cross navigational roads appropriately. Understand the basic Rules of the Road. Choose an applicable group pattern for various obstacles, going around points, crossing a channel, running a tidal race. Be ready for rescues and emergencies. Route Selection. 

 

Communications. Pre-determine communication methods and signals when voices don’t work. Know how to use your VHF marine radio, paddle signals, hand signals, whistles, fog horns. Communications.

 

Navigational Charts. With info from your Pilot, Cruising Guide, other Aids to Navigation, are you comfortable with your Chart and Compass to avoid danger areas and determine rescue options. Be able to superimpose the real world weather and sea state onto your route on the charts.

 

Equipment. Know what tools are available from the cockpit? What works when? Does the on-water journey require special outfitting? Loading the Kayak, What Goes Where?

 

Weather. Know what the wind is going to do to the waves, what size and from what direction they’ll arrive. Understand probable effects of approaching weather. Be able to read the clouds and wind direction shifts. Know about and watch for approaching fronts. Will fog or thunderheads be an issue? Weather.

Sea State. Understand how waves and swells may change in respect to landforms and the tidal depth. Know how waves build in force. Anticipate reflecting and refracting conditions. Anticipate distances off to be in or avoid various conditions. Wind and Waves & the Effects of Landforms.

 

Safety Areas. Each trip leg should optimally begin and end in an area of less exposure, a more protected spot, so your group can evaluate its ability to move on. Route Selection.

 

The Plan and its Alternatives. Remember that Destination Disease can be fatal. Be realistic about using your planned turn-around and crux spots to maintain the overall group purpose and safety. Don’t be afraid to halt the trip and head into safety. Remember that paddlers tire more quickly later in the day when winds are often higher.

 

Hypothermia. Lower body temperature arises from the three factors of cold, wind and wet. If your route plan eliminates 2 of the 3, your group will probably avoid this constant companion to paddling in the Northern latitudes. Hydration and quick sugar foods keep the furnace cooking. Hypothermia.

Medical Needs. Since you already should know your group’s medical variables, you need to be attentive to changes displayed in one’s actions and personality. You should be useful in dealing with sea sickness, hypo and hyperthermia, blisters, sunburn, blood sugar, cuts, torn muscles, tired minds. Marine Medicine.

 

Landings. Remember that many coastlines are private or restricted access due to ownership, bird or mammal breeding. Be clear of your options. Only if it’s an emergency should you land where you lack permission. Access.

 

Island Ethics. Your journey will be more rewarding if you are sensitive to the nuances of the coast and islands you are traveling through. Is the island appropriate for landing? For overnighting? Are there seasonal restrictions due to bird nesting, seal haul-outs or flowering vegetation? Have you considered the impact on the thousands of critters under your feet between the tide lines? Do you appreciate that rocks without lichens or short grasses may be better to sit on than pine needles or delicate ferns? Environmental Ethics.

 

Tune in to your day and try to make it your finest.

 

Good Journeys,

Tom and June
Maine Island Kayak Co

“There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going.”  Anonymous