PFD: Personal Floatation Device
Safety is super important when kayaking or canoeing. A big factor to consider in the Adirondacks is the time of year you are paddling in. During the spring and fall the air temperature and water temperature can be drastically different.
“You can have a beautiful 70-degree day and the water could be 38 degrees,” says Jason Smith from ADK Lake and Trails in Saranac Lake.
Exposure time is very limited if you capsize in the fall or spring. Dress for the water temp not the air temp. Before going on an excursion, think, how am I prepared to deal with any situation? Consider wearing a wet or dry suit in fall and spring and ALWAYS wear a PFD.
Safety items to bring kayaking
- PFD
- helmet (Whitewater)
- towline
- float bags
- air horn or whistle(recreational)
Safety items to have in your canoe
- PFD/Life jackets
- Spare paddle
- throw line
- water pump
- air horn
Leave a Reply