What To Do If Kayak Flips [Answered]

Kayak Flips What to Do

> A kayak flipping over is an unnerving experience, but it’s important to stay calm and follow these steps to get back upright and safely to shore.

So, What To Do If Kayak Flips?

If your kayak flips, stay calm.

Don’t panic.
Grab onto the kayak and right it.
If you can’t right it, stay in the kayak and float.
Signal for help.

What To Do If Kayak Flips

Stay Calm

The first thing you need to do if your kayak flips is stay calm. Panicking will only make things worse. Take a deep breath and assess the situation.

Get Out of the Water

If you’re still in the water, the next step is to get out as quickly as possible. If you can, swim to the nearest shore or boat. If you can’t swim, try to flip your kayak over and climb back in.

Check for Injuries

Once you’re out of the water, check yourself for injuries. If you have any, treat them as best you can. If you’re seriously injured, call for help.

Flip Your Kayak Back Over

If your kayak is still floating, you can try to flip it back over. To do this, grab the bow of the kayak and pull it up until it’s vertical. Then, step on the stern of the kayak and push down until it flips over.

Get Back in Your Kayak

Once your kayak is flipped back over, you can get back in. To do this, step on the stern of the kayak and sit down. Then, grab the sides of the kayak and pull yourself in.

Continue Paddling

Once you’re back in your kayak, continue paddling to your destination. If you’re tired, take a break and rest. If you’re cold, put on a dry layer of clothing.

Preventing Kayak Flips

There are a few things you can do to prevent your kayak from flipping.

Wear a life jacket:
A life jacket will help you stay afloat if you fall out of your kayak.

Paddle in calm water:
Avoid paddling in rough water, as this increases your chances of flipping.

Paddle in a straight line:
Paddling in a straight line will help you maintain your balance.

Don’t over-paddle:
Paddling too hard can cause you to lose your balance.

Be aware of your surroundings:
Be aware of other boats, swimmers, and obstacles in the water.

Also Read This: What To Look For In A Kayak

FAQs

What should I do if my kayak flips?

Stay calm: The most important thing is to stay calm and not panic. If you panic, you will make it more difficult to get back into your kayak.

Roll your kayak back over: If your kayak is a sit-in kayak, you can try to roll it back over by using your paddle. To do this, place your paddle in the water in front of you and use it to push down on the kayak. Once the kayak is upside down, use your paddle to push down on the opposite side of the kayak to roll it back over. If your kayak is a sit-on-top kayak, you can try to roll it back over by using your arms and legs. To do this, place your hands on the sides of the kayak and use your legs to push down on the water. Once the kayak is upside down, use your arms to push down on the opposite side of the kayak to roll it back over.

Get back into your kayak: Once your kayak is back over, you will need to get back into it. To do this, sit on the edge of the kayak and swing your legs over. Once your legs are in the kayak, sit down and adjust your position so that you are comfortable.

Paddle to shore: Once you are back in your kayak, you will need to paddle to shore. To do this, face the direction you want to go and start paddling. Keep paddling until you reach shore.

What if I can’t roll my kayak back over?

If you can’t roll your kayak back over, you can try to self-rescue. To do this, you will need to:

Grab your paddle.
Hold your paddle in front of you with both hands.
Turn your body so that you are facing the stern of your kayak.
Kick your legs up and out of the water.
Use your paddle to push yourself away from your kayak.
Once you are clear of your kayak, you can swim to shore.

What if I’m in a whitewater kayak and it flips?

If you’re in a whitewater kayak and it flips, you will need to do a wet exit. To do this, you will need to:

Release your grip on the paddle.
Let go of the kayak.
Relax your body and allow yourself to go with the flow of the water.
Once you are downstream of your kayak, you can swim to shore.

What if I’m in a tandem kayak and it flips?

If you’re in a tandem kayak and it flips, you will need to work together to get back into the kayak. To do this, you will need to:

Stay calm.
Communicate with each other.
Roll the kayak back over.
Get back into the kayak.
Paddle to shore.

What if I’m in a kayak with a child and it flips?

If you’re in a kayak with a child and it flips, you will need to act quickly to protect the child. To do this, you will need to:

Stay calm.
Protect the child’s head.
Roll the kayak back over.
Get back into the kayak.
Paddle to shore.

Additional tips:

Wear a life jacket. A life jacket will help you stay afloat if your kayak flips.
Practice flipping your kayak in a controlled environment. This will help you learn how to roll your kayak back over and get back into it.
Be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of the conditions of the water and the weather. If the conditions are too rough, don’t go kayaking.
Take a kayak course. A kayak course can teach you the basics of kayaking, including how to flip your kayak and get back into it.