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Cold Water
If the water temperature is below 60°F, wearing a wetsuit or drysuit is strongly recommended. For much more information on hypothermia and cold-water paddling, read the feature article in our Winter 2005 issue.
Distress Signals
If you get into trouble when paddling, you'll want a way to let others know you need help. Distress signals are designed for just this purpose.
Distress signals are divided into two classes, day and night. Below are some examples:
aerial meteor flare (day or night) |
parachute flare (day or night) |
handheld flare (day or night) |
distress light (night only) |
handheld smoke (day only) |
floating smoke (day only) |
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Flares (Day or Night Use)
Flares are pyrotechnic devices that produce very bright light, and come in two main types: aerial or handheld. Aerial flares are designed to catch the attention of those in the vicinity, while handheld flares ($20-30 for 3) allow rescuers to pinpoint your location.
Parachute aerial flares ($30-50 each) fly higher and burn longer than standard meteor flares ($15-25 for 3), but are bulkier and more expensive.
Smoke Signals (Day Use Only)
Smoke signals burn to produce large amounts of orange smoke, and also come in two types: handheld or floating. Floating canisters ($40-60 each) burn longer than handheld sticks ($30-50 for 3), but both will lead rescuers to your approximate position.
Distress Lights (Night Use Only)
Distress lights flash a strobe or SOS pattern. Attach your light to your PFD so rescuers can pinpoint your location.
To provide more help to rescuers at night, purchase a PFD and sprayskirt with reflective panels, or attach reflective tape.
Because strobe lights are recognized as a distress signal, never operate a strobe light on any waters unless it is an emergency.
Coast Guard Requirements
Note that the U.S. Coast Guard requires visual distress signals on kayaks paddling open water between sunset and sunrise. Three flares and a distress light are sufficient to satisfy this regulation.
At a minimum, carry three meteor flares and a distress light at all times. Keep them handy inside the cockpit, perhaps in a drybag, so you don't need to open a hatch in order to access them.
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