KAYAK SAFETY: How to paddle safely at NIGHT (kayaking or stand up paddleboarding)

This #kayaking #safety video discusses how to paddle safely in the dark. It showcases gear (light on PFD, on kayak, and #headlight), with #Orbiloc on PFD and #Navilight on kayak as examples, and provides advice on how to kayak safely at night. This is part of the safety information videos that upload regularly on Air On The Water - subscribe if you'd like to stay updated.
The video includes clips from Air On The Water's comprehensive safety gear video, available here for further information: • KAYAK SAFETY: Self res...
A special example of a case where lighting and gear were of particular importance was while volunteering as a safety kayak to ensure the safety of 60+ swimmers at night. This video is available here:
• Lilla Essingen Night S...
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The general paddling clips are on the #Daugava river in #Riga, #Latvia, during a visit in October 2022 when I brought my #ItiwitX500 #inflatablekayak along.

[@AirOnTheWater]

Thank you everyone for the positive engagement! If you find videos like these helpful and would like to support the Air On The Water project, there's the possibility to join as a member and receive access to bonus content. It's only a few $, but makes a difference and helps make future content sustainable! You can also "buy me a coffee" - link on the main page. kzbin.info/door/Kvtq_W4MMt_QfPQU7Kl8oAjoin

[@Richard.Cabeza]

Living in a hot climate, I often hike, mountain bike and kayak at night. It is amazing what critters come out at night. Enjoy the dark sky and lovely stars.

[@AirOnTheWater]

Indeed - it is a very special experience - and often quite peaceful.

[@The_Tradie_Trainer]

360 degree light mounted on the stern (both to meet legal requirements but also to make myself as visible as possible), head torch on a low setting (to preserve both battery life AND my night vision), a back up head torch in my PFD, an E-flare in my PFD AND imo a super important one you missed - a compass! On a large enough body of water it’s unlikely you’ll reliably be able to use landmarks to navigate so having a means of knowing which direction to paddle is super important. I also make sure my clothing has reflective trim on it (beanie, cag & PFD all have strips) and as well as my deck lines I have reflective tape on my kayak and paddle.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@The_Tradie_Trainer Excellent notes! I do the same generally speaking though I haven't invested in an E-flare yet. Completely agree about the backup head torch. Once I had two go dark on me during a cold winter paddle in the dark and on that trip had fortunately brought a third.. I have purchased reflective tape but should be better at applying it to different kayaks and paddles. The compass is a very good point! Of course I bring one, but I hadn't thought of including it in a video like this that focuses so much on lighting. That's absolutely right though, of course. I'm thinking of putting together an updated, more extensive video on this topic in the future, will keep that in mind then 😎 Thanks for sharing your perspective!

[@danielsimpson501]

Nice video! I am currently working on a night setup for my kayak. I was thinking about getting red and green lights for port/starboard and a white sternlight, as well as headlamp. Its already getting dark too soon and its really nice to be out there during sunset

[@AirOnTheWater]

Thanks! Yes, sunset is one of the best times to be out there on the water. I used to have the setup you are describing using some cheap extra lights for boats, but now am using the combo I mention in the video instead, a white strong multi-directional light typically in the back on the kayak, a headlight to be activated if needed and an Orbiloc small light on my PFD which provides some extra visibility in the forward direction and to the sides, and serves as a backup for the rear light. In Sweden where I live red/green lights aren't needed for vessels as small as a kayak (even if you can use them if you like), so you could perhaps look into what the rules are where you live. Happy paddles!

[@peggystevens5144]

I've not had the pleasure of paddling at night but hopefully someday! I already have some of the gear though, I use for camping and hiking at night. Thanks for the refresher!

[@AirOnTheWater]

Most welcome 🙂 It can be a very rewarding experience but does require a bit of safety consideration. A headlight or the like that you use for hiking will work perfectly, optimal if it's properly water resistant in case of splashes, but I imagine it would be for rain. For other lighting there are so many creative solutions. I've done some amazing night paddles and often you have the water all to yourself. Peaceful until a beaver jumps into the water and startles you with a loud splash...

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

Great information matey Patrik. I was night kayaking 22 years ago and the ONE LIGHT I had with me died Oops... Tuck me a long time to get back to my launch spot. But learnt my lesson

[@AirOnTheWater]

Thank you George - yes, that's how one learns, but better to avoid, thus the video 😎 I've had two headlights give up on me during one trip in cold conditions, luckily had a third as I had extra safety for that trip. I prefer to have backups both for illumination (e.g. headlight) and visibility for safety (e.g. Navilight/Orbiloc).

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

@@AirOnTheWater You're right it's better to be over prepared and safe. At it happens I only got out a couple more times before my 20 year layoff.

[@AirOnTheWater]

@@THE-RIVER-RAT Yes, often times it is. I often go out with a lot of redundancies and while usually they're not needed, I've made use of the backups many more times than you'd think. The more you go out, the more likely that some piece of equipment is going to fail or something unexpected will happen.

[@nikoshi9542]

Almost never I comment on videos but this time I just have to! Thank you 👍

[@AirOnTheWater]

Thank you for the kind words of appreciation! Glad you found it useful. Stay safe and happy paddles! 🙂

[@grachoderunwiderstehlichen]

kajak ~18kg + food&drinks ~2kg + "light" equipment 1kg +life jacket etc..........some sluice gates at the track (each ~7€uro) to heavy ,to expensive ; also the long way back to the start point (taxi or Bus/Tram) i think night paddling could be for lakes

[@AirOnTheWater]

This kayak (the Itiwit X500) is, as you say, heavy, 18 kg with backpack, and then gear on top of that. It's not for everyone. I've carried it around both to other countries and other cities, but it takes getting used to, including the bus, tram, or train transport. It's very rewarding to paddle with though! I sometimes bring along my Packlite super light kayak which weighs 1.8 kg, or my AdvancedFrame Ultralite that weighs just under 8 kg. Much easier, so it depends on the kayak! Night paddling on lakes (as long as they aren't huge) is indeed a nice and relatively safe option if the weather is good!

[@mephisto8101]

The X500 is quite portable. Weight depends on the trip. If it is just a single day trip, a waterproof backpack is ususally enough for all the gear. Wrap the PFD around it and wear it on the front, X500 in its backpack on the back. For multi day trips, I have the Kayak on the back and the rest of the equipment on a folding cart. This way I can manage to get around 44kg of Kayak plus equipment via public transport to my starting point.

[@6yjjk]

A headlight "could" fall into the water :D

[@AirOnTheWater]

🤣It might, in theory, and someone might be reluctant to chase after it even with a drysuit if there weren't any good places to get back on shore if needed... in theory. Possibly in Riga. Maybe with two X500s present. Hypothetically speaking, of course 😂😂😂

[@AirOnTheWater]

I'll tell that story when I upload a full video from our Riga kayaking trip at some point. 🙂