I got to be in a safety video!
This is a short video on why a river boat isn’t safe to take out on open water, why a spray skirt is essential, and what happens without the right gear.
I got to be in a safety video!
This is a short video on why a river boat isn’t safe to take out on open water, why a spray skirt is essential, and what happens without the right gear.
It’s not particularly common, but mostly because beginners tend to be out on sit on top boats. Although there was a fatality in Wellington Harbour a few years ago, on Christmas eve, where the paddler had a sit in boat with no spray skirt.
It’s also good information for a sea kayak with bulkheads, you won’t flood the boat completely, but it will be less stable.
For sit on top, how does the spray skirt advice work come in, or is the advice not to use one in the ocean?
I would expect it would not flood like you did in the video because the whole boat would be sealed and watertight?
A sit on top is considered self bailing, so no skirt needed. The paddler sits above the waterline, and there are holes through to the underside of the boat.
Ah yip, I misunderstood your previous comment. Beginners tend to be in sit on top boats, so the issue with sea spray without a skirt doesn’t apply. However, it does happen occasionally, hence the safety video.