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Less daylight and colder temperatures shouldn’t keep you from getting out on the water with your kayak, but after the warm seasons ends, you need to be prepared for maximum safety.

People die every year from capsizing into the cold water. Even the best paddlers can fall victim to the dangers of cold-water immersion, if they don’t follow basic Winter kayaking safety precautions.

You might be asking, “Is it safe to kayak in the winter?”

It is only safe to kayak during winter, if you are fully prepared for the extremities of submerging in freezing-cold water.

The primary hazard is not the water itself, but the cold. Hypothermia develops quickly in cold water. The resulting loss of dexterity and exhaustion leads to drowning.

Here are the essential safety to rules to winter kayaking:

The 120°F rule – Winter kayaking safety precaution 101

The 120° Fahrenheit rule states that if the sun of the air and water temperature is below 120°, you need to wear a wetsuit or a drysuit if you set out on the water.

Falling into icy cold water is shocking even to the best trained bodies. If you are not properly dressed for submersion, you have no chance of getting out.

Always dress for the temperature of the water, the NOAA has temperature info for most US waters. Here is a guide for when to wear a wetsuit and when to wear a drysuit for winter kayaking:

Learn to layer your clothing

You need to master the art of layered clothing if you want to stay comfortable during a full day of winter paddling.

The air temperature changes during the day, your body temperature changes when you are resting, etc. You need to be able to add and remove layers of clothing to keep you dry and comfortable.

TIP: Read this detailed article on how to dress and layer for winter kayaking.

In short, you have 3 layers:

1. Base layer: This layer keeps moisture away from your body.
2. Middle layer: This is the insulation layer, which keeps you warm.
3. Outer layer: This layer deals with the elements, such as rain and wind.

If you use a wetsuit, your base layer is the wetsuit itself.

If you use a drysuit or a dry-top, that will be your outer layer.

Keep your extremities (head, hands, feet) warm)

Your head plays a vital role in the temperature regulation of your body. Not to mention the fact that your body can reduce circulation to your hands and feet in cold weather, because it prioritizes our vital organs over our extremities.

You need to keep your head, hands and feet dry and warm, so get specialized winter kayaking gloves, booties and headwear.

Never kayak alone during the winter

Paddling alone during the summer is fine if you’re an able kayaker and wear a PFD of course.

But if you go out during the colder months, you need to bring a friend along for the trip.

You never think anything is going to happen, but just in case it does, you will need some help getting yourself back together again.

Let others know that you are going kayaking

Even though you have a paddling buddy at your side, you should tell someone where you will be going, and what your planned schedule is.

Tell the person you will check in when you finish your trip to let them know everything is fine.

Check the weather report

A sunny winter day can quickly turn into a windy, rainy winter day. Wind creates waves on the water, and extra wind chill for your body to endure. Rain is very unpleasant as well.

Light snowfall is usually OK.

Check the weather reports before you head out, and make sure the weather conditions will remain safe throughout the duration of your kayaking trip.

It’s best to choose calm winter days for your paddling adventures.

Stay close to shore

The weather conditions can shift in a flash and you have to be capable of getting back to land safely.

Wind blowing against you can make returning to shore a nightmare if you are too tired, so make sure you always have enough energy for the return trip.

Time flies by when you are having fun, so it’s easy to loose track of how far you’ve come, and how far you need to go.

Fear the fog

At certain times of year (fall and early spring in the Northern hemisphere), fog can form over cold water and ice sheets.

If the fog is particularly dense, you will not be able to see much. This can be pretty bad if you’re out in the middle of a lake and not know which way to go.

For this reason, you should always have a compass with you and know your bearings.

As I mentioned, this is especially important on larger bodies of water where you may be further from shore.

Learn the ice on the lake

Ponds and lakes will freeze over during cold winter months. Freezing starts from the shore and progresses inwards, with spring thawing starting along the shore as well.

Navigating your way at the edge of ice sheets is amazing, but also can be tough and dangerous.

Bracing on the ice

If your path becomes narrow, you will probably need to push yourself through the ice.

Remember that black ice is weak, as it is waterlogged. It will probably break under the pressure of a paddle, so don’t lean against it.

Only lean on clear or white ice.

Also, your paddle blade might break if you apply too much weight when pushing against ice. Needless to say, a broken paddle is the last thing you want out on icy waters.

Wind, currents and ice sheets

There is another inherent risk of navigating through ice sheets: if there is wind or or currents near the surface of the water, capsizing can become deadly as you may be carried under an ice sheet. This can happen even if you are wearing a PFD.

Do not go into frozen lakes on windy days.

Know how to re-enter your kayak when you capsize

You will fall into the water sooner or later, and you need to be able to get back into your kayak. The chances of capsizing is the same during the winter as the summer, but the consequences can be disastrous because of the cold.

Practice the technique during the warm summer months until re-entering your kayak becomes second nature. This skill is a basic kayaking safety precaution every paddler needs to learn.

DO NOT go paddling in the winter if you do not know how to re-enter your kayak.

Hypothermia can develop quickly in freezing water, and the longer you stay in the water, the greater the chance.

Even if you are wearing a drysuit, staying in the water for a long time can lead to hypothermia.

Always wear your PFD

This should go without saying, but I’m amazed at how many people I see without some sort of flotation device on.

The good part of wearing a life vest during the winter is that it provides an additional layer of warmth.

Take a Course

It is a good idea and actually a lot of fun to take a kayak rescue course.

You will learn the correct techniques of wet exit, self-rescue, and even how to help other capsized paddlers get back into their boat without you falling over as well.

There are even specialized winter kayak courses, where among other things, you will submerge into icy waters and experience the shock in a controlled environment.

I’ve taken a course like this and believe me. You are not truly prepared for re-entry in icy waters until you experience it first hand.

Safety gear for winter kayaking trips

Depending on where you will paddle and how long your journey will take, you should take some safety gear with you.

Here is a checklist of Winter Kayaking Safety equipment you should consider taking, depending on where and for how long you plan on paddling.

• Extra set of warm clothing in a dry bag
• Emergency paddle
• Rescue stirrup
• Emergency blanket
• Bothy shelter
• Firestarter
• First aid kit
• Communication tools
• Compass

Winter kayaking is an amazing hobby. Keep the above in mind, be prepared, and have a blast!

Original article: 13 Winter Kayaking Safety Rules That Could Save Your Life