Active Sea Kayaking » 2008

ABOUT COLD WATER….

December 29th, 2008

Ya well, I know, cold water is sometimes a drag….
but there are also advantages!
Namely, with cold water and fresh weather we avoid crowding and over population, which allow for a better preservation of our wilderness. But also it would seem small and big predators are not in such large numbers where the temperatures are moderate and sometimes cold.
Big deal you say, until that day you meet a new friends like those fellows down below…. follow the link to this video from BBC and be happy you are here! Australia….. lots of surprises for your average kayak fishermen!
Footage of great white shark shopping for sea kayaks here!

VICTORIA UNDER THE SNOW

December 27th, 2008

Another beautiful day, the color of the water is changing every 20 minutes. Deep blue, grey, dark metallic grey, white caps, surf and some nice swells rolling in… so much energy. In the mean time, winds go from 5 E to 35 W in a few hours, pushing the clouds away in minutes and bringing the sun out while you can see the rain falling hard a few kilometers away. This really has to make you reflect on Marine Weather, its beauty, its wildness, and sometimes its brutality.
So much energy in the water and in the skies, and some good paddling too!

THE HISTORY OF THE PFD….

December 26th, 2008

Written by: J. Michael Turnbull , President of Rescue 3 International, the global leader in technical rescue training on land, water and in the air.

I originally found this article on the Raven Rescue website and thought it was pretty interesting.
The History of the PFD

On a recent business trip to London’s British Museum my daughter and I came across several rooms of massive limestone slabs. They showed narrative scenes carved in low relief and had once decorated the palaces of Assyrian kings. The carvings depicted battles, hunting expeditions and other memorable events of the Assyrian Empire who dominated the near east for several hundred years until its collapse in 612 BCE. The empire once stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to Egypt, Syria, parts of Iran and Turkey.

Inflated Goat Skins

I was particularly drawn to a couple of scenes that were carved sometime between 865-860 BCE. These reliefs depicted the Assyrians’ enemies struggling to cross the Euphrates River while under attack by Assyrian archers.
Being in the water rescue business, what fascinated me was that these soldiers were swimming the river supported by inflated goat skins. The scenes show an amazing amount of detail; you can clearly see the soldiers swimming with one arm while holding the inflated goat skin around them with the other.

As I stood there mesmerized by these scenes, I began to wonder if I was looking at evidence of the first personal flotation device (PFD). This then led me to reflect on how far water safety had advanced from the PFG (personal flotation goat) to the wide variety of the modern PFD (personal flotation device) on the market today.

Down with the Ship

When I returned home I began to research the origins of the modern day PFD. Aside from the Assyrian carvings, there were relatively few references to life preservers before the 19th century. One of the few I found states that “in earliest years of development [life preservers] were nothing more that a wood plank used by Norwegian seamen, an empty barrel or even a vest of cork blocks.” This left me seriously wondering what happened to the PFG. Was it an invention which came before its time, which, like many such ideas, was buried in the archives of history? Even so, there had to have been a need for some form of flotation device.

Throughout the ages one of the greatest obstacles to mankind has been water. Whether it’s a river or an ocean, people invariably needed to cross bodies of water, and, unlike today, many lacked the ability to swim. For example, prior to 1900, over half of the sailors in the British Navy did not know how to swim. This fact was portrayed in the recent hit movie Master and Commander. The movie, which is about a British ship in the late 1800s, shows how the sailors would lower nets into the water so that the sailors who couldn’t swim would be able to enter the water to bathe with relative ease.

So, despite the brief use of the Personal Flotation Goat, it seems that for a majority of man’s history our forefathers found themselves in water without the skills or equipment to keep themselves safe.

Wood to Steel

According to one historical theory, the modern precursor to the PFD came about because of technological advancements. One important development was the transition in the construction of seagoing vessels from wood to steel. If a sailor on a wooden ship went into the sea, it was usually the result of a catastrophic occurrence such as a shipwreck, an attack by pirates, or an assault from an enemy nation. If this happened, the sea would most likely be filled with debris that could be used for flotation. However, with the invention of more durable hulls, floating debris could no longer be counted on to save someone’s life. Therefore, sailors started to carry something that floated with them in the event they inadvertently entered the water.

Mr. Guerrin’s Waistcoat

This change in boat construction coincides with the apparent evolution of the PFD. Though the Norwegians used wood planks and cork blocks, the earliest evidence of anything resembling a modern version of the PFD appeared in the 1800s.
According to the United States Patent Office, Napoleon Edouard Guerin of New York City, New York was issued a patent for “Improvement in Buoyant Dresses or Life-Preservers” on November 16, 1841. Mr. Guerin’s design was for a jacket, waistcoat, or coat made of cotton or other material (double layered) that could receive eighteen to twenty quarts of rasped or grated cork (a profile of the rasp was even included in the patent drawings.) As you can see from the picture, the modern PFD greatly resembles Mr. Guerin’s waistcoat.

From historical accounts, it seems that Mr. Guerin’s invention was right for the times. In the United States in the early 1800’s, the waterways were one of the main means for traversing the country. Because of the growing number of customers and commercial carriers accidents were an increasing in number, including dramatic and deadly steamboat explosions.

Kapok, Balsa and Cork

As a result, Congress passed requirements in 1852 that all steamboats or commercial carriers had to carry a PFD for every passenger on board. They also created a Board of Supervising Inspectors to see that this law was carried out. This board was also responsible for specifying the material and design for the PFD. They wrote a number of regulations, such as one that said a PFD should be “furnished with ready and suitable means for secure attachment to the body of the person, or enable people to hold themselves securely hereto.” Throughout the coming years, the Board continued to amend regulations. They made changes like adding a requirement for shoulder straps, eliminating the use of loose granulated cork, and banning the use of metal components because those pieces might be damaged through carelessness or oxidation.

Components such as material, buoyancy, form and even shape of the PFD continued to change over the next 75 years. Kapok, a natural fiber which comes from the seed of a tropical tree, was first used for buoyancy in 1902. However, it was banned in 1904 when it was found to be flammable and tended to lose buoyancy rapidly when compressed during storage. Even so, the developers of kapok didn’t give up and reintroduced a significantly modified version in 1918. Additionally, in the 1920s, balsa wood was approved for use in PFDs. It was lightweight, highly buoyant and had a long useful life.

Even with the introduction of kapok and balsa wood, the use of cork-block remained the standard against which all other PFDs were measured. This changed in 1928 when the British passenger steamer, Vestris sunk, and many of the passengers on board perished. The following year the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea convened in London to hear testimony from rescuers. They testified that they found many bodies floating face down even though they were wearing cork life vests. As a result, it was recommended that kapok life jackets be required for the merchant marines because they kept an unconscious individual’s face and head above water. Even with this recommendation, cork vests remained the mainstay on most vessels until WWII.

Mae West and the Inflatables
The onset of World War II spawned extensive development in many areas from medicine to nuclear physics. Water safety was no exception. The first inflatable jackets came into use and were worn by air crews, sailors and submariners. One of the most famous types of inflatable PFD was worn around the neck with an inflatable bladder on the front and was activated either with a CO2 charge or by oral inflation. The Royal Air Force called it the “Mae West” after a famous actress of the time. The nickname came from the fact that, when inflated, the Mae West resembled a certain part of the actresses anatomy for which she was quite famous. With the research and developments derived from military technology, the modern PFD was born.

During the same area, legislation was also being passed concerning PFDs. In 1940, the United States passed the Motorboat Act. This act required that all vessels, (not just commercial crafts) carry some form of PFD for passengers and crew. It soon became apparent that the bulky and uncomfortable PFDs designed for large rivers and seagoing vessels did not adapt well to the ever increasing number of recreational boaters. As a result, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) recommended that the designs for PFDs used in recreational vessels be able to support a person for shorter periods of time than those required for seagoing vessels. Their logic was that if the PFD was less bulky and more readily available, people might use them more frequently.

Specialty Jackets
However, in 1964 the USCG determined that many of the recreational boaters’ needs were still not being met. They developed a “special purpose” category to offer minimum restriction while still accommodating boaters’ specific needs. Some examples of “special purpose” PFD’s that have been developed for this category include the Rescuer PFD (or live-bait jacket), water skier lifejackets, kayaker lifejackets and ocean survival suits. The USCG currently has five types of flotation device classifications in use today. They are as follows:

Type I: offshore lifejacket for extended survival in rough open water that will turn a person face-up.
Type II: the classic PFD for calm inland waters and is less bulky and less expensive.
Type III: the most comfortable PFD with styles for different boating activities and sports.
Type IV: a throwable device such as a cushion, ring or horseshoe buoys.
Type V: special use device that include vests, deck suits and hybrids for restricted use.

Light and Easy

In the 1960s, synthetic foams were introduced and quickly began to be used by PFD manufacturers. It allowed designers more flexibility in the form, style, and shape of the PFD. While some worn today may resemble the cork vest of 150 years ago, research and development as well as technological advances are making today’s lifevests more reliable, lighter, and easier to maintain.

While I am still not quite sure why the personal flotation goat didn’t sweep the globe in 800 BCE and become a mainstay on every river and sea traveling vessel, it is fascinating to see the correlations between modern technology and ancient adaptation. The fact that these ancient limestone slabs have survived for so long leads me to wonder what other form of flotation devices have been used over the past several thousand years and were lost to history.

However, what little we do know about the evolution of the PFD over the centuries is a testament to human creativity and adaptation. It amazes me that with this wonderful device readily available, people still choose to ignore it and as a result lose their lives. However, I can’t even begin to fathom how many people have been saved by the PFD and couldn’t imagine doing my job without one. And to think…it all began with a dead goat.

J. Michael Turnbull is the President of Rescue 3 International, the global leader in technical rescue training on land, water and in the air.

COMMUNICATION DEVICES

December 25th, 2008

This post is about communication on the water, and there is a lot to say. Communication is an important safety tool, and a necessity when traveling in groups. Some devices also allow you to listen to your marine weather forecast, ask general information, get in contact with other ocean users, and now even let your friends and family know where you are. At the end of this post you’ll find a list of links leading you to articles and reviews about the devices listed below. The list will keep growing as I find more so keep an eye out.

Communication devices have been divided in 2 categories:
- 1 way communication: You send a message but cannot receive one back. Obviously there are some limitations there; you can’t be sure anybody received the message and you can only ask a limited number of things (usually 1 way com are designed to call for help, but you can’t give the urgency level or specify you just ran out of coffee, is there anybody in the area with an extra pound).
- 2 way communications allow you to talk and hear back. Immediately, this sounds like the solution. Anyhow, due to price, size of the device, and limitation of transmission, 2 way com have their draw backs as well.

In 1 way communication and 2 way communication, we find 2 categories as well:
- Communication within the group.
- Communication with the rest of the world.
This is starting to get complex, and come on, we are in 2008, there should be something out there that does it all! The reality is a mix of everything, adapted to the activity and the risk level is more appropriate. The big difference will usually be how far you can transmit and reach when you call, and how much information you can give when you do.
So brace yourself and don’t get discouraged, there are some cool gadgets coming up.

We’ll start with the simplest and keep on going: One way Communication within the group, Two way communication within the group, One way communication with the World, Two way communication with the World.
But first a quick list in case you know what you’re looking for:
- 1 WAY COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE GROUP:
Whistle signal (air horns)
Paddle signal
Light signal
- 2 WAY COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE GROUP:
Walkie-talkies
Cell phones
VHF radio
Whistle, paddle and light signals can be used in some conditions
- 1 WAY COMMUNICATION WITH THE WORLD
Whistle, paddle and light signal
Mirror signal
Large inflated bags
Fire
Flares
Strobes, Lasers
Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB)
Satellite Messenger Personal Tracker (SPOT)
- 2 WAY COMMUNICATION WITH THE WORLD:
VHF radio
Cell Phones
Satellite phones

1 WAY COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE GROUP

Whistle signal (air horns): you can agree to a number of whistle signals within your group before you hit the water. In windy conditions this will work much better than screaming. The hard part is to make sure everybody remembers the signals to avoid confusion.
Paddle signal: same as whistle signals, it works well when your voice can’t carry out to the rest of the group. It’s visual and quite clear as long as everybody is familiar with the signals.
Light signal: obviously this is for a low light environment, same as above.

2 WAY COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE GROUP:

Walkie-talkies: a great way to keep in touch. If the lead and sweep paddlers are far apart, it’s easy to keep communicating. Also if the group decides to split up for a couple of hours, you’re still able to get updates from the other half, know if they’ll be on time or delayed, if they need a hand or if everything is going as planned. The chances of reaching somebody outside of the group are slim as walkie-talkies use frequencies rarely monitored by anybody. And you want to know how far you can transmit with the other device before you get too far apart…. it depends on the models, topography (maybe you will loose contact once the other group has disappeared behind an island), and the power source (the stronger the power source, the longer you’ll get reception).
Cell phones: we all know, cell phones are great. BUT… you need reception in order to use them, and they generally don’t like water! Cell phones are best used on land for calling at pre-arranged times. You can always raft up on the water in an emergency, get the phone out of its waterproof case, and make a call if you have reception… Avoid relying on your cell phone only.
VHF radio: this is possibly the best marine communication device out there. You get your Marine Weather Forecast on it, you can reach the Coast Guard and a network of boats in your immediate vicinity. Within the group it’s a good way to stay in touch; decide on a channel and keep listening. Or agree to get in touch every hour, turn on your radio 5 min before and get your update regularly. VHF radio can be waterproof (that’s a big bonus), and the batteries last a long time as long as you mostly listen (if you transmit a lot, you’ll want to have some spare batteries that match your Radio). The only draw-backs: in strong winds it’s hard to hear more than just “cracrcracraccara”, and it’s line-of-sight so if there is an island or anything solid between you and the other device you’re trying to reach, you have lost contact.
Whistle, paddle and light signal: we already looked at these previously, they can be a simple 2 way communication, as you can signal back and forth but not exchange detailed information (you can signal ” go over there” but not why, how fast… and the other side can only reply “ok” or “no”).

1 WAY COMMUNICATION WITH THE WORLD

Whistle, paddle and light signal: this is a primitive way to communicate with the rest of the world. You can’t tell if anybody will get the message, and if somebody did, you can’t tell how they will interpret it. Never the less, in a emergency situation, it has worked very well for lots of people in distress. Waving your paddle back and forth repetitively in a populated area will probably get some results, so it’s worth a try.
Mirror signal: learn the technique, and you will need some sun! The advantage of the mirror is that it is recognized as a distress signal, and it carries far. You still won’t know if you’ve succeeded until you’re rescued!
Large inflated bags: bright colors work best, and the bags float… that’s always a bonus if you are on the water. One really positive thing about it: it’s an item that doesn’t take a lot of room, it’s cheap, and you can use it for many purposes besides communication ( some plastic bags are big enough to sleep in, they are waterproof -but not breathable-, and some say you can even get in them while you are in the water in the situation of being separated from your boat).
Fires: for communication, make lots of smoke. Smoke is visible from long distances on clear days, and bright flames work well at night. There is obviously something else to fire. It keeps you warm, it keeps you busy, it helps the group morale a lot…. Make sure you have the means to start a fire with you, always!
Flares:
Strobes, Lasers
Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB)
Satellite Messenger Personal Tracker (SPOT)

LINKS:
-SPOT WEBSITE
-HANDHELD ELECTRONICS
-ABOUT SPOT
-ABOUT VHF RADIO ICOM IC-M72
-WAVELENGTH MAGAZINE: emergency mapping and messaging with SPOT
-SEA KAYAKER MAGAZINE: REVIEW ABOUT SPOT NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE YET, COMING UP SOON.

TO BE CONTINUED, TIME TO GO PADDLE

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL STORMY DAY….

December 21st, 2008

The Coast Guard boat followed us from Cattle point to Ogden Point while we were driving, so I think we can say they made good time. Of course with winds up to E25 Knots Gusting 32 at Trial Island (according to BigWaveDave.ca) they saved on gas…

It doesn’t look bad on this picture but the sea state was pretty messy, with some nice surf developing at Ross Bay, big dumping surf…. too cold today!

FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS….

December 20th, 2008

In this day and age of economic down-turn, the morale sometimes sinks with the temperatures (which are now around -20C with the windchill factor), and even I have not been on the water for a few days…

But all of a sudden, out of nowhere, came some good news…. It appears that the largest waves in the Pacific Northwest are getting higher by seven centimeters a year (which is unfortunate for some properties close to the shore), but still good news overall right!

Now, feeling better???? more info at Wired Science...

VIDEO ABOUT COLD WATER IMMERSION…

December 19th, 2008

There is lots of good info in this video, and you can always go and type”Cold Water Boot Camp” on You tube if you want more but start here.

This short work introduce many interesting statistics about cold water fatalities, the difference between wearing or not a PFD, your ability to put it on once you are in the water (or inability…), survival time…

Since water and air temperature around here are COLD, not a bad one to watch. Note that wearing a suit would help, I mean a drysuit, which is actually what the rescuers standing by are wearing. And Christmas just coming up!

OK, the videos is here: COLD WATER BOOT CAMP, and I originally ran into this video on Paddlinginstructor.com where you could truly spend the 6 month of winter learning more and more about sea kayaking and the industry.

Also I am always amazed by what we take for granted about our body, here is a quote from Jeffrey Isaac out of his book ” The outward bound wilderness first aid handbook”, first paragraph on his Chapter 12 about Thermoregulation….
The core of the human body operates most effectively at or very near a temperature of 37 degrees C. The brain adjusts heat production and retention automatically based on information from temperature sensors in the skin and body core. Blood vessels in the skin dilate or constrict to dissipate or preserve heat. Sweat glands release fluid to enhance cooling by evaporation. Shivering produces heat with involuntary exercise. You can watch these compensation mechanisms at work, but they are not under your direct control.
The author also state earlier in the book…” The skin is the largest of the body’s organ. It performs the remarkable function of separating the flora and fauna of the outside environment…. the blood vessels in the skin are capable of a dramatic change in volume as they constrict or dilate for thermoregulation or the need to maintain perfusion pressure to the body core. When fully vasodilated the skin can hold up to 3 liters of blood, when fully vasoconstricted in shell/core effect, the skin may retain as little as 30 milliliters of blood. Most of the time, the skin does a pretty good job for us considering it’s less than a quarter of an inch thick…. end of quote.
And I thought it was as simple as adding a shirt or paddling without my tuque…..
Happy winter paddling.

SOME VIDEOS FOR WINTER….

December 18th, 2008

Here is a link to a website for your winter sea kayak fix, with a temperature of -20C today on Vancouver Island, it’s safe to guess kayaking was mostly done inside….

VIDEOS, VIDEOS, VIDEOS HERE.

The interesting part is that there are all kinds of videos, relaxed to windy paddling conditions, some instructional videos (how to load your kayak..) and some reviews of sea kayaks as well. Some sunny, some rainy, something for everybody! Enjoy.