Summer fun tips around water

OWNER OF PASS IT ON SPORTS (Kayaks)
SOUTHINGTON, CT (860.747.8833)

It’s summer and it gets hot--cool down on a river, lake, ocean or pool.
There are so many choices when it comes to playing in the water...

Safety issues should be addressed initially in making decisions about what type of play to participate in and if children are included.

For all types of water, life preservers and flotation devices are always recommended. If an adult or child cannot swim it is very important to purchase a preserver that will keep their head above water should they be rendered unconscious or fall in unexpectedly. There are many choices in life vests and some are specific to particular watersports such as jet ski’s, boating, canoeing or kayaking.

When choosing a preserver, proper fit is the first consideration or it will not work properly. The preserver must fit the weight and chest size of the wearer. Do not let price steer you away from the right preserver. Be sure to buy a preserver that is specific to the intended use or will allow multiple uses for the wearer.
Prices and styles of preservers and flotation devices vary greatly.
While an experienced sailor or power boater may want one of the high mobility style automatic inflator designs costing up to $250 for their uses,
a recreational user flotation vest can be purchased for $35- $85 for adults. The life vest will give the user years of use with proper care.
With the proper guidance in purchasing a vest, price comfort and quality can make your swimming, boating, canoeing or kayaking experience much more enjoyable and safe.
It is your life that is at risk should the flotation device be necessary and that decision is made long before the potential need could occur. Non-swimmers should put on a preserver prior to /or immediately when boarding a boat or watercraft or near a pool. If it is possible, put it on when you are on the dock. Adults and children need to use caution when boarding any watercraft so as not to tip or scare non-swimmers on a dock or in a boat or canoe.

Most importantly be sure to balance yourself when entering and exiting any boat. Most tip-overs occur while entering and exiting a watercraft. Balance is critical to prevent accidents and spills into the water unexpectedly.
On floating docks, stability is a concern depending on the numbers of persons on the docks and a wake from either boats or the ocean.

If you have never owned a boat and don’t want to spend a lot of money to have fun in water, there are many inexpensive ways to do just that. Hopefully the information below will guide you to a proper fit for your needs and comfort level.

Swimming in a town pool or a friend’s pool is probably the least expensive way to cool down in the summer other than running under your lawn sprinkler.
Caution should be exercised with non-swimmers if there is a deep end of the pool that would be over their head if they jumped in. Most in ground pools have a 8’-9’ deep end for divers. If a pool has a slide and the child can’t swim, be sure the preserver fits properly and the slide extends over the edge of the pool into the shallow part of the pool usually 3’ deep. An adult needs to be positioned in the water of the shallow end for children unfamiliar with the pool even if they are swimmers. Until a child can safely navigate the steps up the slide and feels comfortable landing in the water, it is a good idea for a lifeguard or responsible adult to stay in the shallow end to catch the child should they lose their balance or come down head first by mistake. When a child goes under water there is no sound and no warning. It is silent! Never leave any child unattended by any body of water. An adult or responsible person needs to keep their eyes on them at all times. This cannot be emphasized enough.

Another fairly inexpensive option for many teens and adults of all ages is a kayak or canoe. They can be purchased for less than $350 and be used for many years. Many people choose kayaks instead of canoes because of ease of use and weight factors. Most recreational kayaks and canoes can be easily handled with almost no instruction. Canoes are typically a bit longer and heavier unless you purchase more expensive lightweight styles.
Canoes offer storage and moving about space in them. Most recently, manufacturers are making fishing kayaks for anglers that offer all the advantages of a lightweight boat with storage without the disadvantages of larger heavier canoes or boats. All these things can be done by a recreational canoer/ kayaker with a little planning and information about the location they will be paddling in.

There are many options for kayaks that make even the beginner look like a regular user. There are kayaks that are for all types of general recreational use in both a sit-in style and sit-on-top design.
They each have advantages and drawbacks depending on your intended use.

A sit-on-top kayak is a wonderful choice if you do not need storage on your boat. They can be used in rivers, oceans, back bays, lakes, and most bodies of water except very fast white water conditions (of which there is very little in Connecticut).
Many elderly persons who have never kayaked before are choosing this style for exercise and recreational use, and teens like them because they can play around with them in the water and they can’t sink it even if it is used like a surfboard.

Some of the advantages of a Sit-On-Top Kayak:
*ease of entry (no cockpit to wiggle into)
*cannot sink, (they are self bailing)
* should you want to take a swim while in transit, you can easily climb back into your kayak again and continue paddling.
*adjustable laydown option on seatback--sunbathe for a while
*built in foot braces
*built in flotation
*very stable for beginners-difficult to tip over
*lightweight-easy to transport smaller units especially (34lbs)
Disadvantages are:
*no storage compartments
*no protection from elements (cold weather, rain, sun, etc)

While sit-in style kayaks can be used in rivers, oceans, back bays, lakes, and most bodies of water except very fast white water conditions as well,
sometimes storage capacity is desired.

The advantages of sit-in kayaks are:
*storage capacity (one or two compartments)
*some have dry storage compartments
*protection from cold weather, rain, or sun
*ability to use year round with a skirt (optional accessories)
*lightweight-easy to transport smaller units (34lbs)
*drain plug to empty water in hull
*comfortable seating
*built in adjustable foot braces on most models
*built in flotation
Disadvantages are:
* no ability to exit and enter easily unless on shore-will fill up with water and have to be brought to land to empty boat out (it will usually not sink)
*heavy to move about if left upright and it rains (cockpit covers are available)
*less stable than wider models

While these are certainly not all the options available to have “fun in the water” they are easily doable by most children, teens and adults.
The kayak information in this article are specific to the Pelican models I am most familiar with and are general in nature to most kayaks by other manufacturers, however there are features that vary greatly depending on the company. If you have not considered kayaks because of the familiar Eskimo roll and white water styles featured for years, you might want to check out the newest rage in watersports--Kayaking!!!
Whatever your choices for water recreation, remember to think safety first and enjoy the rest of the summer--Fall and winter are right around the corner....