Kayaking Web Resources

Safety

• National Center for Cold Water Safety
• USCG - Cold Water Boot Camp USA (Video)
• Cold Water Paddling Safety
• U.S. Coast Guard Federal Requirement for Recreational Boats
• Tragedy at Dungeness Bay
• A Kayaker’s Safety Kit
• Lifejackets (YouTube)
• What to wear (YouTube)
• Traffic rules for paddlers (YouTube)
• What if I flip? (YouTube)
• Calling for help (YouTube)
• Panic-Free Wet Exit (Robert Nissenbaum) - Volume will start around 20 seconds in
• Robert Nissenbaum's Instructional Videos 
• The wet exit
• T-Rescue - Heel Hook
• T-Rescue—30 second Kayak Rescue (YouTube)
• Paddle Float Self Rescue (Gordon Brown)
• Paddle Float Self Rescue (Jeremy Vore, YouTube)
• Scoop rescue, swimmer facing boat (YouTube)
• Scoop rescue, swimmer facing away from boat (YouTube)
• Tips to Sound Like a Pro on Your VHF Radio
• How to Use a VHF Radio
• Two-way radio protocol (PDF)
• Towing
• Contact tows
• Contact tow for faster rescues (YouTube)
• How to build a sea kayak contact tow line (YouTube)
• Kayak Safety Podcast

Weather, tides, currents, and surf

• NOAA marine zone forecast
• NOAA weather viewer
• Windfinder (Sequim)
• Windy (includes lightning data)
• University of Washington Atmospheric Sciences
• Friday Harbor, San Juan Island weather information
• Environment Canada (weather)
• Strait of Georgia marine weather-(south of Nanaimo)
• DeepZoom
• NOAA Tide Predictions
• Current Atlas Lookup Tables: Juan de Fuca Strait to Strait of Georgia
• Canadian tides and currents
• Surf forecast
• Magic Seaweed (coastal surf and weather)
• Surfline (coastal surf and weather)
• National Data Buoy Center
• Neah Bay Buoy information
• La Perouse Bank Buoy information

Planning, charts, and maps

• The 4 W's of a Float Plan
• Washington/Oregon Water Trails
• NOAAA Coast Survey. Ocean mapping capabilities
• Public Beach Access - Washington State Coastal Atlas
• Sequim Bay Paddle Guide
• Resources for kayaking South Vancouver Island
• Magnetic declination
• 10 Tips For Paddling With A Group
• Packing for an Overnight Trip
• Plan your trip

Navigation

• Canoe and Kayak Navigation Articles
• Map Reading and Navigation
• Read a Marine Chart: Part 1
• Read a Marine Chart: Part 2
• How to Use a Compass
• Understanding Magnetic Deviation
• Variation and Declination
• Course, Bearings and Headings
• Aiming Off
• Fixes and Triangulation
• Ranges
• Leave Your Compass at Home and Use Handrails and Fences
• Why didn't the kayaker cross the road? Ferry angles in kayaking
• Doubling Angle on the Bow Fix
• Using Ranges (Transits)
• Wilderness first aid

Technique

• Taming the Wild Wet Exit aka Overcoming Fears of Capsizing
• How to Make the Most of Pool Sessions
• Basic Strokes (YouTube)
• The Stern Rudder
• How to Edge & Lean a Kayak (Gordon Brown)
• Kayak Low Brace Stroke
• Kayak High Brace Stroke
• Kayaking Forward Stroke
• How to Turn Your Kayak
• ACA Strokes & Maneuvers Refinement
• Kayak Weathercocking vs. Tracking - Skegs, Rudders and More
• How to Deal with Wind While Paddling
• Paddling Ocean Waves
• How to Land a Kayak in the Surf Zone
• Simplifying the Roll (DVD)
• This is the Roll (DVD)

• Kayak Handling Tips

General Information

• Kayarchy.com - the sea kayaker's online handbook and reference
• Paddling.com and message boards
• Kayak Academy Links Page
• Thoughts on Fitting, Demoing and Choosing a Sea Kayak
• Seasonal Kayak Maintenance
• Alex Sidles Review of PNW Sea Kayaking Guidebooks (PDF)