What To Do If Your Kayak Flips Over: Recovery Guide
According to the American Canoe Association, over 60% of kayaking incidents involve capsizing, yet many paddlers lack proper recovery training. Drawing from extensive rescue experience, this guide provides essential techniques for handling a kayak flip safely and effectively. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced paddler, knowing these recovery methods could make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a serious emergency.
Take a look at our guide on kayaking for beginners.
Immediate Actions When Your Kayak Flips
Let me share something that completely changed how I approach kayak safety – my first unexpected flip in deep water. Trust me, those few seconds underwater felt like an eternity, but what I learned from that experience (and many practice sessions since) could save your life.
First things first – staying calm when you flip is absolutely crucial, though I know that’s easier said than done. During my first flip, I made the rookie mistake of panicking and gasping underwater. Now I teach my students to take a deep breath the moment they feel the kayak starting to go over. It’s like your seatbelt check before driving – make it a reflex action.
Keeping your paddle is super important, but here’s something most beginners don’t realize – you need to actively think about holding onto it the moment you start tipping. I lost my paddle in that first flip because I instinctively put my hands out to catch myself. These days, I practice the “paddle death grip” during intentional practice flips. If you do lose it, though, don’t waste time looking for it underwater – your safety comes first.
One thing that really stuck with me from my safety training was the importance of orienting yourself underwater. I tell my students to keep their eyes open (yes, even in murky water) and look for the light from the surface. In my case, I was wearing polarized sunglasses during that first flip, which actually made it harder to see underwater. Now I use a strap to either secure them or quickly remove them.
Here’s something that took me way too long to learn properly: checking for hazards isn’t just about looking around before you start your wet exit. You need to think about what’s above you too. During one practice session, I banged my head on the bottom of a dock I’d forgotten was there. Now I make a mental note of overhead hazards before I even get in my kayak.
Temperature awareness becomes critical in those first few seconds underwater. That time I flipped in early spring? The cold water shock was intense. I’ve learned to take a moment to compose myself, even if it’s just a second or two. The cold water will try to make you gasp – don’t let it! If you’re properly dressed for the water temperature, you’ve got more time than you think.
The wet exit itself needs to become pure muscle memory. I practice it at least three times at the start of each season. The sequence is simple: tuck forward, pull the grab loop on your spray skirt, push yourself out, and surface on the upstream side of your kayak if you’re in moving water. During my first flip, I forgot about the upstream part and got pushed into my kayak by the current – not fun!
Something I always emphasize to my students is the importance of keeping contact with your kayak after surfacing. I learned this lesson when I watched my kayak drift away in windy conditions. Now I immediately grab the toggle or deck lines when I surface. Your kayak is your biggest flotation device – don’t let it get away from you!
One detail that often gets overlooked is what to do with your legs during the wet exit. I used to just kick randomly, which wasn’t very effective. The proper technique is to push off with your knees against the thigh braces, then straighten your legs as you exit. This gives you the momentum you need to clear the cockpit quickly.
Self-rescue techniques have saved me more than once, but they only work if you’ve practiced them regularly. I dedicate time each season to practicing different rescue scenarios. The paddle float rescue is my go-to method when I’m paddling solo, while the T-rescue is great when paddling with others. Just remember – the time to learn these isn’t when you actually need them!
After any flip, even during practice, I always take a moment to mentally review what happened. Was it a wave that caught me off guard? Did I lean the wrong way? Understanding what caused the flip helps prevent future ones. Plus, this little pause gives your body time to recover from the adrenaline rush.
Remember, flipping isn’t a sign of failure – it’s a normal part of kayaking. The key is being prepared for when (not if) it happens. Every experienced paddler I know has flipped at some point. What matters is how quickly and safely you can recover from it. And hey, once you’re comfortable with the recovery process, those practice sessions can actually become kind of fun!