Inflatable Kayak Blog

Since we’re in the middle of National Boating Safety Month, which happens every May, I thought I’d pass along some information on a new life jacket I discovered recently.

You know how some life jackets don’t exactly conform with your boat’s seat back. The Clearwater Mesh Back PFD solves that problem. It has a mesh section in the lower back area that allows you to comfortably rest up against the seat. The mesh also adds excellent ventilation in hot weather.

A soft PVC-free foam fills the front and upper back parts of the jacket enabling it to mold to your body. The Clearwater Mesh Back also provides a substantial 16.5 lbs of flotation. There’s 2 roomy pockets for convenient storage and plenty of reflective tape to make you visible in dim light.

The Clearwater Mesh Back PFDis made by NRS. It offers the perfect combination of comfort at a reasonable price. Most important of all, the Clearwater Mesh Back provides safety while allowing unrestricted movement while paddling.

They look like big orange horse collars for humans! They’re called life jackets, but many of us wouldn’t be caught “dead” wearing them because they’re bulky, uncomfortable and have no style.

Fact is, if you’re wearing one you’re most likely to be “caught alive” and not “dead”. Life jackets are an important part of water safety, but oh how they have changed.

You still see the old fashioned orange collar style life jackets around. However, just like in every other area of our lives, technology has improved them. What used to be bulky is now streamlined. What used to be uncomfortable is now a great fit. The newest designs, called inflatable life jackets, don’t expand until they’re needed, so they are extremely comfortable. And, in case you’re wondering, they are available in many more colors than (ugh) orange.

You can read more in this great article about comfortable life jackets or simply take my word for it. There is a huge variety of excellent life jackets, pfds (personal flotation devices) and life vests on the market. They’re comfortable, look great and work better than ever. And you should make sure you wear one!

By Victoria Holt

In today’s technology filled world of texting and tweeting, it seems that people’s manners are becoming appalling. Rudeness appears to be at the forefront of almost everyone’s busy lifestyle. Children seem to find texting their parents, while only rooms away in the same house, the new normal.

My ten year old daughter, Kay, asked me why she doesn’t have a cell phone. I explained to her that I thought she was too young to need a cellphone since the furthest away from the house she goes is down the street to her friend’s house. Yes, I refuse to become a statistic.

As a mother, I enjoy finding things my children and I can do together that are fun and promote being courteous to others as we grow together. My children go to camp in the summertime, and both Kay and Stephanie enjoy our family float trips. So this Christmas, I decided to get Kay her own inflatable Kayak. Although not quite old enough for a cell phone, we feel she is getting to the age where she deserves some responsibility. I struggled with how to teach her independence without turning her into a resentful pre-teen. Therefore, I thought she would enjoy the accomplishment of being old enough to be in control of where she goes on the river, or lake we are exploring as a family.

My husband and I worked with both our daughters this past summer to teach them proper water safety and paddling techniques. For her last birthday we bought Kay a Cannon K series paddle. So, on our last float trip Kay did quite a bit of the paddling. Cannon’s K series paddles are designed specifically for children. They are light weight and easy to maneuver, come in either two piece sets or one piece shafts (for convenience of storage and travel I recommend the two piece set. It packs better and stores easier) and a variety of paddle lengths.

Stephanie is my seven year old. She’s a very hyper and precocious child, but she is growing so quickly that I am having trouble keeping her in properly sized safety equipment. She is too big for her PFD from last year and to be frank, it has all but fallen apart due to shoddy craftsmanship. I am not going to tell you what large chain retail store I purchased it from, but I will say: find a good PDF for your child that is well made, adjustable, and coast guard approved like the Sea Eagle child’s life jacket.

Sea Eagle Inflatable Kayaks are a reasonably priced Christmas gift and made it all that much easier to buy one for each of my kids. Kay will get hers this year and Stephie will get hers next Christmas. Promoting family togetherness through our floating excursions is very important and essential to nurturing my family in the right direction.

I hope everyone’s Holidays are just as blessed as mine will be. Happy Holidays and enjoy.

The author, Victoria Holt is the mother of two wonderful children, a stay at home mom, semi-professional photographer, and self taught graphic artist. She enjoys a myriad of other activities to stimulate her creative processes.

Luckily, so far (knock on wood), I haven’t ever fallen out of my kayak. I’m not what you’d call a good swimmer, so I always wear my life jacket. Actually it’s a Sea Eagle Paddling Life Vest which is a little less bulky in size, but I always wear it when paddling.

The other day I got to thinking about how life jackets really work. I think we all have a basic idea, but I wanted to dig a little deeper, so I researched the subject online and came across the web site HowStuffWorks.com.

I learned that there were types of life ‘preservers’ as far back as the 1700′s. And the sad statistic that 90% of drowning victims were not wearing life jackets.

Technically, the functionality of a life jacket is derived from the principles discovered by the ancient Greek philosopher Archimedes. I won’t explain it here. You can go to How Stuff Works and check it out for yourself.

No matter what type of life jacket, or PFD (personal flotation device) you wear, make sure you wear it religiously. If you’re life jacket is too cumbersome, maybe you need to check out something new. Life vests are now being made lighter, stronger and more comfortable. Safe paddling is always the best option!