Packing for safety:
Perhaps more important than a PFD life jacket and your paddle, is a convenient high quality leash. You can forget your paddle, but don't forget your leash!

In colder waters, if your canoe/surfski is blown one inch beyond your reach, you could die within an hour from exposure while wearing your life jacket. There are a few stories "floating around" Northern California concerning canoes and surf skis blown from paddlers who were alone or forgotten behind the pack during workouts. Luckily, all of the stories have happy endings, although heroic.

I cannot stress enough the importance of using some sort of leash that ultimately connects you to the boat...No matter if it's glassy out or if it's storming. It's not a good idea to use two leashes, one for your boat and another for your paddle, too many leashes WILL kill you.

When paddling a "Tandem" canoe or surf ski (two person craft) in rough or windy conditions, it's a good idea for each person to be leashed. I've heard of situations where the one person leashed to the Tandem was able to remount, but was unable to paddle the craft back up wind to the other person that had not been leashed. Again, all happy endings "so far" but long scary Ocean swims could've been avoided.

When selecting a leash for an Outrigger Canoe, you want one with a quick release system or Velcro enclosure where the leash attaches to your body. There's really no good way to attach a leash to a canoe paddle. The leash can attach to your ankle, upper calf, waist or where ever...excluding your neck. The other end of the leash can attach to the front iako, or rear iako, or a loop on the deck. You can use a surfboard leash, but they usually have an uncoiled cord that can drag in the water. Boogie board leashes can work but the cords on those are usually too short to stretch close enough to the bow if you should try to swim around the canoe.. It's best to buy a canoe leash from an Outrigger Canoe or surfski supplier. You'll find excellent leashes in the "Stuff" section of this website.

When using an ankle or knee (upper calf) leash on an outrigger canoe, you will find that it's best attached to the right side. This way, you won't tangle when you climb back on from the right side (side that you fell in from). Most people find that they don't need to swim around the bow to the ama side of the canoe, in order to climb back on. Even in rough conditions, most people just get on from the side that they fell in from. Surf Ski paddlers tend to get their legs tangled more often than canoe paddlers, because they can fall off multiple times while trying to remount, getting twisted with every turn. In any case, learning to use a leash safely takes practice and thought. Memorize "where" the pull tab is located so you can remove it quickly in a pinch, and always attach it with the pull tab in the same location and direction so you don't have to figure it out while drowning.

When a surf ski gets away from you..."Oh #@*$!," is the first thing that comes from your mouth. Some surf ski paddlers tell stories about their surf ski "tumbling" away from them at high speed on the water. I personally have seen this, my own tumbling ski having been licked up into the air by a wave as it spun fast like a circus trick. In lighter winds and small waves, it'll just skid along a little faster than you can swim. It might as well be moving as fast as a jet plane. Swimming with one hand, your paddle in the other hand, chasing after your boat with loose clothing and PFD slowing you down...it's ugly.

When using a leash with a surfski, it's often best to attach the leash to the paddle. Most people never let go of their paddle when they fall off, so if the boat is tied to the paddle, you've got the boat. Should you let go, the attached paddle "might" slow the departure of your ski...maybe...maybe not. Coiled "paddle leashes" seldom wrap around your legs. Leg leashes often tangle around your legs, especially if you fall off a couple times while trying to remount...This could needlessly end your life. The HUKI leash can be used as a leg leash or a paddle leash. Just remove (with an allen wrench) the larger leg cuff to expose the brass eye end and tie that end to your boat, wrap the "small" velcro enclosure around your paddle shaft.

Personal Floatation Devices:
Wearing your PFD or Life Jacket is probably the most obvious way to protect yourself. Bungeeing it to the boat is a dangerous practice, all be it legal in most States of the U.S and in other countries. Many individual Outrigger paddlers in Hawaii don't own a PFD, nor do their racing regulations require life jackets to be on the canoes and surf skis. In other places where colder waters are found, paddlers are often required by law to keep them on their craft. Many paddlers wear their PFD when they're alone or when they get separated from the pack. Most, tie their PFD to the boat where it usually stays, even when they huli (turn over). I can not stress enough, how important it is for you to wear your PFD at all times, since it is your last line of defense against DEATH. If everything else fails, but your life jacket...You still have a chance. When looking for a PFD, buy one that is not restrictive of your paddling movements and that is as compact and light as possible. There are some very nice inflatable PFDs that are also very light and offer little wind resistance. If you're comfortable in your PFD, you'll more likely choose to wear it instead of bungee it down to the deck.

Packing for safety:
Sky flares and orange smoke are very cheap, light weight and water proof. You can buy these kinds of items at most boating stores. They can be contained within a fanny pack along with a small tow rope. None of these things will do any good if they're bungee'd to the boat, and that boat gets away from you.

Since sky flares stay up for only a few seconds, I carry three...they can be quite entertaining. Orange smoke is a good, long lasting attention getter. These sticks produce enough thick orange smoke to choke you to death if you don't drown. You'll only need one.

A tow rope is a simple, light and versatile device that can be used for so many unanticipated situations. 1/4 inch nylon twine doesn't absorb water and it floats. I carry 25 feet. Tie one end to the front iako, do a loop around the nose (to guide the canoe), and find someone to pull you across the finish line. Surf Skis can be tied at the steering cables or leash loop, then looped around the nose and dragged front first. Surf skis can also be tied at the steering yoke above the

A small hand held VHF Marine radio can be a good thing for coastal cruising and touring. It may be a little too heavy and bulky for racing, but with a range of up to 20 miles, it's uses are obvious. There are several models of "submersible" mini VHF marine band two way radios on the market these days, they weigh nothing and don't require a license to operate in the US. Some nations require a license that is easy to obtain.

At a recent race, I loaned my safety pack to a first time racer who looked like he might need it more than I...He huli'd far from shore and was unable to get back on the canoe in the rough water. The leash kept the canoe next to him so he could retrieve the PFD and put it on. He summoned the safety boat with the whistle, tied his canoe to the power boat and made it back without loosing anything...including his life.

These safety items can be carried on the 6 person canoes as well as the small canoes and surf skis. We not only have a responsibility to ourselves and our families to stay alive but we each represent this sport, each time we go out on the water.