Top Six Safety Tips For Paddlers: Simple Things To Make Paddling Safer & A Lot More Fun

Copyright © May 2026 by CanoeSport Outfitters | Est. 1992 | 34 Years Serving Iowa Paddlers

Whether you're gliding across a glassy lake at sunrise, navigating a winding river, or exploring a coastal estuary, paddling is one of those activities that feeds the soul. It's accessible, it's peaceful, and it connects you to the natural world in a way that's hard to beat. But like any outdoor pursuit, it comes with risks — risks that are almost entirely manageable when you're prepared. So, before you throw your boat on the car and head for the water, let's talk about six safety tips that every paddler should have dialed in.

1. Don't Consume Alcohol

I’ve mentioned this is several articles in the past and I’ll bring it up again! Paddling and alcohol don't mix — full stop. It might seem like enjoying a cold one on the water is part of the laid-back paddling lifestyle, but it isn’t. Alcohol impairs your balance, your judgment, your reaction time, and your ability to self-rescue if things go sideways. On the water, those aren't things to compromise. In most states, operating a vessel under the influence carries the same legal consequences as a DUI on the road. Save the cold beverage until you're off the water and your boat is back in the garage.

2. Always Wear a PFD

This is another key safety tip that is always worth mentioning! A Personal Flotation Device — your life jacket — is the single most important piece of safety gear you own. And yet it only works if you're actually wearing it. A PFD stored under the deck of your kayak or stuffed inside a storage hatch does absolutely nothing for you if you flip unexpectedly. And if your solution is to put it on after you end up in the water, I strongly urge you to try that in a safe controlled environment first. You’ll probably find out that’s not going to work even if your calm and the water is warm.

Modern PFDs are comfortable, low-profile, and designed to move with you. There's no good reason not to wear one every single time you're on the water. Make it a non-negotiable habit — for yourself and for anyone paddling with you.

3. Dress for Conditions

This one goes a little deeper than just checking the weather app before you leave the house. Dressing for conditions means thinking about several things at once.

First, skip the cotton. Cotton absorbs water and stays wet, which means it loses all of its insulating value the moment you get splashed — or worse, end up in the water. Maybe it works on a windless, 90 degree day in August on a small lake. Most paddling days you’ll benefit more from wearing clothes made of synthetic fabrics and wool instead. 

Second, dress for the water temperature, not just the air temperature. This is the mistake that catches a lot of paddlers off guard, especially in spring and early summer. The air might be a pleasant 70 degrees, but if the water is still 50 degrees, immersion could lead to cold water shock or hypothermia in a matter of minutes. A good rule of thumb that many paddlers use: if the combined air and water temperature doesn't add up to at least 120 degrees, consider wearing a wetsuit or drysuit.

Third, use judgment about when to go at all. Stormy skies, high winds, lightning in the forecast — these are all reasons to leave the boat on the car. No paddle is worth getting caught on open water in a thunderstorm or fighting wind and waves beyond your ability to manage. Checking a reliable weather source before you

launch isn't optional — it's part of the routine.

4. Choose Your Destination With Your Skill and Gear in Mind

This tip is about honesty — honest assessment of your skills, your experience, and your equipment. And those three things aren't always the same.

Experience and skill are easy to confuse. You might have been paddling for ten years, but if most of that time was spent on calm flatwater lakes, that experience doesn't automatically translate to the skill needed for coastal paddling, tidal currents, or moving water. Be honest with yourself about what you actually know how to do under pressure, not just on a good day.

Equipment matters just as much. Recreational kayaks — those wide, stable, often open-cockpit boats that are great for calm lakes and slow rivers — are not designed for whitewater or for open water where conditions can change quickly and a self-rescue may be required. They typically don't have bulkheads to keep them afloat if they swamp, and they're not designed to be re-entered in the water the way a sea kayak or touring kayak is. Putting a recreational boat in conditions it wasn't built for doesn't just create a difficult situation — it can create a deadly one. The same goes for using a flatwater canoe in whitewater. Every boat is designed with specific conditions in mind and respecting that design is part of paddling smart.

Start with destinations that match your current skill set and gear. Build up to more challenging water gradually, ideally with instruction or with more experienced paddlers alongside you.

5. Practice Your Rescues

Knowing how to rescue yourself — and how to help rescue others — is one of the most valuable things you can invest time in as a paddler. A paddle float rescue, an assisted rescue, a canoe over canoe recovery — these are skills that can be invaluable if someone capsizes. But here's the catch: the time to learn them is not when you're already cold, scared, and struggling in the water.

Practice your rescues in calm, controlled conditions. Head out on a warm day on a calm lake, with a friend, and intentionally tip over. Run through your rescues until they feel natural and automatic. Take a safety course if you haven't already — organizations like CanoeSport Outfitters offer excellent instruction for paddlers of all skill levels. When the real moment comes — and at some point, it will — you want muscle memory working for you.

6. Always Prepare for What Might Happen

Here's the mindset shift that ties everything together: assume you're going to tip over. Assume you're going to get wet. Assume conditions might change. Assume something unexpected will happen at some point. Because if you paddle long enough, it will.

That kind of thinking isn't pessimistic — it's practical. When you paddle with the assumption that things can go wrong, you prepare accordingly. You practice your skills before you need them. You bring a dry bag with a change of clothes, so getting wet doesn't turn into hypothermia. You carry safety gear: a whistle, a bilge pump, a paddle float, a towline, a first aid kit, a charged phone in a waterproof case, and maybe a light if there's a chance you'll be out near dusk.

Being prepared isn't about being fearful. It's about being free — free to enjoy the water confidently, knowing have what you need to handle what comes your way.

Get Out There — Safely

Paddling is one of the great joys of outdoor life. These six tips aren't meant to make it feel complicated or scary. They're meant to keep you on the water longer, enjoying it more, for years to come. Check your gear, wear your PFD, be honest about your skills, and always, always be ready for the unexpected. See you out there.

About The Author

Jeff Holmes has been paddling since his dad brought home an aluminum canoe in 1975. In 1988 he started publishing Canoeing Iowa magazine and in 1992 he opened CanoeSport Outfitters, his retail store in Indianola, Iowa. For more details on his experiences, training as an instructor, and more check out his biography at www.canoesportoutfitters.com/meet-the-team.

CanoeSport Outfitters | “Where Paddling Is A Priority”

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