Whitewater rapids are not easy places to conquer since they are often difficult and challenging. There are many things you can prepare for and do yourself to support the impeccable safety design inherent in your inflatable kayak and ensure your safety and survival on your first kayaking expedition.

Any seasoned boater knows that a strong and durable vessel can only go so far in the water. Certainly, it can keep you dry– well, your lower body at least– but navigating it in fast changing rapids entails skill and physical strength and stamina.

Your safety on the water depends not only on your inflatable kayak but to an equal degree, it also depends on you. There are certain things you can do both to yourself and to your boat to prevent any untoward incident from happening.

The first thing you can do is to equip yourself with the necessary knowledge and skills about the activity. You should have taken lessons.

Learn how to paddle so the inflatable kayak will respond to you. Your lessons can come from your parents or from a formal kayaker for as long as long as they truly know the sport. Your goal in these lessons should be to learn how to navigate in whitewater. You have to know both theory and real-world practice.

It presupposes previous experience in much calmer waters before you can take your adventure to more demanding, less safe areas. It also means knowing how your blow up operates and what to do in case it gets punctured.

Next, you have to be in top physical and mental form. This is a requirement because kayaking requires presence of mind. It entails making sudden decisions. Water conditions change abruptly and you have to know how to respond to it in a snap. Because the water is powerful, you have to be strong enough physically to handle it and bring your inflatable kayak to where you want it to go. So, work out regularly and build those muscles! The swirling rapids, even if you’re on the best inflatable around is no place for the faint-of-limb and the faint-of-heart.

Do a thorough check up of your inflatable kayak before setting out into the water. Inflate your kayak in a place free from abutting tree roots or sharp edges so it does not suffer a puncture. Pump in some air into your kayak and then check it once it’s fully blown to ensure that there nothing unusual about it that could mar its integrity while on water. Inflatables these days may be strong vessels but you have everything to gain if you still do your pre-departure inspection.

As a final precaution, see to it that all members of the kayaking expedition have their lifejackets or personal flotation devices on them. Since PFDs are useless when they’re not on a person, they have to be worn before you start so that you don’t have to worry about putting them on in the event of an emergency. Make a final check before paddling out and do not make room for anyone who is sick or high on drugs or alcohol. Bring only people who are ready and physically and mentally prepared for your expedition.

Last but not least, don’t forget to check out our Sea Eagle inflatable kayaks review and this post on the Sea Eagle Sport Kayak.