What to wear - Early season kayaking
When kayaking during early season what you wear is considerably more important than it is during the summer months. The ocean temperature is lower at this time of year, average temperatures in the water around Bowen Island during kayaking season are as follows:
March 7.5 Celsius
April 9.7
May 13.2
June 15.9
July 18.5
August 18.7
Sep. 15.7
October 11.6
In addition to the water being colder, the conditions are often more challenging too. The likelihood of getting wet is much higher. Here is what I recommend wearing (and carrying with you) if you have them:
Base layers
Wear the same kind of base layers as you would hiking or on a ski mountain. Quick drying nylon or polyester layers are ideal. Wool dries slower but still insulates when wet, so is a good option too.
Avoid cotton and no denim!
Wear warm socks or neoprene boots to help keep your feet warm, my feet are often the coldest part of me when kayaking.
Neoprene gloves are also worth considering.
Outer layers
Waterproof and wind proof outer layers are essential, if you paddle regularly invest in a paddling jacket, designed specifically for kayaking, it makes a big difference.
Standard Safety Gear
Whatever you wear the 5 items you must take with you are:
Personal Floatation Device (wear it properly fastened at all times)
Whistle (for signaling)
Pump (or another bailing device)
Throw bag (15m floating line)
Paddle (your means of propulsion)
Specialist Equipment
Having recommended a paddling jacket for early season, if you have access to a wet suit, or better still a dry suit, use one. Even with warm air conditions most guides and instructors will continue to wear dry suits through until at least the middle of June each year. If you kayak often enough to invest in a dry suit, remember, they only keep you dry, not warm...so layering up underneath is just as important as it is without a dry suit!
Use a spray skirt* to keep the water out of your kayak, and to help keep your bottom half warmer. Nylon spray skirts are effective in calmer conditions and reasonably priced, neoprene skirts much more effective if water is likely to be regularly crossing the deck of your kayak.
* Spray skirts should only be worn if you have been trained in their use (we run capsize recovery courses, Paddle Canada Basic Sea Kayaking courses and Paddle Canada Level 1 Skills courses)
Spare Clothes
If you do get wet either from capsize or from rain and water splash, have some spare clothes with you in a dry bag. Use them if you get cold and wet while paddling, better to be dry if you can!
Being prepared for the worst case (ie capsize and full immersion) is important. Knowing where you will be able to get into a fully dry set of clothes is very important. This means understanding your route and the places you can get to dry land is an essential part of your float plan. Be prepared!
When to paddle and when not to paddle...
Perhaps the most important decision is knowing when to go out and when to stay at home.
Class 2 water conditions are prevalent in Howe Sound, this can often mean winds of 15-25 knots for periods during the day. Kayakers who have not paddled in these conditions and honed their skills appropriately need to make sure they are aware of the marine forecast and use other data sources (eg. Windy) to assess whether to go out at all.
