[Paddlewise] Safety in recreational kayaks

This discussion sure turned lively - and I think I have a pretty good idea 
how the group feels about regulation. I don't like it much myself, but I 
think there are times when some rules just make sense. We do put basic 
safety features on other equipment that is used for sports, and people 
don't seem to find it very intrusive. Safety bindings on skis come to mind.

I still think it makes sense to require built-in flotation in all new 
recreational kayaks, and it is not a terribly difficult ting to accomplish 
from an engineering standpoint. All it would take is to attach closed cell 
foam to the inside of the hull along each side. Since recreational boats 
are built relatively wide for stability, there is room enough next to the 
seat(s). Such a piece of foam could be molded for an exact fit - and the 
needed mold would cost a small fraction of the cost of the mold for the hull.

My suggestion is to mandate flotation as part of a safety standard for new 
recreational boats, and the flotation would be installed by the 
manufacturer when the boat is built. I would not support any attempt to 
enforce the standards by on-water inspections. It is simply too difficult 
to legislate what is approved flotation and what is not. For 
existing  boats I think our best bet is to try to educate the users. I 
would also not support a paddler competence certificate. The enforcement 
would be too intrusive and the usefulness questionable.

We can probably agree that a boat with flotation is safer than one without. 
I do not buy the argument that adding flotation will make people take more 
chances and thus become less safe. How much faster do you ski because of 
your safety bindings? Placing the flotation in the cavity under the 
gunwales (or where the gunwales would be if there were any) is reasonably 
convenient from a production standpoint. It will provide the needed 
flotation, and it will contribute quite a lot to the boat's stability once 
it has been swamped.

Most folding kayaks come with flotation configured the way I suggest, and 
the flotation has proven effective. I have built folding canoes and kayaks 
with side flotation for years and have first hand experience with the 
benefits. It is hard to understand why recreational hard boats should not 
have the same benefits. In more specialized higher performance boats I 
would not support the mandated flotation that I'd like to see in 
recreational boats. Because the users are much better informed there is 
less of a need. And such a mandate would restrict designs too much.

Alv Elvestad
Pakboats

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