PADDLERsmart! USA Knowledge Base
Module 04 - Safe Boat Operation
SECURING A PADDLE CRAFT
If you don’t secure your paddle craft to shore or to a dock, it could easily drift away! Canoes and kayaks are lightweight—a strong breeze could send either type of paddle craft across a lake pretty quickly. A stray kayak would be a hazard on the water for other boaters. So always secure your paddle craft!
How to Secure Your Paddle Craft to a Dock:
- Tie the bow and stern lines so that the craft is parallel to the dock.
- Tie the lines tightly enough so that the craft doesn’t bump or scrape against the dock when waves roll in.
- Dock Tip: Place cushions or bumpers between the dock and the paddle craft to avoid scratching your paddle craft.
How to Secure Your Paddle Craft to a Rocky Shore
- Exit the paddle craft.
- Transport the paddle craft beyond the rocky area to a place where it won’t become damaged by the ground beneath it.
- If the weather becomes stormy, tie the paddle craft to a nearby tree and flip it over to keep the hull from filling with rainwater.
How to Secure Your Paddle Craft to a Sandy Beach
- Exit the paddle craft.
- Pull the paddle craft onto shore (there’s little risk of damaging the hull on sand).
- If the weather becomes stormy, transport it away from the water, tie the paddle craft to a neighboring tree and flip it over to keep the hull from filling with rainwater.
