Occasional inflatable Kayak use - L-Jacket or buoyancy aid

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PhillM

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A couple of years ago I brought a Sevylor inflatable kayak for use on a canal holiday. The barge had buoyancy aids and the kids used those.

Kids are grown and gone. I am now thinking that it might be nice for me and a friend to paddle up the Hamble, etc. I was wondering if we would be OK with our automatic life jackets from the boat (Seago 15N Automatic) or should I invest in buoyancy aids. I am more bothered about storing more kit than I am about cost. What do you think?
 
I assume you mean 150N. 15N isn't going to do a lot.

Buoyancy aids without a doubt. You will go in at some point. Ever tried swimming with an inflated LJ?
 
Angele said:
I assume you mean 150N. 15N isn't going to do a lot.

Buoyancy aids without a doubt. You will go in at some point. Ever tried swimming with an inflated LJ?
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Ever tried swimming in oilies and a buoyancy aid? I think it's about the same as an LJ, if you use the recommended backstroke for an LJ.
I would use a BA though, but I already have them.
 
lw395 said:
Ever tried swimming in oilies and a buoyancy aid? I think it's about the same as an LJ, if you use the recommended backstroke for an LJ.
I would use a BA though, but I already have them.
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I don't wear oilies in my kayak. I have a wetsuit. With wetsuit + BA, sure swimming isn't easy, but it is a lot easier than oilies and an inflated LJ.

I remember watching someone trying to swim with an inflated LJ. The only way they could manage was to deflate partially, which rather defeats the point.
 
I would have said buoyancy aid on basis you don't want to pay out for a new cylinder for the life jacket that often. Many BA seem to be offered fairly cheaply or of course down at your Sevlor store. We have one on board and use with BA from dingy sailing and much less stress when you fall in than the cylinder firing off . If you dont like the bulk you could look at gilet with buoyancy built in which might be closer to 15N mentioned but a wetsuit shorty might be more advisable in UK if you have any doubts as to your sense of balance to give some warmth after a dip .
 
Definitely buoyancy aid, not lifejacket, so you can swim in it and recover yourself if you take a dip.

I used to do a lot of sea kayaking, and I've never seen a serious kayaker/canoeist wear anything else.

Note that you can buy buoyancy aids specifically designed for kayaking/canoeing. These give more room for arm movement, and (usually) fit the body more closely than the basic dinghy fare you'll find in the chandlers. Ones for sea kayaking usually have a number of pockets for kit.
 
Yes decathlon was the source of our Sevlor and was just the place I had in mind. I hadn't heard of spefic kayaking versions before though which might be worth splashing out on one day .
 
Buoyancy aid: it's what they're designed for. In a canoe there's little risk of going into the water unconscious and needing a lifejacket to get you faceup. Rather, you need maximum freedom of movement both in and out of the water plus a some support in the water: that's what a buoyancy aid is for. Basic ones are cheap as chips, ones with all sorts of pockets and loops can be more expensive than a lifejacket.
I have a pretty basic Baltic one in a rather horrid pinky orange with a single pocket for use on the club safety boat. Cost about £25 iirc, does the job and allows you to entre the water if needed. I used to have a much fancier one when I was teaching safety boat courses with pockets for all sorts of useful stuff but gave it away when we sailed off into the sun.
Do try on what ever you decide to buy: there generally isn't much adjustment in them so you need to make sure it's comfortable.
 
When we first got inflatables we used LJs (as we had them on the boat) and each managed to fire one off in short order – in my case, necessitating a short swim. We soon brought from home the BAs we used on rigid kayaks.
 
Another vote for buoyancy aid, and Decathlon. The one at West Quay is pretty close. If you do get one from there I would would avoid the cheaper ones and go for this one. A bit more buoyancy, better adjustability and you will find the pockets useful for snacks/ phones/cameras etc.
 
PhillM said:
Thanks guys, that is pretty conclusive! Guess whats just gone on my shopping list ;)
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Just remember that kayaking BAs are not quite the same as dinghy ones. The latter are sometimes quite long (can squeeze uncomfortably against sides of kayak) and others restrict arm movement, which is really annoying. .

Kayaking BAs are typically shorter and more front/back loaded. Also handy if they include a little net pocket in front to store maps, phone, energy bars, etc.

Happy paddling ;).
 
KellysEye said:
The issue with a buoyancy aid is it won't hold your head up if you go in the water a lifejacket will.
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Correct, but, from a kayak, you usually enter the water fully conscious. You might not if you fall off a yacht wearing an LJ. So you don’t need something that supports your head. You need something that allows you to swim. Back to the kayak if you can. Back to the shore if not.

The OP is talking about an inflatable kayak. They tend to be used close to shore, and the OP specifically mentioned using it on the Hamble. You don’t want an LJ for that. You want a buoyancy aid.
 
dom said:
Just remember that kayaking BAs are not quite the same as dinghy ones. The latter are sometimes quite long (can squeeze uncomfortably against sides of kayak) and others restrict arm movement, which is really annoying. .

Kayaking BAs are typically shorter and more front/back loaded. Also handy if they include a little net pocket in front to store maps, phone, energy bars, etc.

Happy paddling ;).
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+1 for this. The longer Ba/lj get in the way of your legs in a kayak. Get the shorter one.
 
Angele said:
Correct, but, from a kayak, you usually enter the water fully conscious. You might not if you fall off a yacht wearing an LJ. So you don’t need something that supports your head. You need something that allows you to swim. Back to the kayak if you can. Back to the shore if not.

The OP is talking about an inflatable kayak. They tend to be used close to shore, and the OP specifically mentioned using it on the Hamble. You don’t want an LJ for that. You want a buoyancy aid.
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Unless the OP is being silly with his blow-up kayak on the Hamble, he is very likely to have many happy hours paddling without getting wet. An LJ is unlikely to get used in anger.
It's not like using a sit-on at the beach or whatever.
 
Angele said:
The OP is talking about an inflatable kayak. They tend to be used close to shore, and the OP specifically mentioned using it on the Hamble. You don’t want an LJ for that. You want a buoyancy aid.
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Also if you do accidentally go for a swim, a kayak can easily be righted and off you go -- tricky solo, easy when tandem.

BTW, you mention the Hamble, in which case either the OP is either Popeye the Sailor with a couple of cans of spinach, or he's going to use the tides.

Sevylors are easy to pootle along in; much harder to to wind up :nonchalance:
 
We shall be working the tides, I can assure you!

Noted re short BA’s

Thanks



dom said:
Also if you do accidentally go for a swim, a kayak can easily be righted and off you go -- tricky solo, easy when tandem.

BTW, you mention the Hamble, in which case either the OP is either Popeye the Sailor with a couple of cans of spinach, or he's going to use the tides.

Sevylors are easy to pootle along in; much harder to to wind up :nonchalance:
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If not you could always invest in an inflatable with a sail . They might be just the thing for a trip along the Hamble.
Have you found any useful guides for exploring the Hamble by Seyvlor as I'm sure the must be a lot of places under that bridge where only mobo can go which might be interesting?
 
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