Paddle Owsley Fork

DO YOU FIT YOUR KAYAK?

Not every kayak is perfect for every paddler.
Not every paddler will fit in every kayak.

Take time to fit a paddler to a kayak before they glide off into the sunset. Fitting a paddler to a kayak is all about making sure they are
- comfortable and
- capable of controlling the kayak.

The goal is to maintain the highest level of safety. A few pointers are listed below to help a paddler best fit their boat.

Choose the Right Size Kayak.
Select a kayak that matches the paddler's weight and height.
- Longer kayaks offer speed.
- Shorter kayaks are easy to maneuver on a dime.

Performance Weight Capacity.
See post on FB page Paddle Owsley Fork, dated 8/15/24, to learn all about maximum weight capacity and performance weight capacity.
- Make sure your body and gear are at or slightly under your kayak's performance weight capacity.
- The manufacturer of your vessel should be able to tell you the maximum weight capacity for your specific model of kayak.
- Max weight should also be listed in the SPECS for your make and model.
- Find out your max weight capacity and multiply it by 65 percent. That number is your performance weight capacity.

Choose the right kayak for the job.
Kayaks are used for
- recreation,
- touring,
- fishing, and
- white water rapids aka river-running.

It is unsafe to run a river in a recreational kayak. Recreational kayaks are made of inferior plastic like the plastic in a kids pedal trike. Kayaks capable of enduring the beating from whitewater are fiberglass or other resins. Rapids and rocks will crush a recreational kayak like a soda pop can under your boot. All types of kayaks are safe on a calm lake. The most suited for a serene lake is a recreational kayak with its wide bottom known for stability.

Figure out where you intend to kayak and purchase the appropriate style for the intended use. Do some research. Bet your bottom dollar, research is worth its weight in gold!

The seat should be comfortable.
Adjusted the seat to the paddler's height. Legs should be comfortably bent at the knee with feet leveraged on pegs or braces. The paddler’s back should be supported by the seat. Take note to move your body to the back of the seat. Note that your back is centered on the backrest. Move the seat forward or backward to find a supportive comfy position.

Foot Pegs or Braces.
The paddler's feet should rest firmly on the foot pegs or braces. The knees should be slightly bent. Strive for comfortable contact with the foot pegs or braces to maximize control of the boat.

Legs.
Ensure the paddler's legs are not cramped. There should be enough space for the paddler to occasionally shift their weight. Changing posture while maintaining control of the kayak should be possible.

Adjust Hip and Thigh Padding.
Some kayaks have adjustable hip pads and thigh padding. These should be snug but not overly tight in order to achieve control and comfort.

Length of your paddle.
The paddle should be the right length for the paddler's height. A rule of thumb is to choose a paddle that is about 8-10 inches longer than the paddler's height.

Double check Safety Gear.
The paddler must have a properly fitted life jacket (PFD). The paddler should properly snap the buckles. Helmets and spray skirts may be necessary depending on the conditions and kayak use. Helmets and spray skirts are a must for white water rapids.

Practice Balance.
The paddler should practice balancing in the kayak to ensure they feel stable and comfortable. Balance is compromised when sitting too far to the left or to the right. Before leaving shore the paddler should make sure they are smack dab in the middle of the seat. The paddler's back should rest firmly on the backrest.

Correct Posture.
Sit upright with a relaxed posture. Core strength is critical for kayak stability and to prevent straining the paddler. Make sure your back is snuggly against the backrest.

Adjust again and again.
Throughout the aquatic adventure, the paddler should adjust their position as needed for comfort and control. Make changes to maintain good paddling technique.

If you are uncomfortable then you likely are not fitted properly to your vessel. Slow down, stop, correct your position and posture.

- Ensure your hands are equidistant on the paddle.
- Sit back in your seat, check that your knees are slightly bent and feet are resting solidly on pegs or braces.
- If pegs are positioned too close to the paddler, leg cramps are likely.
- Control of the boat is compromised if the braces or pegs are too far from the paddler.
- Once the paddler has regained comfort to optimize technique and control, the paddler may resume their excursion.

Take the time to fit a kayak to a paddler before they leave shore. Believe me, it is worth every second!

Disclaimer.
I am not a subject matter expert. This post is intended for pleasure reading and is not to be substituted for professional advice. This post is merely my two cents worth. That being said, my thoughts aren’t worth a great deal. Seek the advice of a professional capable of a higher level of expertise.

Photo credit Trish A. 4th generation North Georgia mountain cabin.

Contemplating buying a kayak?
Try out many types of kayaks before buying. Rent or borrow different types, styles, makes and models of kayaks. Hang out at a boat ramp and ask paddler's for recommendations.

If a perfect stranger hanging around the boat ramp asked to try out my kayak I would certainly let them. Most paddlers are generous and helpful. Seasoned kayakers enjoy discussing their experience at the school of hard knocks.

Look at used kayaks on resale sites like marketplace or craigslist. Keep in mind several key factors when discussing boats with sellers.

SIt-in. Sit-upon.
Test paddle a sit-in kayak and a sit-upon kayak. Sit-in kayaks have a lower center of gravity and are less tippy. Sit-upon kayaks are higher above the water line and are less stable.

Shorter. Longer.
Test paddle shorter and longer kayaks. You will find shorter kayaks turn on a dime. Longer kayaks are built for speed.

Where will you be paddling?
The first consideration is “where will you be using your kayak?” A calm lake is a good place to learn to paddle. If you plan to paddle at a lake you want to consider purchasing a recreational kayak.

Recreational kayaks.
Recreational kayaks have a wide flat bottom specifically designed for stability. Please note, the material used to fabricate a recreational kayak will not withstand the pounding of white water. A kayak for the lake will not also double as a river-running kayak. The plastic used to make a recreational kayak is nearly the same as the plastic in a Little Tike pedal toy. Both will crush like a soda pop can in white water conditions. Don't be mistaken. You could risk a fatality if you run white water in a recreational kayak.

Paddlers body weight.
Next, consider the paddlers body weight. If a paddler is too heavy for a specific make and model kayak the water line is longer on the kayak. This inhibits maneuverability. If the paddler is too light for a certain make and model kayak the boat floats too high on the surface of the water and stability is compromised. Look at the manufacturer's specs and find out the maximum weight capacity.

Maximum weight capacity. Performance weight capacity.
Maximum weight capacity indicates the weight where if one adds another pound the boat will not function. To find performance weight capacity one multiples the max capacity x 65 %. For example, a boat's max capacity is 300 pounds according to manufacturer specs. Performance capacity is 300 x .65 = 195 pounds. This 195 pound performance weight capacity includes the paddler and gear. Over 195 pounds and you lose performance objectives such as training (stay in a straight line), stability (tippy-ness) and buoyancy (float, ability to stay on top of water).

Find performance weight capacity for each kayak you consider. See if your weight is equal to or under the performance weight capacity. But, not too far under.

Buoyancy.
Buoyant blocks of foam are placed in most sit-in kayak’s fore and aft during initial manufacture. Make sure they are in the used boat you are considering as a purchase. Some people make the mistake of taking out the foam floats in the front and back of a new sit-in kayak. New paddlers mistake the blocks of foam for packing material. Do not remove the foam. If your used kayak has no foam in the front and back of the kayak then get on the internet and do some research or call the manufacturer. Find out the type of foam and amount that was issued with the boat when it was brand new. Replace the foam.

Blocks of foam are critical in case you capsize (turn over) on the water. The boat will begin to fill up with water should you flip. if there is no foam eventually the kayak may sink unless you have a lucky random air pocket. Replace the missing foam or have a potentially dangerous experience later on.

This summary of considerations should point you in the right direction when contemplating a kayak purchase. Enjoy the process!

We are getting ready to do something new beginning in September by establishing and sponsoring local/regional recreational clubs for our enthusiastic Get Outside KY patrons which will be driven virtually by in the social media. Find Get Outside now on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Help us expand our community! Share our page and website now with friends that might like to Get Outside for backpacking, bicycling, bushcraft, canoeing, fishing, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and running starting this Fall. With your help we can fill up the Berea Tourism Calendar for all four seasons.

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Website | https://www.GetOutsideKY.com

Exciting! Area clubs based on interest coming up!

We are getting ready to do something new beginning in September by establishing and sponsoring local/regional recreational clubs for our enthusiastic Get Outside KY patrons which will be driven virtually by in the social media. Find Get Outside now on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Help us expand our community! Share our page and website now with friends that might like to Get Outside for backpacking, bicycling, bushcraft, canoeing, fishing, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and running starting this Fall. With your help we can fill up the Berea Tourism Calendar for all four seasons.

Hashtags , , ,

Website | https://www.GetOutsideKY.com

SUN SHINE ALL DAY! SMART TIME. REAL TIME.
Elitha Harris is local to Owsley Fork Reservoir & life long resident of Red Lick, the most beautiful valley in the area. Year after year she plans reunions with extended family & friends here at the Reservoir. She can get in her daily cardio & annual visit with her peeps while adventuring here at Paddle Owsley Fork. Smart time. Real time.

RAINY DAY?
RAIN OR SHINE, Owsley Fork Reservoir is the place for adventure. This high schooler finds new horizons in a library book while her brother scouts the far shore across Owsley. He paddles to the snug cove which is a direct right from 11 o'clock.

FACING FEAR. My experience has been that facing situations where I am initially uncomfortable is freeing. Anxiety creates stumbling blocks that I take great steps to avoid. I ask myself why am I uncomfortable, afraid or fearful? That exercise alone minimizes fear. Only by stepping out of the typical and stepping into the unknown am I able to size my fear back to manageable. What are you afraid of today?

WHAT TO DO IF PADDLING & LIGHTNING STRIKES.
If you are out on the water when a storm is brewing
- seek shelter on shore as soon as possible
- get out of the boat
- secure the boat
- walk away from the water's edge
- if you absolutely can not get away from the water then make yourself small. Squat or kneel on the ground and lower your head. Standing tall, you may attract lightning strikes. Balling up on the ground makes it much less likely that lightning will seek you as a strike target.
- stay away from the water until 20 minutes after the last thunder clap or lightning strike.

Water attracts and conducts electricity produced by lightning strikes. If you are on or around water you increase the potential for electrocution. So, stay away until the scene is safe!

DIY KAYAK RACK PATTERN.
Blake Canter of Irvine KY designed this free and easy-to-build portable kayak rack for yard, garage or small truck bed. Blake uses his rack in a mid-size Toyota truck bed. Ingenious use of two pallets and a drop or two of paint!

Essentially, Blake stripped the slats off of one side of each pallet. He turned the remaining slat side down to the ground. Then the two pallets were joined (you gotta figure out that part). Blake used the stripped off slats and a few screws to create bars to hold the kayaks in a sideways/upright position perpendicular to the original pallets sitting on the ground. Now, the two pallets are joined for a rack base and bars hold the kayaks in place. He added rings to the rack base. The rings are used for bungy cords or ratchet straps. The ratchet straps secure the kayakswhen the truck is on the road.

- This rack is portable.
- Keep kayaks indoors in the rack during the off season.
- Move the rack to your truck bed for ease of transport, storage, and security during the spring, summer and fall months.
- The rack is free of costs if you can find a couple pallets and some screws.

Blake, this is such an easy and inexpensive solution to a real life problem. What an imagination you have in allocating resources and staying on budget! Great job!

WALK THROUGH A NEST OF INFANT DEER TICKS & SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
Do you know what the tiny deer tick looks like? Do you know how to get them off quickly and effectively?

- immediately get in the shower.

- use a plastic scrubby to rake your skin. The scrubby's tiny holes rake the ticks off your skin. Scrubbing with a wash cloth works too.

- ticks will move to a warm soft place to latch on. Check behind your knees, armpits, beneath elastwaistic bands, behind the ears, the hair line at the base of the scalp, and the belly button.

- if a tick is embedded in or under your skin, use sanitized fine point tweezers to grasp the ticks head as close to your skin as possible. Make certain to get all of the tick removed. If not, an infection or potentially fatal disease could be in your future. Sanitize the bite site.

- tweezers are helpful.
- use a flashlight. The infant deer tick is difficult to see without a magnifying glass. They look like a tiny freckle.

- if you are unsure about removing the tick and all its body parts from your skin go to a health care provider for assistance.

My daughter walked through some weeds and sat down on a picnic bench. She put her hands on her knees and felt something itchy. Turning her palms up she saw hundreds or possibly thousands of infant ticks so tiny they were hardly visible with the naked eye.

The bites felt like pinching stings. Then they became itchy. She walked across the street to our house. By the time she was in the shower they had imbedded in and under her skin. Hundreds of ticks. With lightning speed hundreds of ticks moved from her ankles to the crease in the back of her knees. Then to her swimsuit and shorts elastic bands; embedding in her skin under the elastic. She used a bath scrubby to rake the ticks off her skin. The embedded ticks were removed from her skin with sterilized tweezers and a flashlight. She got the tick parts out of her skin and sterilized the bite site. She now has hundreds of bites all over her legs and especially where elastic was holding her clothing tightly to her skin.

I am itchy from describing this experience. I have lyme disease from a tick bite years ago. Believe me when I say to use vigilance in checking yourself carefully for ticks each and every time you come in from the woods.

If you are unsure if you successfully removed all the ticks body from the skin go to your health care provider immediately.

Watch carefully for signs and symptoms of illness in the upcoming months. Write down the date you were bitten. Write down all signes and symptoms for a few months. Lyme disease often is mistaken for the flu. Write down the date of the tick bite, the date you noticed illness, share this with your provider.

Use vigilance and time to remove the ticks. Be 110 percent sure that every single body part of the tick is off your skin. If not you risk deadly disease. Real talk.

How people of wealth spend their money in comparison to people with low-incomes. The facts below make a compelling case for providing low-income people the opportunity to participate in outdoor exercise & adventures typically available to only the wealthy.

If low-income people have access to exercising their bodies and minds it may decrease current and future health related costs. People of low incomes may live longer & less diseased lives.

Low-income earners may move from one socioeconomic status to the next. Access to upward mobility can hypothetically help break the poverty cycle. This is worth my time and attention. Happy kayaking.

The facts listed below are some of the reasons why I provide high-end recreational opportunities to low-income participants. Comparison of spending habits of the wealthy and low-income earners:

- The wealthy take care of their health without incurring debt to pay for health care.
- The wealthy spend on high quality food and
- rich people spend 4 times more per pet than low income people. The top 1/4 of earners spend 4 times as much on pets than the lowest 1/4 of earners. They spend on pet toys.
- They purchase high quality clothes and furniture regardless of extra expense.
- The wealthy opt for items that last rather than cheaply manufactured trendy goods. They go for products which have longevity.
- The spend on their vacations.
- The rich spring for entertainment, and experiences including concerts, museums, and sporting events.
- Invest in retirement,
- Invest in education and
- Invest in health care.
- They buy quality food. 70 % of wealthy people eat whole, organic foods. They eat less than 300 calories a day of junk food. 97 % of low income people eat 300 calories or more per day of junk food.
- The wealthy exercise more than the poor.

- The wealthy spend on hobbies,
- Rich folks spend on playground equipment,
- The wealthy spend to exercise their bodies and minds.

PLAN FOR THE UNEXPECTED.
- Plan your excursion well even on familiar water.
- Give your float plan to a responsible person. Let them know the time you will return. Ask that person to check on you at the time you specify if you have not returned.
- Do not be tempted to deviate from the original plan you gave to the responsible person.
- Check the weather and cancel plans if the forecast appears ominous.
- Wear your life vest always. Buckle it properly.
- Take along drinking water.
- Put your phone or a walkie talkie tuned to channel 16 in a waterproof case on a lanyard around your neck. Or take a locator with you.
- Dress for the weather. Cotton is known as "death cloth". Jeans and T-shirts take too long to dry once they are damp. Instead of cotton jeans wear dry wick fabric. Instead of heavy leather work boots that when wet will be like concrete blocks tied to your feet try old light weight sneakers or shoes designed for use in and around water.
- Consider taking along an emergency kit with essentials. This comes in handy in the event you are caught out after dark & required to stay all night. This safety kit should include glo sticks to light your boat so that a rescue crew will see you. Fire making materials in case you are out after dark. Ponchos & emergency blankets to stay warm and dry. Include a foghorn and whistle for signaling distress. Drinking water, a compass, some rope will only help your situation.

Call now to connect with business.

Midnight at the Oasis with Joseph Parker and Michael Nunn. Summer 2023 I was on crutches. Paddlers like these 2 made my job undeniably easier. Me on crutches picking up and putting kayaks away in the dark. Well, that is a good way to break the other foot. Except, I broke the second foot as I fell through the deck trying to fix it. Broke both feet at different times in the same year. My lucky streak is still going strong in case you are wondering.

SUN & SKIN DAMAGE. U.S. Air Force Airman Malik & her Dad have the right idea covering up with long sleeved pullovers made of dry wick fabric. Long sleeves help one to avoid sunburn and the plethora of possible future skin diseases to which it contributes. Look for dry wick fabric long sleeved tops for relief from roasting hot days on the lake. Get the shirt damp to stay cooler. Miss Malik will have cherubic skin for years to come if she continues this skin-healthy habit. Note the sunglasses and broad rimmed hat; shielding eyes and face from the harmful effects of the sun. No chance the sun will diminish her stunning good looks.

What are you going to do if a storm comes up when you are Paddling Owsley Fork Reservoir? The only correct answer is to paddle to the nearest shore. Seek shelter on dry ground. Stay in place until 20 minutes after the last thunder clap or lightning strike. At that time it is safe to resume paddling. Photo credit: Haley Powell.

Think about what type of life jacket you wear for different recreational water activities you participate in. Not every life vest is appropriate for every water activity. Lifejackets are also called a life vest or personal flotation device (PDF).
A Type #1 jacket is the most buoyant of all types of PDFs with a whopping 22 pounds of buoyancy for adult sized jackets. The only Type #1 with greater bouyancy is for remote waters and has 35 pounds of buoyancy (floatability).
You have the greatest distance from your face to the water while wearing a Type #1 jacket. This is a critical feature in a situation where you become unconscious.
A Type #1 jacket WILL turn an unconscious person face up and keep your face well above the water level. This is the only type of life jacket that will turn you face up if you are not able to help yourself. Type #2 and Type #3 life vests MAY help turn an unconscious person but it is not a sure bet!
The Type #1 life vest is uncomfortable because of the buoyancy and stiff roll of material around your neck. However, it is a MUST wear in open, remote, rough, dangerous conditions.
Type #1 is the best life jacket manufactured and should be worn by non-swimmers, weak swimmers, inexperienced boaters, children, people with special health considerations, and seniors. If wearing type #2 or #3 lifejackets a person will likely need to kick and skim their arms to stay above the water level.
Commercial fisherman and others that work or play in open, remote, rough water are mandated to wear a Type #1 PDF. In fact those that sail in remote waters are encouraged to wear a PDF with 35 pounds of buoyancy to increase chances of rescue. Those sailing in remote water will also need a harness on their life jacket to fasten to the sail boats jack lines.
Think about what life vests you currently have for you and your family. When making life vest choices consider the age and swimming ability of each family member. Does anyone have special health considerations? Where will you be wearing your life jackets? Remote rough water or calm well known shallow water? Rapids in a river? Fishing from the shore on a calm lake? You may want to write down the answers to these questions for each family member. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

If you see this big guy roaming around lost in the Red Lick, Big Hill, Owsley Fork area he is chipped and has a home on Long Branch off of Red Lick Road, Berea, KY. Please share.

nextdoor.com

Heat related emergencies can happen to anyone. Heat exhaustion is when the body is overheated and at a high temperature. Deb Potter is correct, the infirmed, elderly, very young, and out of shape are especially vulnerable. If you are helping someone with heat exhaustion you may notice these signs and symptoms. The person is cool and clammy to the touch yet sweating profusely. Their face may be pink or red. Dizzy, faint, muscle cramps, headache, excessive thirst, dehydrations, nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, little urine output. CARE for the person by giving ice chips. Move the person to shade or are conditioning. Loosen clothing. Use a cool cloth to put cool water on the person's skin. You can put ice under their arm pits, on the groin, on the back of the knees, a cool cloth on the forehead. Monitor the person and assess for further care. If the person becomes disoriented or unconscious, place them in the recovery position and call 911. Continue to care for the person until help arrives.

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Another name for a Type 1 Life jacket (PFD) is an Offshore Life Jacket.
- A TYPE I PFD or OFFSHORE LIFE JACKET provides the greatest buoyancy of all the types of personal flotation devices. That means it floats better than Type 2 through 5 personal flotation devices.
- An offshore life vest works well in all types of water. Offshore life vests are made for open, rough, or remote waters where rescue may be delayed.
- Type 1 PFD's are designed to turn most unconscious wearers in the water to a face-up position.
- This is the best life vest you can wear! Type 2 through 5 personal flotation devices will not always keep you afloat without you kicking and skimming your arms.
- Type 2 through 5 will not turn you over to a face up position if you are unconscious.
- If you are not a strong swimmer always wear an offshore life vest on or around the water. Your life depends on it. The lives of others may depend on it also if you are called to help others!