The call of the water is strong — just ask one of the more than 220,000 Americans who bought a kayak last year.

The versatility of kayaking has made it one of the fastest-growing leisure activities in America. Paddlers, as kayak enthusiasts call themselves, can enjoy pastimes like fishing and competitive racing just as easily as they can enjoy lazy Sunday afternoons on the river with their family.

Be warned, however, that buying a new boat and immediately dipping the paddle into the water is neither practical nor safe.

“I’ve been on the water for 45 years. People with no experience think that they can take any old boat down any old creek, and that’s just not true. Kayaking isn’t inherently dangerous, but it needs to command a certain amount of respect,” said Betsy Quant, Operations Manager and water guide at Canoe Susquehanna in Pennsylvania.

Kayaking is a learned skill, and it is critical for new kayakers to take boat safety and paddling classes, she added. 

For beginners, flatwater — such as a pond — is best after they have learned the basics, said Quant. As the name suggests, flatwater is quiet; there are no waves or strong currents, meaning that paddlers are unlikely to be tipped or rocked while in the kayak. The stability that a pond provides is perfect for new paddlers to build their skills.

Further, in the unlikely event that the boat does capsize in flatwater, the risk of being separated from it is minimal because the water is still. Wearing a proper flotation device and whistle is required by law in any boating situation, said Quant, but on flatwater, it’s easier for the paddler to swim to shore, pulling the kayak with them.

She said that trying to get back into a kayak in the water is difficult and may be dangerous, especially if the kayak has water in the bottom.

Hone skills on a lake

To take paddling to the next level, try a lake. Because lakes are bigger and deeper than ponds, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission warns that they often have slight, unseen currents beneath the surface that are caused by natural springs or inletting streams and rivers.

Additionally, since they are larger, more than one type of watercraft can use the space, so there may be wakes from bigger, motorized boats.

Paddlers should take a U.S. Coast Guard boating safety class, said Shane Erdley, owner of Stone Barn Outfitters in Pennsylvania, especially if they are sharing the water.

“It’s basically the rules of the road for water,” he says. “It’s the best way to learn defensive boating and what to do in a bad situation.” He also recommended that beginner paddlers should never go out alone and should take guided trips or paddling classes before they even buy a boat.

Best to be prepared

In flatwater like lakes and ponds, beating sun and wind are usually a paddler’s biggest adversaries. Because water acts as a reflector, temperatures on the water can easily reach more than 90 degrees. Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses help paddlers stay cool, and taking bottled water and a snack along is recommended.

The wind may cause choppy water — meaning that there are lots of small waves, giving the surface of the water a rough look — but staying close to the shoreline will eliminate most of the unwanted motion.

Because the design allows them to sit on top of the water, most kayaks can handle a depth of less than a foot, said Quant. Not only does this come in handy if paddlers feel uneasy being in deeper water, it also allows kayaks to navigate the shallows of creeks and rivers. Most other boats, even canoes, simply can’t provide the maneuverability and access of a kayak, allowing paddlers to explore quieter, wilder areas.

“Just watch out for low-hanging branches,” Quant laughed.

Plenty to see

As a bonus, staying close to land may provide paddlers a better look at local wildlife like turtles, deer, ducks and other birds, fish, otters or muskrats. While many kayakers prefer moving water because of the changing scenery and chance to see more wildlife, said Erdley, creeks and rivers offer a greater challenge.

Creeks, rivers challenging

Any kind of current can catch a boat and pull it along without the paddler realizing it, warns the U.S. Coast Guard. Typically, this is not a problem in a wide space where maneuvering is easier, but in a thin or winding creek, currents and strainers can be deadly.

A “strainer” is paddler slang for any obstacle that allows water, but not a solid object like a kayak or a human body, to pass through. On creeks especially, fallen trees, natural dams and large rocks often pop up because the water is shallower than a river. Some strainers are navigable, but typically, paddlers must get out of the water and carry their kayaks around the hurdle, said Quant.

Paddlers need to be wary not only for strainers, but also for rapids. Nicknamed “whitewater,” rapids are caused when a waterway narrows and the riverbed steepens, creating greater velocity and turbulence in the water, giving it the signature foamy look. For this reason, most rapids are found in rivers, said Erdley.

Safety as a priority

For experienced paddlers, the six classes of rapids denoted by the International Scale of River Difficulty provide a fun and exciting adrenaline rush, but without the proper skill or familiarity with the associated dangers, new kayakers can find themselves badly injured or even drowning.

Until a paddler has taken the appropriate safety classes and gathered enough experience, rapids should be avoided.

Delsite is a reporter for The (Sunbury, Pennsylvania) Daily Item.