Kayaks make great Christmas gifts and are often the first boat future paddlers have ever received. The U.S. Coast Guard wants to remind everyone that the waters of the northern states aren’t too warm during the holiday season. The combination of inexperience and cold water could pose a danger to unprepared paddlers who are tempted to try out a new boat on Christmas weekend.
In a press release issued by the lifesaving organization, Recreational Boating Specialist Al Johnson says, “With water temperatures in the 40-degree range or colder, wearing a dry suit or full wet suit and a Coast Guard approved life jacket is the only proper attire with these water temperatures. Whether you’re a novice paddler or the most experienced mariner, a fall into cold water is painfully shocking and systemically brutal. My goal is to intentionally dampen the excitement of launching any new boat, unless the person is properly attired and prepared for sudden cold-water immersion. It might sound excessive but, if it saves a life, it isn’t.”
