Merrimack River News Article

[Guest _rick]

Interesting that this article comes out the same week that a few brave souls provided a rescue demo and discussion at the Merrimack River Coast Guard station with me.

Incidently I waited for over 1/2 to sprint the channel yesterday between 11 and the toothpick. Lots of boat traffic.

'Mighty Merrimack' shows no mercy; Inexperienced kayakers put on notice

By Dan Atkinson , Staff Writer

Daily News of Newburyport

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NEWBURYPORT - When a 54-year-old beginner kayaker found herself overturned and drifting toward a dock in the Parker River earlier this month, it took the quick reaction of a 16-year-old to pull her out and save her from drowning.

Last June, when two experienced sea kayakers were overturned by a rip current in 52-degree water off Plum Island, rescuers said it was only their emergency equipment - dry suits and a rescue beacon - that saved them.

Because of incidences like those, when an overturned kayak was spotted drifting off of Plum Island last month, the Coast Guard spent hours searching for a victim to no avail. No one was ever reported missing.

But there is no denying there are more kayaks on local waterways than ever before. The Coast Guard sees it virtually every day this time of year.

"We see them go by the station," said Petty Officer Robert Westbrook. "As soon as they go by, we're watching them."

Each year, nearly 700 people die nationwide in boating accidents, according to the Coast Guard. Of those deaths, 75 percent were by drowning and 85 percent were as a result of not wearing a life jacket. In New England last year, 49 of the 54 boat-related drownings were due to the lack of a life jacket. And increasingly, those accidents are in paddle-powered boats like kayaks.

"People see boating fatalities and they only think of commercial boaters and fishing," Coast Guard Petty Officer Etta Smith said. "A big chunk of those fatalities and injuries are paddlers."

The Coast Guard puts out warnings because it sees firsthand the danger at the mouth of the Merrimack River and the open ocean beyond. It stresses preparedness to boaters, as does Plum Island Kayak owner Ken Taylor, who puts every potential kayaker through a screening process.

Taylor trusts that people will be honest and admit if they have never kayaked before.

"They can try and bluff their way through, but the Merrimack is not the place you want to learn how to kayak," Taylor said. "The Merrimack is unforgiving ... you know really quick if you're in over your head."

Newburyport harbormaster Ralph Steele said while kayaking is becoming popular, more people are jumping into the sport without proper preparation. A kayaker himself, Steele knows how difficult it is to right a kayak after flipping over, and said all new kayakers should train first.

"Anyone who goes out without training is asking for trouble," Steele said. "You're a fool, basically."

Kayakers are not required to take lessons, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer David Andreesen, but they are required to wear life jackets. Andreesen said lessons are the best way to prevent accidents, and to react properly if an accident does happen.

Tipping over is common, especially on a river, Taylor said. It's actually easier to recover from a spill on a lake or ocean, where there is no current to deal with. On a river, he said, the current will pull a tipped kayaker into an obstacle. That adds complications to what is already a deceptively difficult task - rolling the kayak back over.

"Most people think it's so simple to ... roll a boat back," Taylor said. "But if you don't know, it's almost impossible."

Kayakers should also know the conditions of their route, including the tide, especially one as treacherous as the Merrimack, Taylor said. Because it's a tidal river, the Merrimack changes direction, speed and height frequently, and will be a completely different river depending on when a kayaker goes out. The mouth is most dangerous when the tide is changing from high to low or low to high.

Taylor only rents kayaks to experienced users, although he also organizes guided tours for beginners. When a first-timer goes out on the Merrimack during a lull in the tides, Taylor said, he can get the wrong idea.

"You take them out on a nice day and they think 'Wow, it's so easy,'" Taylor said. "I tell them don't get overconfident, that's the mighty Merrimack River."

But as long as people are prepared, Taylor said, they should be able to handle kayaking.

"With a little education and awareness of navigation and tides ... I think it's easy," he said.

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