Common Injuries That Occur When Launching A Paddling Vessel (And How To Avoid Them)

Launching a paddling vessel is a process that can take years to perfect. This is particularly true when launching a heavy canoe or touring kayak, but even launching a light SUP board isn’t as simple as it looks. Many paddlers are prepared for emergencies on the water, but there are also many ways you can injure yourself while launching your paddling vessel.

Some of the most common injuries you should try to avoid when launching your paddling vessel include back and shoulder injuries due to improper lifting and carrying. Foot injuries or dangerous falls can occur when you aren’t wearing the correct footwear and aren’t paying attention to the ground. Dropping your paddling vessel can cause several serious issues, including concussions. Heat-related illnesses are also possible.

No one wants to sustain an injury while paddling, especially before you even have a chance get your boat in the water. Unfortunately, injuries while launching paddling vessels are more common than you might think. To ensure you never hurt yourself while launching your boat, keep reading. Below is a list of the most common injuries that occur while launching a paddling vessel, as well as easy ways to prevent them.

8 Common Injuries That Occur When Launching A Paddling Vessel

1. Back Injuries From Improper Lifting

One of the easiest ways to hurt yourself while launching a paddling vessel occurs when lifting it. Kayaks and canoes can easily weigh 50 pounds or more. If you lift with your back instead of with your legs, back strain and other back injuries are possible.

Lifting any paddling vessel incorrectly can result in back injuries, which may become exacerbated later on while paddling for long periods on the water.

How to Prevent This Injury: The best way to prevent back injuries while launching your paddling vessel is to always lift carefully. Never rush a lift. Instead, take your time and always keep good posture. Always lift with your legs, and never with your back muscles. Remember to stretch before paddling as well.

2. Cuts And Splinters On Feet

Every launch location is different. Some locations are located in sand, while others have rocks, cement, or even wooden docks. Every type of ground cover has potential hazards, from sharp rocks and coral to splinters or even shards of glass.

If you wear flip flops or are barefoot, you can easily injure your feet. Getting scrapes, cuts, or splinters on your feet before you get into your boat can ruin your planned paddling trip.

How to Prevent This Injury: When you dress yourself for a paddling adventure, don’t forget about your feet. Wearing the correct paddling footwear will protect your feet from all sorts of injuries. The risk of splinters, scrapes, cuts, and other issues is significantly reduced when you wear protective footwear when launching your vessel.

3. Overhead Lifting Injuries

One of the most common ways to get injured while launching a paddling vessel occurs when you handle the boat or board above your head. This usually occurs when loading or removing a boat from a roof rack, or even when carrying it on your head from the car to the water.

Kayaks, canoes, and SUP boards aren’t easy to lift above the head. One si por false move can cause an immediate and potentially serious injury.

How to Prevent This Injury: Whenever possible, enlist the help of a paddling buddy to lift your vessel, especially when you load it on and off your car. Consider investing in a kayak cart if your boat is heavy.

This eliminates the need to carry your vessel over your head. These carts make it much easier and safer to bring your vessel to any launch location.

4. Collisions With Hazards Or Other Vessels At The Launch

Boat launches are designed to make it easy for you to get in your paddling vessel and venture out. Sometimes, however, launches can present their unique hazards. Crowded launches increase the likelihood of collisions with other vessels, especially if the paddlers are novices.

Unfavorable weather can also present a dangerous and challenging launch scenario.

How to Prevent This Injury: Always use your best judgment before launching a paddling vessel. If the launch location is crowded, allow other paddlers to venture out so you aren’t at risk of bumping into them. If the weather conditions make the launch point unsafe, then find a safer spot or reschedule your paddling session.

5. Falling While Carrying The Vessel

Falling into the water can be startling, but falling on the hard ground while carrying your paddleboard or boat can cause severe pain and injury. If you fall while carrying your boat to the water or while launching it, you can sustain a variety of injuries. These ailments can range from minor scrapes to broken limbs, depending on the severity of the fall.

How to Prevent This Injury: Using a hand cart and wearing proper footwear significantly reduces the risk of falling while launching and unloading your paddling vessel. Never rush the process, and pay attention to the ground and look out for slippery terrain.

6. Heat-Related Illnesses

If you do the bulk of your paddling in the hot summer months, then there is always a risk of heat-related illnesses, even when you launch your vessel. It’s easy to become overheated on land after you paddle, or even as you set up your boat and gear beforehand.

In addition to the heat, launching your vessel can also involve a lot of physical work. This is particularly true if you are manually pumping up an inflatable board or need to pack your vessel for an all-day journey.

How to Prevent This Injury: Remember to hydrate before you paddle. If you have an inflatable board or boat, blow it up in the shade, and consider investing in an automatic pump for the summer months. Do all the packing and setup you can in air conditioning before heading to your launch location. This will limit the time you spend on the hot land.

7. Shoulder Strain And Dislocation

Shoulder injuries are common while paddling, and you can even sustain shoulder injuries when launching your vessel. Carrying a board or boat with one arm and tucking it under your shoulder can cause unnecessary strain on your shoulder, especially if it’s heavy, and strong winds are pushing the board in different directions.

How to Prevent This Injury: Avoid carrying your vessel with one arm and under your shoulder, especially when there are strong winds present. Ask for help when transporting your board or boat by foot, as this will make transporting the vessel much easier and safer.

8. Concussion

A concussion is one of the most serious injuries you can sustain while launching a paddling vessel. Concussions occur when there’s blunt force or other injury to the head. While this is more common while paddling in rapids, it can occur if you fall or hit your head while transporting your vessel.

How to Prevent This Injury: Avoid carrying your paddling vessel on your head. Use a hand cart or have a friend help you transport your vessel. Wearing slip-resistant footwear helps prevent slips and falls, which further reduces your risk of head injury when launching your board or boat.