Patent CA-3160537-A1 (CA)
Title: Method of operation of kayak recovery safety system
Inventor: LYNCH RONALD
IPC: B63B43/14
Filed: 2022-05-27
Abstract: Kayaks offer an opportunity to explore the marine environment like no other method. They are maneuverable, easy to transport, and a very personable method of escape making them an increasingly popular form of adventure. They are available in many types of designs allowing exploration and travel on all types of water ways from rivers with white water, internal lake bodies, to the wide-open oceans of the world. The result of their popularity are many enjoyable experiences by many types of people with just as many levels of training and range of expertise. Every year as a result of many factors there are accidents with their use the result ending in tragedy. Most of these area result of people getting themselves in a situation where conditions exceed their skill level or the capability of the craft they are in. Many occur in ocean conditions where the kayak has overturned spilling the occupant or occupants in cold water. An Eskimo roll is a method of righting some types of kayaks in an overturn situation but is only reserved for a select few of very experienced users. Most situations where fatalities occur are a result of a single kayak alone with the occupant in cold water outside of the kayak if they are able to exit the cockpit.  Reboarding an upturned kayak in cold water alone in rough sea conditions is nearly impossible for all but the most experienced users and requires an on-site setup using the paddle and a float suck as a lifejacket that has to be jury rigged while in cold water. Hyperthermia is one of the most common factors resulting in the death of may of unfortunate kayak related accidents. This device that is described in the following application can be retrofitted to existing kayak designs or at the manufacturing level of the kayak production. This device or principal of operation could be a standard safety system incorporated into the hull of a kayak. It should be as important as the operator of a watercraft requiring a life vest. The operation of this device is quick and .  simple requiring minimal experience and will allow a person to quickly recover the kayak from an overturn situation to a stable upright position even in rough sea conditions without trying to exit the cockpit. The kayak quickly rights itself and becomes a very stable platform with an outrigger extending and locked on both sides of the occupied kayak. in the event that the occupant exits the kayak the device can still easily be deployed thus stabilizing the vessel and allowing the person to return to the cockpit to bail or pump and water from the kayak. Now it is possible to navigate back to safety leaving the outrigger system deployed to maintain a much more stable trimaran type vessel or it could be unlocked and retracted. This device could also be fitted with small modifications to open canoes thus making them a stable floating platform and allowing occupants to return to the canoe easily. Thus increasing the chance of its occupants to resume control and make it to safety. A bare canoe is also very difficult to impossible to reboard in open water resulting in many unfortunate accidents.