Maine Winter Paddling
Lincolnville, Maine — My Dad is fond of saying, “That is no joke!” He uses this line to refer to anything that is in fact- no joke. Such topics as global warming, my 3-decade long battle with athlete’s foot and the need for land conservation are all examples of topics that are “No Joke”. I would state that winter ocean paddling in Maine (SUP and kayaking) is no joke. You have to be dialed in order to be safe and enjoy being out on the water. It can be very unforgiving. Weather changes rapidly, air and water temperatures can be unbearable and there is not a huge safety margin. If you hit the water or simply become cold then you may be in a pickle- a frozen pickle. Winter paddling in Maine is for experienced paddlers who have the necessary skills, gear, physical fitness, and above all - judgment.
All that being said - I love winter paddling. The Maine Coast during the cold months is a beautiful and awe inspiring place to adventure; boat traffic is minimal, the snow clad islands and mountains are gorgeous, there are sea birds in great numbers and you feel like you have the place to yourself. This winter my partner Chris Laughlin and I have been doing a lot of paddling both SUP and Sea Kayaking. The mild conditions have made the darkest months relatively bearable. So far we have been doing day trips in order to stay in shape but we are getting prepared to cover a fair bit of the Maine Coast over the next few months, including some of the outer islands. What follows are some tips for those who desire to paddle in the cold.
Preparation
Any outdoor endeavor requires planning. The winter environment just heightens the need for attention to detail. Preparation begins with a solid self-assessment of ones skills. You need to have good equipment and a solid skill set combined with physical fitness. Solo winter paddling should be reserved for those who are really competent. Self-rescue skills are a necessity. Sea kayakers should have a bomber roll. You do not want to be floundering around in the water. If you are less skilled then go with others, stay close to shore, and pick a protected route.
A real key is route planning, which should fuse navigation with weather interpretation. You want to plan a route that works with the weather. Check out the marine forecast and compare it to the conditions that are actually being experienced. Winter weather is more volatile and things can change fast. I like to get the weather forecast and to check the tides/currents for my given time period. Then I examine the charts and visually lay out the anticipated wind and current play. I look at all the variables and then decide on a route that makes sense. Pay particular attention to winds that will be blowing offshore. As the fetch increases so will the waves and exposure. It is easy to get suckered in to heading further out and when you are looking down the waves from shore, they can appear much smaller than they actually are further out. Being an experienced paddler in good physical condition, I seek out adventure. I like the winter winds and love to blast away in Penobscot Bay especially if I can fly downwind. I often set up a car shuttle so as to avoid much upwind work.
Make contingency plans. Your route should allow for bail outs. Look at the charts/guide books and try to imagine what could go wrong. Where can you escape? Are there protected areas where you can take out? What is the coastline like where you will be paddling? Will the winds/waves be piling up on a nasty rockbound area? The chart will show you where you can seek protection.
Make sure you have all the necessary gear and that the critical items are accessible. Check lists are a good idea. Leave a route plan with someone and let them know when they should begin to freak out!
Gear/Boats
Your gear depends somewhat on your craft and plans but there are necessities that should always be carried. I am not going to go into a full sea kayak equipment list (SUP is even more limited- see below) because there are lots of great resources that cover that. I will just focus on the cold considerations.
It starts with your clothing. Personally, I wear a drysuit that has a hood, built-in feet and relief zipper (lugging around a full bladder makes you colder and uncomfortable). You need to wear appropriate layers underneath you drysuit and it can be a balancing act between being protected if you hit the water and avoiding boiling. The body is a machine and when you work your sweat which will dramatically cool you down once you stop exerting yourself. Wicking layers help and some people control their physical output so they minimize sweating. If you are a fitness paddler then you want to work hard and you will sweat so bring a change of base layers.
Sea kayaks are great because you can carry extra clothes to change out. In addition to my suit, I wear neoprene booties, gloves (also pogies when kayaking) and a hat and/or scull cap (best yet a full neoprene hood for the really cold days and even goggles). In my pockets I carry quick energy foods (the body has to be well supplied) and heat packs. I am a furnace and deal well with the cold but everyone is different.
I also carry a thermos (even on a SUP board), communication equipment (VHF- charged, cell phone in a dry bag, and I have a personal EPIRB- for body recovery), whistle, flares, extra clothes including another hat/gloves. A sleeping bag, ground pad, and even a stove/pot (don’t forget water) are also a good idea although you have to balance weight with your intended plan, and most of that expedition gear will only help you if you hit shore. For a bigger group, all those items can be a good idea in case you have to warm someone up (or even yourself). A small lightweight shelter is a good idea too. Know who is carrying what gear.
Winter SUP (Stand Up Paddle Boarding)
Ocean SUP in a place like Maine can be challenging no matter the season. SUP is a dynamic sport and ocean touring requires a fair bit of skill. Going downwind is the name of the game. While a strong kayaker can climb to windward even in some pretty heavy conditions, that is not the case with SUP. Your body is a sail and going upwind can be really tough. Additionally, most SUP boards do not have rudders so in any crosswind situation you might end up paddling on one side for a considerable amount of time which can be exhausting. SUP also limits the gear you can carry. Some boards allow for gear to be strapped on (like a spare paddle) but even then there are limitations. Personally, I dress the same as I would kayaking (drysuit, booties, gloves etc.). I wear a pfd and a small Camelback over it, in which I carry some heat packs, a small thermos, my VHF and folded chart, small compass, spare lightweight base layer, and a couple of flares). I keep the pack light because you really do not want to add weight on your back. If I paddle one of our Tahoe SUPs then I use their bungees and strap that pack to the board – very convenient. It is a physical sport!
I have really enjoyed my winter SUP adventures. I have been out in Penobscot Bay up to a mile and half offshore riding bumps (waves) for a long distance. One day it was 18 degrees and blowing 10-20 from the north. My deck was icing up a bit and I had to kick the frozen slush away. My body was warm from the effort. I did not bail into the water thankfully but I always wear a leash and I can get back on the board quickly. A key is to have quick energy foods. As long as I keep myself powered up and exert myself then I stay plenty warm. An insulated hydration pack helps but mine was freezing regardless.
Cold is for the Bold (and prepared…)
Winter paddling is a special way to explore. Personally, I love the burly aspects of it and I get most of my best paddling during the winter months. It is not for everyone, however. You need to be prepared, skilled, fit and geared up (which can be expensive). If you are just starting out, go with experienced partners for short paddles and play around with the various clothing/gear options. Stay close to your vehicle and/or town landing and just start by experiencing some cold weather paddling in a protected environment. In the same way that developing the ability to exert yourself takes time and training, learning to thrive in the cold while paddling takes experience. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or want to join us out on the water.
