A paddle float may be used for reentry into a

kayak A kayak is a small, narrow watercraft which is typically propelled by means of a double-bladed paddle. The word kayak originates from the Greenlandic word ''qajaq'' (). The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each se ...

after a

capsize Capsizing or keeling over occurs when a boat or ship is rolled on its side or further by wave action, instability or wind force beyond the angle of positive static stability or it is upside down in the water. The act of recovering a vessel fro ...

in open water. It may also be used for a ''reentry and

roll Roll or Rolls may refer to: Movement about the longitudinal axis * Roll angle (or roll rotation), one of the 3 angular degrees of freedom of any stiff body (for example a vehicle), describing motion about the longitudinal axis ** Roll (aviation), ...

'', or for training a kayak roll. There are two main variants of paddle floats; the inflatable variant and foam variant. The inflatable variant is more popular, but needs to be inflated before use. Alternatively, one can use the foam variant, which usually has less

buoyancy Buoyancy (), or upthrust, is an upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of a partially or fully immersed object. In a column of fluid, pressure increases with depth as a result of the weight of the overlying fluid. Thus the p ...

, but may be easier to handle in cold conditions. In an emergency, it is also possible to use a life jacket as an improvised paddle float.

References

{{Canoeing and kayaking Canoeing and kayaking equipment