Lake Washington Rules
The University has a fleet of kayaks available for club member use on Lake Washington and many of you have joined the club to take advantage of this great resource. In making these boats available, everyone has a responsibility to observe some basic but important safety precautions. Please remember that you must be a club member to use our boats (friends on campus can join the club, folks from off campus can rent a boat from one of the local outfitters including WAC rentals which has canoes).
First, make sure you fill out a Yellow Card. This is important to document use of club gear and is important for making decisions regarding gear purchase and university funding. As you leave the WAC and get ready to launch your boat, make sure you are wearing a life jacket.
When on the lake, we recommend that you paddle with a buddy. Other outfitters on the lake (NWOC, Agua Verde) do make kayaks available for individual paddlers and our boats are also available in this manner but paddling with a buddy provides an additional measure of safety.
Boats should only be used on the lake when the WAC is open. If you are paddling during hours that the WAC is not open then you must follow the guidelines for a club trip (a minimum of three boats and an approved trip coordinator). This means you are not allowed to paddle after dark unless part of a club trip
Before venturing out on the lake it's best to spend time in the pool to work on your roll. A confident roll is your best safety tool and our pool sessions are available to provide you with an opportunity to learn this important safety skill. In addition, take a rescue skills clinic (these are typically informally organized by sending an email to the sea kayak trip coordinator list).
Make sure that you have float bags. Some of our boats will sink without flotation. An inflated float bag is an essential piece of safety gear. They are typically removed from boats during storage, but must be used when paddling on the lake.
We allow you to take boats throughout Lake Washington, but use careful judgement when venturing out beyond the WAC. One of the greatest dangers on Lake Washington, particularly during the winter months, is hypothermia. If you are just learning, stay within the relatively protected waters of the Arboretum or paddle along the shore. This is also the best way to avoid large boat traffic. Travel through the Montlake Cut is not advised unless you have a strong set of skills. Waves from boats can create a significant hazard in the cut. Wet suits are available for your use during the winter months and provide an additional layer of safety.
Finally, we have three boats that require a more advanced skill set. These are our three fiberglass boats that include the Impulse (a sea kayak), the double sea kayak, and the downriver race boat. If you have not received training in these craft please do not use them. If you have any questions regarding use of our more specialized boats please do not hesitate to contact the appropriate interest group tzar.