Sea Kayaking Intermediate Course

Intermediate Sea Kayaking Course 

Logbook:  Click here to see our Logbook or look under our Course Materials section.  Please download and print out a copy, then bring it with you on required paddles or clinics in a waterproof bag so that approved skill assessors can sign you off on skills as you successfully complete them.

Approved Skill Assessors:  Approved skill assessors are listed as either a leader or instructor for this course, and can be found by clicking the "Roster" button for this course.  The assessors include specific leaders from the Seattle, Olympia and Tacoma Sea Kayak branches.

About this course: Candidates must have completed the Basic Sea Kayak Course or been granted Basic Sea Kayak Equivalency.  They must then be approved to graduate from the Intermediate Sea Kayaking Course by the Seattle Sea Kayak committee after completeing their logbook.  The Seattle Sea Kayak committee must be satisfied that the candidate has completed the course requirements.  For the Seattle committee to award this badge, they must know the participant personally and have had enough experience paddling with the participant in SK IV/V conditions to feel that they have a reasonable paddling proficiency at an Intermediate Sea Kayak level.  This will require going on a number of  paddles with our Seattle trip leaders where conditions exist (ie, wind, current, surf) before they are deemed “proficient.”  However, candidates do not have to complete 100% of their training or logbook sign-offs with the Seattle branch.  We recognize that the Intermediate Sea Kayak Course may require cross-branch cooperation to complete and all participating branches will work together towards this goal.

The content of the Intermediate Sea Kayak Course includes training, competency demonstration, requires equipment ownership, and a volunteer commitment as follows:

Timeline to Complete Requirements:

The following courses and competencies must be completed within a five year time-span.  Mountaineers clinics, courses, or trips previously completed within the last 1 year qualify, as long as you can locate an approved skill assessor with personal knowledge to validate your successful completion. 

Course Content:

The content of the Intermediate Sea Kayak Course shall include full-day training or equivalent experience in SK IV/V conditions on the following topics:

• Kayaking in Wind and Waves
• Kayaking in Tidal Currents at Deception Pass or similar area
• Kayaking in a Coastal Surf Zone
• Kayaking in a Coastal Rock Garden
• Sea Kayaking Incident Management
• Sea Kayaking Navigation and Trip Planning 

Competency Demonstration:

To graduate, Intermediate Sea Kayak Course students must demonstrate competence in the course content.  Specifically, while completing the course activities the student must:

• Demonstrate, in conditions of wind waves or currents, that you can get back into your kayak  using a t-rescue AND rescue someone else using a t-rescue.
• Exhibit comfort and control performing strokes, maneuvers, self- and assisted rescues in 12 – 15 kt of sustained wind and 1-2 ft of waves.
• Exhibit comfort and control performing strokes and maneuvers under tidal current conditions at Deception pass or a similar area, of at least 4 – 6 kt, including crossing eddy-lines, ferry-gliding, and ferrying across a channel.  Demonstrate comfort and control while eddy hopping up-current.
• Demonstrate comfort and control while launching and landing in up to 3 foot surf.
• Explain the elements and purpose of courteous surf zone conduct and safety, and behave accordingly.
• In a rock garden zone with wave sets and surge 1) identify the zones of a rock garden: safe zones, transition zones, danger zones, and play features,  2) the proper timing and technique to be able to safely navigate from safe zone to safe zone, 3)  perform self, assisted, and team rescues in dynamic water and 4) how to select and safely land onto and launch from a variety of rocky shore environments (e.g. a steeper gravel-laden beach or shorelines with rock obstacles.)
• Demonstrate VHF radio skills, including knowledge of regulations and the ability to communicate in scenarios such as the summoning of marine assistance and the coordination of safe passage through areas of vessel traffic such as shipping lanes.  
• Demonstrate the ability to identify aids to navigation and landmarks, and navigate and plan a paddle in a variety of conditions and settings, such as through complex waterways, long open crossings, and shipping lanes.
• Be able to maintain the equivalent of a 3 kt average pace for a minimum of a 12 nm trip.
•  Go on at least three Mountaineer day paddles of at least  12 nm.
• Complete the required number of SK IV or V Mountaineer trips in a variety of conditions (ie, current, surf, wind, etc.) and locations.  These can also count as your 12 nm trips, if they are at least 12 nm long.
• Demonstrate that you have a reasonably reliable kayak roll in conditions such as wind waves, current or surf.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively tow another paddler in a variety of conditions including dynamic water.  

Equipment Requirements:

The candidate must carry the following equipment in addition to the Mountaineers Sea Kayaking Ten Essentials:

• First aid kit appropriate for trip conditions
• Emergency shelter or covering
• Waterproof light
• Signaling devices appropriate to the situation
• VHF radio
• Towing system appropriate to the expected conditions
• Spare paddle adequately secured to the deck as appropriate to the conditions
• Helmet and gloves if paddling in areas near rocks or surf
• Dry suit

Volunteer Requirements

Help teach in any of the Mountaineer branches’ Sea Kayak classes for a combined total of at least 40 hours.