# KayakSafe — Kayak Safety Forecast

> Kayak Safety Forecast (iPhone/iPad app by Donovan Dunning.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kayaksafe/id6788094727 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Donovan Dunning](https://appshunter.io/developer/6788094999)
- Category: Weather, Sports
- Price: Free
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 69 MB
- Released: 2026-07-14
- Data updated: 2026-08-01
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kayaksafe/id6788094727/reviews.md

## What is KayakSafe?

KayakSafe answers the one question that matters before you launch: is it safe to paddle right now?

Built for kayakers and paddlers, KayakSafe turns the raw forecast into a clear, safety-first read on your water conditions, hour by hour, so you can decide with confidence instead of guessing.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- A simple Ideal / Caution / Avoid rating for every hour of the day
- Wind speed, gusts, and storm probability weighted as safety-critical, because that is what flips a calm paddle into a dangerous one
- Wind chill and heat index factored in for cold-water risk and comfort
- Severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service, grouped by severity so the important ones stand out

SET YOUR OWN LIMITS
- Every paddler's comfort level is different, so KayakSafe lets you set yours
- Adjust the thresholds for wind, gusts, storm chance, and temperature right in Settings
- The Ideal / Caution / Avoid ratings recalculate to match what YOU consider safe, whether you are a cautious beginner or a seasoned paddler

PADDLING MODE
- Turn it on before you put in and KayakSafe watches conditions while you paddle
- Set your own session timeout and auto-off at sunset
- Choose to receive alerts only while you are on the water
- Note: iOS limits how often apps can check conditions in the background, so background checks are not guaranteed. For time-critical conditions, keep KayakSafe open.

BUILT TO BE SIMPLE
- Auto-detects your area, no account and no sign-in required
- Light and dark themes, or follow your system setting, with colors chosen to stay readable in bright outdoor light
- A 7-day outlook and tappable hourly detail for planning the whole trip

A LITTLE EXTRA FOR ANGLERS
Fish from your kayak? KayakSafe also includes a daily bite forecast with solunar windows and simple lure and bait suggestions. It is a bonus, not the point. Safety comes first.

KayakSafe is an informational tool to help you plan. It is not a substitute for your own judgment, local knowledge, or official warnings. Always check current conditions and paddle within your ability.


## Version history (last 3 releases)

### 1.0.8 — 2026-07-31

This update includes two releases' worth of improvements.

SAFETY

- Storm risk now appears in current conditions. The storm indicator previously always read Ideal, even during an active thunderstorm, so some conditions will now correctly rate Caution or Avoid.
- "Feels like" no longer understates heat. It now uses the NWS heat index, which on a hot, dry day can read 15F or more above the value the app showed before.
- Weather alerts and heat index no longer disappear when you reopen the app.
- Forecast times now follow the local time zone of your saved ZIP, so conditions read correctly when you are travelling.

APPEARANCE

- Light mode, with a Light / Dark / System setting.
- Improved contrast throughout the dark theme for easier reading in bright sun.
- The Caution color now reads as gold rather than brown.

OTHER

- Wind and temperature charts use finer gridlines, so smaller changes are visible.
- Send Feedback moved to the top of Settings.
- More accurate pressure trends, and fewer background data requests.

As always: KayakSafe is a planning aid, not a substitute for official warnings or your own judgment. Paddle within your ability and check current conditions.

### 1.0.6 — 2026-07-15

What's new in 1.0.6

- Tides are here: for coastal and tidal areas, KayakSafe now shows tide information for your location, powered by NOAA. Enter a ZIP near a NOAA tide station and you will see the tide details on your forecast. (Not every inland ZIP has tide data.)
- Fixed the first-run setup walkthrough not appearing, so new users get the intro and quick tour when they first open the app.
- Minor stability and polish improvements.

As always: KayakSafe is a planning aid, not a substitute for official warnings or your own judgment. Paddle within your ability and check current conditions.

### 1.0.5 — 2026-07-14

No release notes.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-01.*