If you paddle a boat on Maine waters, mark you calendar for May 9 and plan to attend for free the third annual Paddle Smart Safety Symposium at the YMCA on Hammond Street in Bangor from 5-9:30 p.m. I guarantee you’ll learn something. And that something could save your life.

Here’s just a sample of topics on tap: choosing a boat; the basics of navigation for kayaking; low impact island use presented by the Maine Island Trail; essential equipment for day and overnight trips; on-water communication presented by the U.S. Coast Guard; the basics of GPS navigation; a Power Point presentation by Maine Sea Kayak Guide Natalie Springuel, who completed the Gulf of Maine Expedition last year; and demonstrations of kayak and canoe rescue techniques in the pool by Karen Francoeur, owner of Castine Kayak Adventures. And there’ll be a couple of other presentations as well, so stay tuned.

The sponsors and planners for this event are the YMCA, Castine Kayak Adventures, Cadillac Mountain Sports in Bangor, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Power Squadron. Oh, and yours truly. I’ll be giving my third annual installment on the basics of navigation. This year I’ll have some help from Mark Goff, fellow sea kayak guide, and Arlan Martin of Orono, a powerboat squadron member who’ll give a different perspective to navigation.

In addition to the pool demonstrations and various 45-minute discussions, there’ll be hands-on, static displays in the gym and a food concession to stave off the growling in your stomach.

Shelley Johnson, avid paddler and author of “Sea Kayaking Maine” and “Sea Kayaking: A Woman’s Guide” will be on hand to sign her books. You’ll be able to ask questions about choosing a paddle or fitting a life jacket. Have a question on maps and charts? Check out The Map Store’s display. Want to know more about the Maine Island Trail Association? Talk with representatives of the organization.

The Maine Outdoor Adventure Club and the Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Club will be on hand to talk about the many recreational opportunities they provide. Members of each club are always planning trips on local waters, so stop by and check out the possibilities.

Want to learn about Lyme Disease? You’ll get a chance. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the U.S. Coast Guard will also have displays.

You’ll also get a chance to check out all the safety gear and accessories needed for a fun day or week on the water. Staff of Cadillac MountainSports will be on hand to answer questions about the type of gear you need to paddle safely and comfortably. They’ll have a selection of kayaks on hand for you to study.

And to top it all off there’ll be some darned nice door prizes donated by paddle sport industry retailers and distributors. Last year’s prizes included several nice life jackets, a kayak cart, autographed books, and a roof rack. Not too shabby for a free event, huh?

If it sounds like a lot to pack into a few hours, you’re right. I promise you it won’t be boring.

The third annual symposium is based on the success of the first two, Francoeur said.

“Thanks to the support we’ve had from individuals and organizations for the past two years in offering this engaging event, we’ve been able to meet our goal of reaching out to the paddling public to inform them of the inherent dangers of the sport and to educate them in risk reduction, which we believe leads to greater enjoyment of paddle sports! The focus of our event has been, and continues to be safety,” she said. “Our workshops focus on helping folks discover what they need to know to be safe paddlers.”

An American Canoe Association certified instructor and master Maine sea kayak Guide, Francoeur said the symposium offers you a chance to “talk with the experts about life jackets that you can really enjoy wearing, places to paddle, clubs to paddle with, and where to get paddling instruction. If you’ve never paddled but are considering it, if you’ve been paddling for a short time, or even if you’ve been paddling for years, there’s sure to be something for you at this fun and interactive event. Displays set up in the gym will lend themselves to interactive discussions with experts about issues and areas of interests in paddling.”

Here’s a teaser on the 45-minute presentations. Some will be repeated, others are just a one-shot deal, so grab a brochure when you walk in the door and pick from the list the three sessions you’d like to attend.

Discussion topics include: What Really Causes the Tides by UMaine physics professor Neil Comins; GPS Navigation by Master Maine Guide Dick Parker; Gulf of Maine Expedition Slide Show, presented by Natalie Springuel, Maine Sea Grant, and Rich MacDonald, Gulf of Maine Expedition Institute, who paddled 1,000 miles over five months last summer to raise awareness of the Gulf of Maine; Essential Equipment, Plan for the worst – enjoy the best (speaker TBA).

Another talk is on communicating from your boat and filing a float plan. Presented by the Coast Guard, topics will include VHF radios, cell phones, and flares and other signaling devices.

If camping on an island interests you, be sure to attend the discussion on low-impact kayaking by Tania Neuschafer of the Maine Island Trail Association. She will discuss all the aspects of Leave No Trace ethics and island use.

Are you looking to buy a sea kayak? Scott Anchors, vice president of the Maine Association Sea Kayak Guides and Instructors, will have several boats on hand when he gives his Power Point presentation on boat selection.

In the pool, Francoeur will demonstrate on-water rescue skills all paddlers should practice. Learn what to do if our boat capsizes, how to re-enter a kayak or canoe from the water, and what gear you need to accomplish this. Demonstrations include solo and partner rescues.

Following the event on Saturday and Sunday, more hands-on opportunities will be available.

Saturday morning at Pushaw Lake there will be free boat try-outs offered by Cadillac Mountain Sports. Castine Kayak Adventures will offer, for a fee, beginner and intermediate-level kayak lessons from 10 a.m. to noon.

On Sunday there will be rescue clinics at the Old Town Pool from 9 a.m. to noon. There will also be an opportunity for more experienced paddlers to learn how to roll their kayak on Saturday and Sunday evening with Castine Kayak Adventures. Interested? You can sign up for these clinics before the event by calling 866-3506 or sign up at the event. Space, I’m told, is limited.

For further information about the event call Cadillac Mountain Sports at 941-5670 or Castine Kayak Adventures at 866-3506 or e-mail at castinekayak@cs.com. Pre-registration is not necessary!

Looking for something else to do next weekend, March 21-23? Head over to Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center for the 14th annual Bangor Boating and Marine Expo where you’ll find boat displays ranging from dinghies to sport fishermen and a few canoes and kayaks for good measure. Doors open Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition to most of the boat dealers from eastern Maine ready to answer your every question, you’ll find area fishing clubs and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Penobscot Bay Power Squadron, and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife on hand to talk turkey.

Danny Martin, DIF&W’s new commissioner, is scheduled to be on hand, I’m told, to open the show and to help emphasize the importance and scope of the department’s campaign to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic plant species. There will be an informational display at the DIF&W booth.

Jeff Strout can be reached at 990-8202 or by e-mail at jstrout@bangordailynews.net.