Kayaks

Kayaking can be some of the most fun you’ll have all year long, but if you’re not doing it safely, you could literally be putting your life in danger. Enjoy the sport, making sure you have the power of knowledge to keep you safe.

1. Start With Calm Waters

When you’re just starting out, it’s important to control as many elements of the sport as possible and you can only really do that if you’re in calm waters. The ocean may be acceptable, if you’re close by a bay that doesn’t produce a lot of challenging waves; otherwise, stick to a placid lake, at least until you’re out of the beginner stages of kayaking.

2. Practice Worse-Case-Scenarios

It’s one thing to read a manual that tells you to calmly reach over the bottom of your boat, tightly gripping the scupper holes and quite another to actually do it under dire circumstances. That’s why it’s important to not only know about emergency procedures, but to practice them as well. Under controlled conditions, you can go over the routines that will keep you safe in the event of a real and life-threatening emergency.

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3. Kayak In The Proper Position

You need to keep your back straight, with knees slightly bent as you kayak, so make sure your position allows you to do these things at all times. Also, be sure you properly fit the kayak you’re operating, so that your knees aren’t in the way of your paddling and the muscles of your back won’t be seizing up in pain half-way through your adventure.

4. Use The Right Paddle

Beginners usually start out with a square blade paddle, gradually moving up to a feathered paddle, which allows for less surface area to be caught and manipulated by winds. The paddle you use is crucial to control of speed and direction, making it one of your most important tools and necessitating that it suits you personally, perfectly.

5. Adhere To Boat Safety Rules, Always

While a kayak may be more fun than other boats, every boater should follow the same rules of safety. Wear your life-jacket at all times, even in shallow water. Know way ahead of time what the weather will be like, especially the winds and never, ever mix alcohol or drugs with your boating pleasure. It also helps if someone in your crew or close by has basic CPR skills, but at the very least, let someone back home know where you’re going and when you’ll be back. Oh and don’t forget to wear your helmet if you’re going to hit the rough waters.

There’s no point in fun when it’s too dangerous, so know what you need to know for safe kayaking and be sure to apply that knowledge every time you head out onto the water.

Buying a kayak for the first time can seem like a daunting task because of the options that are available.

However, there are a number of tips that can help you buy the right kayak for your needs.

Know The Type Of Kayaking You Will Do

The first tip to know about is to understand the type of kayaking you will be doing. If you are going to be racing, you will need to get a different kayak to someone who is going to be hitting the rapids. What you are going to do will help you determine the type of kayak that you should be getting.

Know The Types Of Kayaks

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There are 4 general categories when it comes to kayaks and you need to know what they are. Understanding the different categories will help you determine which ones you need to look at for the kayak which suits your needs. The categories are recreational, touring, whitewater and downriver.

Recreational kayaks are ideal for people who want to do a bit of everything. They will be designed for mild river use and other casual uses such as taking a trip on the bay. These kayaks will generally be wider and shorter than touring ones which makes them easier to turn.

Touring kayaks are designed to handle long wilderness trips and carry all of the gear that you need. These kayaks will be longer and more stable than others. However, their size does make them harder to turn.

As the name suggests, whitewater kayaks have been made with rapids in mind. They are designed for optimal maneuverability and are shorter than others. These kayaks should not be used for touring because they can be difficult to paddle in a straight line.

Downriver kayaks have been designed to help you travel quickly and will often be used for racing. These kayaks are long and narrow which means that they can tip easily and would not be recommended for beginners. These kayaks can also be difficult to turn because of their straight keel.

Understand The Dimensions

Length and width are important when you look at a kayak. Longer kayaks have a number of benefits such as being easier to paddle and the ability to carry heavier loads. However, shower kayaks are lighter and will be less expensive.

The width of the kayak will impact the handling and stability. Additional width will improve stability, but this will make them harder to paddle.