Kayak Instruction

“just found out that the local park around the corner rents kayaks by the hour. Thought it would be a great exercise, and also a good way to learn how to use a kayak.

Wanted to buy one for the longest, but I have NEVER used or even sat in one.

Anything I need to know before I hit the park?
Would be pretty funny if I would flip over, especially if there is no swimming allowed in that dang lake.”

“what you think about that one:

kayak

I don't want to spend a lot of money, and I sort of hope it will fit in the front seat of my convertable. :( I know, I know...but I don't know what else to do.... LOL”

“For rivers, right? Do you want to pack up camping gear and go on trips or just buzz around on the river?

As for the convertable, that would be a cool sight. You, driving talking to the upended kayak in the passenger seat. lmbo”

“yeah, that's what I pretty much had in mind. room for camping gear, to go on trips, etc...

LOL... I don't know how else to pack it, and I don't think I want an inflatable kayak. Lets hope it wont' rain though.”

“I find kayaks to make me a little claustrophobic. Your don’t sit in it, you wear it. But my experience is with whitewater boats. On flat water I prefer a canoe, an open boat. I like to be able to move around a little. My guess is that the rentals will have a broad beam and be stable but slow. I would opt for a longer narrower boat with a rudder for flat water. Get a feathered paddle not one of those paddles with both blades in the same plane and learn to roll.”

“this one is maybe better. looks like I have a bit more room. it's also slimmer. Difference between slimmer can wider kajaks?? Someone told me once, but I forgot.



kayak”

“okay, I am gonna go to the park now and learn. I'll let you all know how it went when I'm back. :)

$15 for the whole day or $5 per hour. not bad”

“Neither of those have a hatch for gear storage. If you want to bring gear I'd look at shorter touring kayaks. The boats you are showing us are more recreational whitewater type kayaks aren't they. I'd report to the TT Kayakers Club thread. And to beat Ewker to the punch ;-) check out www.paddling.net”

“A little pricey, but check out Scansport's folding fabric kayaks (same folks that make the Pak-Canoe). The outfitter in Eagle River has one on display that is rated for beginner to intermediate. When taken apart it fits in one bag and only weighs 21 lbs. Can't recall the model name, but it has built-in inflatable sponsons for flotation and rigidity. Could go anywhere you want to go, if you've got the $700 bucks or so that I think was the price.”

“It's the Puffin. 12 feet. Go to www.pakboats.com and there are pictures, since it's their new boat, and internal links to product pages.”

“I have an old town (something) and i also have the preception swifty..
I just love them both. But they fit my needs. We only go in the creek in my back yard and putz around, maybe go about 5-15 miles, but since the creek water level gets to be only about 12-18 inches in the heat of summer, anything larger would not work. I see so many canoes and john boats constantly getting stuck. But they both have ample room for packing stuff for the day. I would love to get a touring kayak but I would be wasting my money, since my job requires me to be available to work 24-7. We cannot do any overnighters. We actually cut a port hole storage with a lid in the old town 8". Its way cool.”

“Cayak rentals are typically cheesey plastic things with no skirt, but a good way to get started!

Too bad Gem is already gone or I could have told her what a b!tch it is to get the water out of your kayak if you roll!

I guess we'll have to wait for the report!”

“So do the rentals have a kilt then?”

“Did I really spell that with a "C"? Hmmm, I must be preoccupied at work or somefin'?”

“the rentals are fine to play in for the first few times.

Most outfitters that carry rental fleets will have several models and if you talk to the guy and let him know that your serious about buying will usually let you try out one of the models that he's recommending or that you want to really consider.

Thats been my experience down here anyhow.

The guys on paddling.net in their forums have been really helpful and don't hesitate to answer questions.”

“The REI in our area recently took a bunch of models out to the local park. They were having a demo day. Maybe you could catch something like that going on?”

“The rental Kayaks are propably the sit on top kind. I don't think any park would want the liability of some one rolling over and drowning because they can't get out or right themselves.”

“Necky Santa Cruze

This is the boat om uses for everything for river to sea. A couple of weeks ago she paddled it out to Cumberland Island.
She seems to be very pleased with it.”

“I think I'd rather buy a Hobie Cat!”

“A local gear shop here in Nashville has demo days about once a month. The cost is 25.00 but it is for a 4 hour session. They have various models to play in. They show you how to paddle, roll and what ever else they do. I wanted to go to one but I was mountain biking that day.

dhutch only reason you beat me to it was because I wasn't at work...lol”

“Well, it isn't hard at all to kayak, at least NOT ON FLATWATER! I am sort of curious how it would be on whitewater. Bet would be lots of fun.

Yeah, they have regular plastic kayaks. Nothing special, but they are fine if you want to get used to it.

so I am going to do this lets say every other day or so for an hour.
I can sharp turn, i can go backwards, left, right, straight...what else is there to learn? I guess I'll see once I am in whitewater.

what are you guys mostly kayaking in?? flat or whitewater? Just curious....”

“what else is there to learn?
Gemini
12:26:04 PM
06/18/04

The Eskimo Roll, of course!!!”

“eskimo roll, eh? okayyyy!!!


if I'll drive to the coast this weekend...I wonder if I can kayak there. you think i'll drowned?? lol... ya think a shark will bite me in the a$$?? okay, i got to go now... it's been one of those days. Little bit on the wacky side.”

“what else is there to learn?
Gemini
12:26:04 PM
06/18/04

parallel parking. And I'm not kidding either! ;) Actually, you can manuever a kayak to go sideways.

About the only difference I know of as far as the width of a kayak. The wider one is, the more stable you are...but those are for wuzzes...lol”

“heehee...I think I did the parallel thing today by mistake. Dont' ask me though how I did it. I have no clue!”

“When you paddel...do you paddle close to the kayak, or does it matter?

My kid said something about a "Jay turn" a couple of days ago when we tried out a canoe???

oh, and I did learn not to wear thumb rings while paddling”

“when your paddling ya don't want to be "reaching" (unless your doing something like a 190 or sumptin) Sit up straight and don't push to much water with your paddle...that doesn't improve speed, performance, etc. That will just wear your arms out:)”

“the paddle motion should start in your hips too Gem, use your whole upper body to drive the paddle and keep it close to the boat, like Ivy said.

You'll get lots more power to the water and keep your arms from giveing out.

The longer the better for ocean and bay, or anything really but whitewater.

The skinnier the faster, wider = slower, but more stable.

Its a whole new world for gear buying too.”

“The "parallel parking" ivygal mentioned can be done with any "draw" stroke. The easiest being the "sculling draw" you essentially keep your paddle nearly vertical and with a rapid side to side sorta figure you draw the boat sideways. Its easier then it sounds.

For a forward stroke, start with the paddle near your feet and keep your arms pretty straight (this puts the stress on torso muscles versus shoulders and arms which wear out quickly, if you arms nd shoulders hurt you are "windmilling" you paddles). using your torso rotate your upper body until the paddle tip passes the cockpit. Tilt and rotate your body the opposite way and start the stroke on the other side. Exaggerate the movement at first by pretending you are holding a beach ball in your arms while paddling.

keep your nose over your navel and you are less likely to spill.

HAVE FUN!!!!!!!”

“The kid is half right. A J-stroke is used in either canoeing or Kayaking to keep your boat straight at the end of a paddle stroke by rotating or kind of flicking your wrist so the paddle stroke is in the form of a J.

Can someone please explain this better!”

“hey thanks guys...lots of great help.
going to practice some more tomorrow and the day after, and the day after...well you'll get it. :)

Roam, YOU were the one that told me "The skinnier the faster, wider = slower, but more stable"

now I remember. during trail days I think :)

birch, I think I'll print your directions and take them with me tomorrow. No way I can remember it... [stupid grin]”

“Look up http://www.qcckayaks.com QCC Kayaks has some excellant info on Kayaks. Look in the training info on Kayak Rolling I think you will find this very helpfull. I am looking at a QCC 500 because I want to backpack and run rivers. Hope this helps”

“not needed in a kayak cause you paddle on both sides with the double blade paddle.

In a canoe you should only really paddle on one side. The j stroke lets you do this by putting a small curl on the end of the paddle stroke to balance the force of the paddle and keep the boat straight.”

“gemini, I am pretty new to kayaking too. I've only been kayaking for 2 years. I just have a good memory for what my instructor said.”

“Yep... It's more a canoeing thing...

But the one thing about the J stroke that always bothered me is that you're basically increasing drag to straighten your trajectory.

I always preferred to simply switch sides and impart a little more energy in the 'right direction' rather than waste some of the energy that had already been expended by increasing drag.

Does that make sense? <G>


It's no big deal either way if you're just doing a little maneuvering...”

“Buy a Folbot...do a google on it. Folds into a bag, the Aleut weighs 38 pounds and comes with a lifetime warranty. I've had mine 2 plus years and have abused the hell out of it...no problems.”

“found the folbot. they a bit expensive, but seam to be well worth it. I looked at some kayaks today, even the smaller kind are way too large for my car. I think foldable is the way to go.”

“Whatever you do, make sure to color coordinate your kayak with your life vest!”

“The "j" stroke is the best "all-around" paddling stroke that you can use. The very best stroke when paddling alone. You can make the canoe/kyack do anything with that. After the thrust you can keep her straight with the rudder effect & little drag. Many maneuvers can be attached or modified to suit.”

“Each year, there are kayak and canoe races during the first week of April on the Loyalsock creek at Worlds End SP (PA). The races have something to do with pre-Olympic trials and are a good time! Besides going to watch the races, the parking area becomes a "used boat" sale, with alot of folks bringing boats (canoes and kayaks) that they are looking to sell. Great place to find a used boat and haggle for a good price, we should check on the races for next spring and maybe put together a trip?”

“whooohoooo. I am the first on your list. :) bobo is that you on the pic??”