About Kayaking, Kayak Selection and Guide - Our Mission is Fun
Provided by: Island Sports Shop
Kayaks
Kayaking is one of life's truly enjoyable experiences. A kayak is an adventure machine. It's uses are only limited by your imagination. You can tour wilderness rivers, paddle up creeks that can't be reached from a road, fish the brushy areas of a lake, or play in the surf. You can dive or snorkel from them, go camping in a wilderness area, or just paddle to enjoy nature and get exercise.
Is it difficult to learn to kayak? Sit on top kayaks have made kayaking so easy anyone can learn to kayak in minutes. During the tourist season we have a free kayak demonstration every Monday morning. Usually we have about 10 minutes of lessons, where we demonstrate basic paddling, and show them how to recover from a capsize. After that we let them paddle themselves, and they are always amazed at how easy, and how enjoyable it is.
The native people of Alaska and Canada made the kayak an everyday tool. These kayaks were constructed of bone and skin, and enabled the kayaker to go to sea to hunt whales. They were stable and versatile craft that were used in a cold climate, in a wide variety of weather and sea conditions.
Modern materials and design methods have made kayaking easily accessible to most people. Kayaks are still of specialized design, for no boat fits every need. You need to give some thought to your own requirements for your boat. Some things to consider are:
- Water Conditions
- Climate
- Skill Level
- Type of Use
- Transportation
- Features
- Specifications
- Safety
- Equipment
Water Conditions and Climate
Think about where you will use your boat the most. Will you use it on gentle rivers and streams, white water rivers, lakes, or in the ocean? If you plan to use your boat to cruise gentle rivers and streams, how long will your average trip be, and how long will you stay? If you plan short trips, and only day trips, a recreational kayak, or general purpose sit on top with good stability will fill your needs. For longer trips, and overnight or extended trips, speed and storage capacity become important factors.
If you plan to kayak on large lakes or in the ocean, you need to consider sea worthiness. When you routinely use a kayak in rough water you are going to capsize sooner or later, With sit on tops recovery from a capsize is fairly simple, tip the boat upright and get back in. Conventional kayaks may be rolled upright with an eskimo roll, but recreational kayaks are difficult to roll due to their high initial stability, and the kayak must be fitted out properly in order to roll it. So if you purchase any recreational kayak you should seek some training in recovery techniques.
What type should you buy? If the water and weather are warm when you do most of your kayaking, the sit on top is hard to beat. On the down side, sit on tops are wetter, so if you use it in cold weather you will need a good wet suit or dry suit.
You will also need a good dry top with a recreational kayak, along with a spray skirt, for cold weather, but these boats will be dryer and more comfortable in cold weather. The spray skirt will also be needed in heavy chop and small waves to keep the boat dry.
White water kayaks are specialized boats, designed to be extremely maneuverable, and to operate in the hydraulics of swift moving rivers and rapids. The Yahoo and the Pegasus are the only boats of this type that we sell.
Skill Level
Except for the RRRapido, all of the sit on top kayaks we sell are very user friendly, and can be used by the novice with little training. If your interest is surfing, or coastal kayak fishing, you would be wise to go out with someone who is familiar with these sports and the gear you will require. You should capsize your sit on top near shore and practice getting back in before you venture out too far.
If you purchase a recreational kayak, get some basic instruction in recovery techniques, because that situation will eventually occur. You will want to have a paddle float and a bilge pump on board as well. Check out your boat, capsize it in water shallow enough to stand in, and see if it floats high enough to pump it out with a bilge pump. If it sinks or rides too low in the water to pump out, you will need to add some flotation. You can purchase flotation bags, or improvise with foam or other flotation material. Be sure to mount the bilge pump where you can reach it from the water.
Type of Use
All of the kayaks we sell can be used in flat water conditions, (slow moving rivers, streams, calm lakes, and bays), the RRRapido, Yahoo, Yakboard, and Pegasus are not the best choice for this as they are designed to be very maneuverable, and don't track well. If you plan long trips with over night or longer stays, the Cabo, Scupper Classic, Scupper Pro, Scupper Pro TW, Pro SI 149, Pro SI 129, Willow, and the Dagger Drift, are good choices.
For shorter trips the Scrambler, Scrambler XT, Malibu Two, Drifter, Willow, Cayman, Grand Cayman, Blackwater, Pro SI 109, and Bayou 2, can be added to the list above. The Frenzy and Frolic are also excellent choices for short flat water trips, and although they aren't as fast as the boats above they do offer excellent stability.
If you want to play in the surf, the RRRapido, Scrambler, Scrambler XT, Yakboard, Frolic, and Frenzy all work good in the surf. In small surf you can surf the Malibu Two and the Grand Cayman. The Frenzy shines in the surf, and is more maneuverable than either of the Scramblers, but larger paddlers (Over 150 lbs.), may find that the Scramblers are more suitable, as the Frenzy is harder for larger paddlers to surf. The RRRapido is designed to surf and does really well. There is a learning curve there, and you should try it in really small surf at first and work up from that, as it takes some getting used too.
Here in Florida coastal kayak fishing is catching on fast, and is becoming a popular sport. The most popular boats are the Scrambler XT and the Scupper Pro TW. The new Drifter is also a good choice, (Especially for really large guys), and also offers excellent stability.
Transportation
Once you have a boat picked out you still have to get it to and from the water. If you have a small pickup you can use a Mirage truck rack which folds up in a bag you can stow behind the seat. The Mirage rack has padded rollers which make loading easy. Soft rack pads work well and are easy to use. You put the pads on the ground and set the boat upside down on top of them. Each pad has a strap with buckles which you fasten around the boat. You can then lift the whole rig on top of your car. Fasten a stout line from each carry handle to a bumper support, or a tie down ring, under your car. A small line can be ran from a scupper hole, passed through the car, and tied to the opposite scupper hole, for side to side support. With the rear windows rolled up against this line the boat is secured laterally. Soft Rack Pads also work well with roof racks. (Original equipment roof racks)
We also sell the Portage Pal kayak dollies, which are nice if you have to go a piece after you unload your boat in order to launch it. They make one version which has two metal rods which insert into the scupper holes in your boat. We reccomend padding both of these rods with foam pipe insulation before using them, to prevent damage to the inside of the scupper holes. Be sure they are inserted properly before loading gear into the boat. The other version of the Portage Pal fits the kayak keel near the stern, and must be tied on with a strap and bungee cord. This version works best for boats with no scupper holes.
Features
Before buying a boat be sure it has the features you need. If it is a sit on top does it have scupper holes for self bailing? Are there attach points for seats and other gear? does it have a drain plug to drain water accumulation inside the hull? Are gear straps provided? Can you get hatches to store gear out of the weather? Think carefully about the use your boat will be put to.
For recreational boats check that seats are provided, and if not take that into your considerations when shopping for a boat. Check the construction materials, if it is a polyethylene boat be sure it is linear polyethylene. If your use will require some dry storage be sure the boat can be purchased with hatches. A water tight bulkhead between the cockpit and the hatch will also provide additional flotation, besides keeping your gear dry. Be sure spray skirts are available.
Specifications
Study the specifications of the boat carefully. Be sure the cockpit will accomadate you comfortably. Some boats may be too tight for larger paddlers. Check the length and be sure it will fit within your storage space. Check the materials of construction. Most of our kayaks are made from linear polyethylene, which will last a long time in the sun. Other varieties of polyethylene do not age well in the sun. Check the weight, you are going to have to carry your boat to the water, and load it back on your car.
Safety
If you buy a conventional or recreational kayak, plan on instruction in recovering from capsizes. If your boat does not have flotation, you should consider buying the inflatable flotation bags. You should also have a bilge pump and a paddle float.
Most sit on tops present little challenge in recovering from capsizes. Simply roll the boat upright and the self bailing scupper holes will drain out any water. Ocean Kayak suggests two techniques for getting back in the boat. The first technique is to try to jump over the boat and when you are across it, just roll over on your back and swing your legs in. This takes a little practice, and your PFD makes it easier, as you can throw your arms over your head to sink your body, and use the extra bouyancy of the PFD to propell you out of the water. The other technique involves floating alongside the boat and trying to roll in from the horizontal position. Be sure you have the hang of it, whatever technique you use.
You should always wear your PFD. Every year we lose several boaters here in Florida, simply because they didn't have a PFD on. If you are into coastal kayak fishing you should also have a whistle, a strobe light, and a signal mirrow, attached to your PFD. Be sure you have a paddle leash, and lanyards for all of your gear in case you capsize. Always tell someone where you plan to go, and when you expect to return. It's more fun and safer to go with a buddy.
Equipment
What equipment do you need? This depends on the uses you plan for your boat, but some items apply to all types of kayaking. Get a good PFD (Life Preserver), a paddle suitable for your use, the Ocean Kayak paddles are durable for use in the surf, and touring paddles combine efficiency with light weight. If you plan to spend a lot of time on the water, or fish from your boat, a seat is a good investment. Paddle clips and a paddle leash are also handy. If you paddle offshore in the gulf or ocean you should add a strobe light, a signal mirrow, and a whistle to your PFD, and get a compass and a local chart. Dry suits or wet suits will extend your boating season.
With a little preparation and planning, you will find kayaking is one of the most enjoyable sports of all. It's great exercise, fun, and you get to enjoy the wonders of creation at your own pace. Have fun!
About the Author:
Island Sports Shop
Island Sports Shop sells Ocean Kayaks, Dagger kayaks, Caloi Bicycles, and C2C Dive Equipment, and much much more.
Island Sports Shop, Inc.
1688 Old Highway 98 Destin, Florida 32550
Ph. 850-650-9126 or Call Toll Free 877-247-8628
Fax 850-650-9127 E-Mail: Island Sports Shop
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