Canoeing and Kayaking:
Equipment
Is Kayaking Expensive?
Before you start kayaking, this is one thing that you will probably be concerned with. After all, not too many people can afford spending too much money on their hobbies, and kayaking does seem like the type of activity that would cost a lot of money to start. However, just like most other things that you would think about doing, kayaking can either be very expensive, or relatively affordable.
The most expensive thing that you will probably be buying is your kayak. There are a lot of different kayaks on the market, however, so you should probably pay attention to which ones are available. There's no reason to spend more money than you have to on this. Also, if you manage to buy your kayak used, then you will save a lot of money.
Another way that you can make sure that you don't spend too much money on kayaking is by maintaining your kayak. The more you maintain your kayak, the less money you'll have to spend on repairs. Considering the types of repairs that might be needed on a badly cared for kayak, this could be a considerable amount of money.
While there are also a lot of other items that you will need for your kayak, before you buy each thing you should ask yourself whether or not you'll actually need to use it. If the answer is no, then you can save some extra money by not buying that particular thing. For instance, if you are not going to be going kayaking out at sea for long periods of time, or if you don't think that you'll be going on long kayak tours, then you probably will not need to get a GPS system for your kayak.
You should also pay attention to whether or not you need to get the best supplies. While it would be nice to have the best of everything, you should look at what will be sufficient instead.
However, even though you can save some money by omitting certain things from your list of necessary items, you should always make sure that you have all the necessary safety gear. Every kayak should have a first aid kit in the hatch, and you should always wear a personal flotation device for your own safety.
Buying a New Kayak
Comfort is the most important thing you should consider if you are buying a new kayak.
If you're thinking about buying a new kayak, there are a few things that you should definitely consider before you go out and actually spend the money. The first thing you should figure out is whether or not you know what you're getting into. If you've only ever used rental kayaks, then you might want to buy a kayak that is similar to the kinds that you've used in the past.
The first thing you should consider is whether or not it will be easy for you to get into the cockpit wearing the clothes that you're thinking about wearing kayaking. Large people should make sure that the kayak they are buying has a lot of room for them to get in – you don't want to find out that you can't easily get in and out of your kayak when you're already at the beach. If at all possible, you should see if you can at least try getting into the kayak before you buy it.
How well the kayak will handle in different water conditions is another major thing that you should consider. If you're not going to be able to control your kayak when you're on the water, then there's no point in buying that particular model of kayak. This is another reason why you should see if you can try out the kayak that you're thinking about buying before you actually pay for it.
If you're not sure whether or not you'll be allowed to try out a kayak before you buy it, then you'll probably want to talk to a friend who may have that type of kayak. The best thing to look for in a kayak is whether or not it is similar to (or the same as) kayak that you have already been able to use.
If you're thinking about buying a new kayak that has a rudder or skegs, then you should also look into trying out the rudder first. That way, you'll be able to see whether or not the rudder moves well. If the kayak has a faulty rudder, or if you think that you won't be able to work the rudder as easily as you'd like, then you should probably look at another kayak.
One thing you should always realize, however, is that until you've actually brought the kayak with you on a major trip, you will probably not know exactly how well it will handle over a long period of time. This means that even though you are trying to make sure that you get the exact kayak that you want, it's always possible that you could be surprised. The best way to avoid it when you're buying a new kayak, however, is to try and find a seller who will let you try out the kayak before you commit to buying it.
Buying a Used Kayak
When buying a used kayak, you should be careful to make sure that it is not a damaged kayak.
If you're looking to buy a new kayak, but you don't necessarily want to spend too much money on it, then you might want to look into buying a used kayak. There are a lot of different situations in which a used kayak might actually even be better than a new kayak. Also, if you're not looking for a kayak that needs to be perfect in order to do tricks, then a used kayak will probably be good for you.
One of the things you should look for when buying a used kayak is whether or not the kayak looks as though it has been patched up. This is especially the case if you're looking at an inflatable kayak, since these are generally a little bit easier to break if they've already been punctured or damaged than a regular kayak is.
However, you should still look to see if the used kayak has been patched up, even if you are not looking at an inflatable kayak. The reason for this is that if the kayak has been in a situation where it needed to be repaired, this situation might have also had an effect on the integrity of the kayak as a whole. Considering how important it is to have a high quality kayak in order to be safe, you'll want to make sure that the one you're buying is in good condition.
How can you tell whether or not the kayak has been patched up? Well, sometimes when you're buying a used kayak, whether or not it's been patched up is very obvious, because there will be visible patches on the outside of the kayak. However, if the kayak was repainted afterward, it might be harder to tell.
One thing you should look for are areas where the paint is different than over the rest of the kayak. You should also look for uneven areas on the hull, since all kayaks are smooth when they are originally sold.
Another thing that you should look for when you're buying a used kayak is whether or not all of the parts work. If you're buying a kayak that has a built in rudder or skeg, you should ask to try it out on a lake or in a pool before you decide whether or not you're going to buy the kayak. If this is not feasible, you should at least make sure that the rudder is not obstructed, and that it responds quickly to the controls.
How to maintain your kayak
Once you've found the perfect kayak for you, and you're ready to go kayaking, there's one other thing that you need to learn about first. You need to know how to take care of your kayak, otherwise, you may find that your kayak doesn't last nearly as long as you would like it to. Considering how much kayaks tend to cost, this should definitely be a priority for you.
One thing that you should keep in mind regarding kayak maintenance is that like most things, a little bit of prevention can go a long way. As a result, you should make sure that you do a little bit of regular maintenance on your kayak. This way, you'll be able to keep your kayak nice, and you won't have to worry about doing a lot of maintenance all at once when something breaks.
First, you should always make sure that you wash your kayak regularly. This will help keep it clean, and will also make sure that you can see if there is anything on the kayak that could cause problems later. This is especially important if you are kayaking in salt water, since the salt can corrode parts of your kayak. You should also make sure that you rinse the inside of your kayak as well if any salt water got inside.
You should make sure that your kayak does not have any holes in it, too - and you can do this before you find yourself sitting in a leaking kayak out at sea. All you have to do is put a flashlight inside of the kayak and cover the cockpit. Then put the kayak in a dark room. If you see any areas of light then that means that you have a crack in your kayak. This is the best way for you to decide if you have a crack in your actual kayak instead of just in the paint. Cracks in the paint will make your boat look worse than it is, but they won't do any real structural damage to your kayak.
Finally, if you don't want your paint to fade and you're worried about the boat warping at all, then you should store it indoors and out of the sun temperature changes.
Trunk Rotation
Trunk rotation is the most important part of being able to paddle a kayak.
One thing that most people may not realize about kayaking is that most of the power for kayaking will not actually come from your arms. The reason for this is that when you think about it, even if you are only going for a short kayaking trip, you are going to need to do a lot of paddle strokes. If it is just your arms that are taking care of this problem you will probably end up getting very tired very quickly.
As a result, most of the power for each paddling stroke will come from something called the trunk rotation.
The trunk rotation is the way that you move your torso when you are paddling a kayak. This allows you to make stronger, larger strokes with your paddle, so that you won't have any trouble making sure that you are actually moving quite a bit with each stroke.
Therefore, if you're thinking about learning how to paddle a kayak, you might want to see how well you are able to rotate or twist your torso. By having strong muscles in this area of your body, you should be able to make sure that you go further than you would go ordinarily in a kayak.
You should also make sure that you are actually leaning forward in the kayak somewhat. That way, you'll be able to keep yourself from injuring your lower back. After all, leaning back will make it so that you put a little bit of extra stress on that part of your body. Since this is one of the easiest parts of your body to strain, you should do whatever you can to make sure that it remains comfortable while you paddle.
One way that you can determine whether or not enough of your power is coming from your trunk rotation instead of your arms is to pay attention to what your arms do when you paddle. If your arms staying mostly straight while you paddle, then that probably means that you are using trunk rotation to propel the kayak through the water.
In order to use this paddling technique, you don't need to do very much. First of all, you need to keep your arms mostly straight. Then, when you paddle, you need to twist from side to side in order to move the paddles. In order to practice this, you should practice turning your torso from side to side while sitting still.
Once you've mastered how to use the trunk rotation, you should find that your kayak paddling is both stronger and more effective than it was before.
How to carry the kayak yourself
While it is always a good idea to carry kayaks with more than one person (partially due to their size, but also due to how heavy they are), at some point, you might find that it is necessary to carry your own kayak. If you find that you're going to need to carry your own kayak, make sure that you take a good look at the situation. Make sure that it is actually necessary that you carry the kayak on your own before you start trying to pick it up without help.
Another thing you can consider if you can't get anybody to help you move your kayak is that there are several rolling systems that have been designed so that you can roll your kayak into place, and won't need to lift it up. In fact, unless you're sure that you can pick up your kayak easily, you should definitely look into one of the other moving systems - the last thing you want to do is pull muscles before you get out on the water!
The most important thing to remember about lifting kayaks (just like lifting any other heavy objects) is that you do not want to lift from your waist. In fact, you should avoid bending at your waist at all if you can. That way, you won't have to worry about straining your lower back. In fact, make sure that most of the push for any lifting comes primarily from your legs. That way, you will be using so
me of the strongest muscles in your body to lift the majority of the kayak's weight. You should stand next to the kayak and turn it up on its side so that it is leaning against your leg. Next, squat down (but don't bend over!). Once you are down close to the ground and well-balanced, you should pull the kayak up onto your forward leg. From there, make sure that you have everything where it should be before you stand up carefully. Make sure that you keep your back straight when you stand up!
Once you have the kayak up and you're standing, you should look for a comfortable balance point on your shoulder before you start moving. Make sure that it is as comfortable as is possible - that way you'll be able to carry it further than you would if it was off balance.
While you can carry a kayak on your own, if you think that there are going to be a lot of situations in which you have to move your own kayak, you might want to look into getting a lighter model. For instance, an inflatable kayak is generally a bit easier to carry than some of the heavier wooden or plastic models.
Kayak Paddles:
General introduction to paddles: which type is right for you?
One thing that you should consider before you start buying kayaking equipment is that there are several different types of kayak paddles. If you're thinking about buying paddles for kayaking, you should consider what you're looking for in a paddle before you buy them. The differences between different paddles will affect how your kayak handles, so you should look at the benefits of the different materials before you decide which one to go with.
The most common type of kayak paddles are likely the composite paddles. These are made out of both carbon and nylon so that they are extra strong. This is a good type of paddle for everybody, even if you are just a beginner due to the fact that they allow you to have better control over your paddle than you would ordinarily. Some people swear by wooden paddles, and these are generally very strong. There are a few things that you should consider regarding wooden paddles.
The first is that they are usually considerably heavier than composite paddles. Therefore, if you're worried about the paddles being too hard to use, then you should probably go with a different type of material. However, there are some benefits when it comes to wooden paddles. First of all, they are easier to fix if they break or splinter. Another thing you should consider is that you can easily get custom wooden paddles made - whereas you pretty much have to buy whatever is sold to you when it comes to composite or other types of paddles.
Depending on the type of kayaking you intend to do, there are also different types of paddles. There is a very different paddle design for people who are going to go whitewater kayaking, for instance, than there is for people who are going kayak touring. Therefore, it is probably a good idea for you to look for the paddles that fit your activity - just like you would make sure that your kayak is designed properly for what you intend to do with it.
You may even want to buy several different sets of kayak paddles if you like to go to different places and do different things with your kayak. The best way to find out whether or not you'll be able to use a kayak paddle is to pick it up and to try using it to paddle in the air. If it is at all hard to hold up, then you should look for a different type of kayak paddle.
The Shaft
When buying kayak paddles make sure that the shaft is strong and easy to grip.
One of the most important parts of paddle strength is how strong the shaft is. You want this part of the paddle to be lightweight, but extra strong.
This is the part of the paddle that is going to have to withstand all of the force from your paddling - especially in the center of the paddle shaft. While there are still some wooden paddles being made, most people are moving toward buying kayak paddles that have artificial materials in the shaft. That way, they are both strong and lightweight. Wooden paddle shafts have a tendency to be fairly heavy, so they are usually only used by people who are trying to make an all-natural kayak set.
One of the common materials for the shaft is fiberglass. This is due to the fact that this is both a strong and sturdy material as well as being easy to design and mold. If you're looking for a well made paddle, these are one of the types you can look at. Another thing you should consider is that in fiberglass paddles, the shaft is usually colored, so you will be able to choose from many different types of kayaks.
The other thing you should consider about kayak paddles is that the shaft may not always be the same thickness. Therefore, if you find it hard to hold onto a smaller paddle shaft, then you should look for one that is a little bit thicker. You can also often find paddles on which the shaft has extra padding for you to hold onto. These paddles will be easier to use when you are paddling, and if you're having any trouble controlling your kayak, the paddle might be the reason for it.
You should also make sure that the kayak paddle shafts are not very easy to bend. If they are easy to bend, then it's likely that you'll end up having trouble controlling your kayak.
If you do not like the grips that come with your kayak paddles, don't worry. There are plenty of companies out there that sell special paddle grips that can be attached to the shaft of almost any kayak paddles. These grips will make it possible for you to be more efficient when you're padding as well as prevent blisters.