Picking A Paddle

Again this is aimed at recreational kayakers.  That's the majority of kayakers out there.  So let's get going and get you a paddle.  There are two types of paddles that as a recreational paddler your going to be looking for.  A paddle with a rectangular, shaped flat blade and an oval, scooped blade.  Regardless of which of those you choose your going to size them the same way. 

There are two things to keep in mind when sizing a paddle.  The size of the paddler and the width of thier kayak.  Recreational paddles come in three basic sizes.  210cm or small, 220cm or medium, 230cm or large.  Start by standing the paddle on end and reach up with one hand.  The paddle should be as long or two to three inches longer than your arm.  Now think about the width of the kayak you've purchased.  If you own a wide boat you may want to opt for a medium or large length paddle, instead of a small shorter paddle.  A longer paddle will keep you from banging into the side of the boat.

Now decide on the type of blade that you want on your paddle.  A rectangular, flat blade will allow you to use almost any stroke you can think of and they tend to be cheaper.  The down side is that they usually only come in aluminum and are therefore heavier as well as usaully being one piece and harder to store and carry.  An oval, scooped blade gives you more push.  Some hints for oval paddles.  They have a point the point goes on the top part of the paddle.  They are more ergonomically designed and therefore require less effort for more forward motion.  They come in one and two piece models and also come in aluminum, fiberglass and carbon fiber.   There design is such however that they won't work for all types of paddling and you won't be able to do some of the more advanced paddle moves.  If you, like most recreational paddlers, don't want to do any advanced kayaking, then this won't matter for you.

Jon

Stability

Let's talk about what makes a boat feel stable versus tippy.   That would be the hull shape.  That would be the shape of the hull from one side to the other as opposed to rocker, which is the shape of the hull from front to back.  A boat that is wide and very flat is going to feel very stable when your sitting in it but will become unbalanced when tipping it on edge.  A boat with a deep V shape to the hull is going to feel very tippy but become stablewhen tipped on edge.  The there are variations of the two or what I like to call an intermediate hull.  It offers the best of both worlds it feels very stable and non-tippy when just sitting up right, but also offers some secondary stability when tipping it on edge.  View the accompanying illustration for clarification.

Thanks, Talk later.

First Time Buyers

Hey guys, Sorry I havn't posted for a while.  I've been out paddling around some of our local lakes.  Today I want to talk to first time kayak buyers.  Most of you have either never been in a kayk or have only been in one a few times.

There are a few things you really need to consider when looking for your first boat.

• How comfortable you are in and on the water (are you a good swimmer)
• What kind of paddling you intend to do
• Do you plan on upgrading as you advance or do you need a boat that will allow you to grow
• Weight
• Price

Let's start at the top of the list.  Are you comfortable in a regular boat or canoe?  Do you feel panicky or anxious when the boat is rocking back and forth?  Are you afraid of the boat tipping over?  All important questions to ask yourself.  If you answered yes to any of these then you need a kayak that has a lot of stability.  This equates to a boat that is a little wider in the middle and flat on the bottom. 

Second thing, what kind of paddling do you intend to do?  If your a recreational paddler and intend to do a little bit of everything then a recreational kayak is the way to go.  If you intend on taking it to specific places then you may want a specialized kayak.  Some examples are white water, sea kayak or fishing kayak.

 Do you intend to upgrade or do more advanced kayking in the future?  This is important.  If your the average person then your probably looking at only ever buying this one boat.  If your the kind of person that happens to enjoy advancing and challenging themselves then you may be looking to upgrade at some point.  This is where things can get a little complicated.  If you only ever plan on going on flat water with your kayak and never plan learning more advanced techniques like the eskimo roll, then a basic recreational kayak will fit the bill.  However if you intend to grow and take classes then you need to decide if you can afford to buy another kayak in a couple of years.  If not there are a lot of kayaks up there that will give you all the things your looking for in a basic beginners boat and still allow you to advance to more technical paddling.

Weight is important if your going to be transporting the boat yourself.  You need to be able to physically lift your kayak on and off your car and in many cases carry it to the water.  A couple of things here.  Kayaks are made of two types of materials.  Plastic which is heavier, slower in the water but much more durable.  And Fiberglass which is lighter, faster in the water, but easier to punch a hole in.  I would suggest that people go with the plastic even though it's heavier.  It's nearly indestructable and so forgiving if you bang it off a rock or drop it.

Price, is the last thing I would suggest you consider.  Figure out what your looking for in a boat and then figure out what you can afford to spend.  Then go out and find the boat that comes the closest to what your looking for and meets your price range.  A quick note.  You can find many kayaks out there for $200-$300 and I often see people come in that are looking to spend that.  Often I talk them into buying a boat that is between the $300-$400.  For the extra $100 you typically get much, mch better product and that translates into to a better time on the water.

A coule of quick comments.  I meet people all the time that want to buy a kayak but they want a big cockpit or opening, because they are afraid of being trapped if they tip over.  This won't happen guys.  Even in boats that are designed for rolling you have to hold yourself in the kayak by pushing against knee braces.  A larger cockpit will however allow you to get in and out of the boat easier when launching or finishing for the day. 

The last thing that I want to say is try as many boats out as you can.  Many places rent kayaks or give demo days.  Often if you talk to the store they'll bring specific boats that you may be interested in.

Thanks Jon

Just Getting Started

Hi, fellow kayakers and canoers.  I'm creating this site to provide a place to look for gear, provide information and answer any questions that people may have.  Let me give you a little info on who I am and what qualifies me to speak on the subject of paddling. 
I grew up and live in New England.  As a child my father used to take my brother and I out after dinner canoeing.  I learned much about basic paddling skills from him.  We would spend a month every summer in Northern Canada living in a lake front cabin.  By the time I was eight I was out paddling around the lake on my own.  I started white water canoeing at the age of thirteen in class I and II water and had moved up to Class III white water by the time I had reached my late teens.
I switched from canoeing to kayaks when my son was eight and quickley discovered that I enjoyed it more than canoeing.  I have in the past ten years, spent my free time on local rivers and lakes, frequentley spend time on the ocean and have continued to do white water.  I now own 2 canoes and 4 kayaks ranging from a white water single person boat to a 17' sea kayak fully decked out for week long trips.
I currently work at Dick's Sporting Goods where I spend the majority of my time talking about and selling kayaks and kayaking gear.  I often get repeat customers and customers coming back to tell me how much they enjoy the sport and the gear that I sold them.  I feel that by creating a page dedicated to kayaking I can reach more people and increase the population of the kayking community.
I plan on posting something of interest at least once a week.  I hope you bookmark me and keep coming back to learn a little more.

Jon