Kayaking 101 – What You Should Know

by Nick Sotos on May 20, 2013

So you want to get serious about kayaking. You have already decided to buy yourself a kayak and your schedule for the coming months has enough room for trips to the river or the lake to “do your thing”, so to speak. The problem is, you don’t have the basics down just yet, and you’re afraid you may have missed something if you forge head on with it. What should you do?

Basics Kayaking Tips to Get you Started

Be Acquainted with it

Well, the first thing you should do would be to learn what you could about it. Do not hit the water without knowing the first thing about kayaking. There are many books and publications dedicated to the sport. You can browse them and read through the many articles written on the subject. There are also a lot of online sources that you can peruse to get the information you need. Spending time with kayakers and asking them questions about the activity would also be a very good idea.

Tips On Getting Started

Let us give you some tips on how you can get started on your way to being a kayaker.

  • Know how to paddle: Signing up for paddling classes is highly advised. Remember that the main thing you’d be doing while kayaking would be working those paddles, so it is important that you have more than a passing knowledge on how to go about it.
  • Know how to navigate: In the future, you may want to venture further than a few miles from the shore. Therefore, you have to learn how to read maps and use other navigation tools.
  • Practice: Small, baby steps. That’s how you should start. Take what you’ve learned from paddling classes and practice them, taking note of each stroke. Maybe practice paddling on a small patch of the water without venturing more than a few yards from the shore.
  • Be aware: Know what the weather will be like. Keep your ears and eyes wide open for any news, forecasts, and the like. Even if you aren’t an expert (yet) on predicting the weather, wind speed, and direction, at least you know when to trust the experts.
  • Choose a properly fitted kayak: The more comfortable you are while seated on it, the easier and more efficient your paddling will be.
  • Have a paddling buddy: Learning by yourself is good; learning with another is even better. Besides, it is also another way to address the safety issue. At least there is someone who will have your back, just as you will have his or hers.
  • Make sure you have the necessary safety gear: A personal flotation device (PFD) is a must.
  • Stay connected: Make sure you have a communication device, such as a radio, to stay connected to someone on the shore, in case you need help.
  • Dress for the occasion: Choose your paddling clothes carefully. You don’t want to be weighed down by inappropriate clothing. Your beginner status is already something you should be concerned about; there is no need to add any more to that.

And, Finally…

The most important tip of all would be to have fun. Enjoy the experience. The learning experience, the initial steps taken, would always be in your memory, so make sure to enjoy every moment of it. In the future, when you’ve already upped your skills as a kayaker and taking on bigger challenges, you will look back to the time when you were just starting out and marvel at how far you’ve gone.

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Canoe Storage Know-How

by Nick Sotos on May 17, 2013

If you think about it, the best possible canoe care and maintenance tip that you’d probably get is storage when it’s not in use. And not just any kind of storage; it must be proper canoe storage. But how should you go about it?

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Storage Equals Protection

Why should you store your canoe in the first place? Why couldn’t you just get it out of the water, and leave it on your garage, so you can easily retrieve it when you feel like going back out again? In this case, it is safe to say that storing your canoe means protecting it. But what are you protecting it from, exactly?

  • Sun Damage: You take a lot of care of your skin, slathering on sunscreen and sunblock before going out into the sun, repeating it every 2 hours or so. Why should your canoe be any different? After all, it spends a lot of time under the sun and in the water – probably even more – as you. Take note that the material your canoe is made of, especially if it comes with a specific finish, coating, or paint job, is vulnerable to cracks and damage brought about by radiation emitted by the sun. Storing your canoe away from direct sunlight would be a good idea.
  • Weather Conditions: Humidity, wind, cold, moisture and precipitation could be just as damaging as the rays of the sun. That is why indoor storage is highly recommended for canoes. If you do not have enough room indoors for the canoe, getting a tarp to cover it would be a good alternative.
  • Theft: Canoes don’t come cheap. There are canoes that cost quite a significant amount of money, making them targets for thieves. Store your canoe out of plain sight of any potential thief scoping out the place, and set it up in such a way that the thief won’t be able to have an easy time spiriting it away.
  • Wear and Tear: This is especially true with respect to the hull of canoe hulls, which are susceptible to deformities after some time, especially when subjected to uneven weight distribution. The positioning of the canoe when storing it is key to preventing the hull from being damaged.

Canoe Storage Dos and Don’ts

DO:

- Make sure the canoe is completely dry before storing it. If you just came from paddling in salt water, rinse the salt away before drying it and storing it to prevent corrosion.

- Check for repairs that must be done before storing it. Storing defective canoe accessories or a canoe with an unattended scratch, crack, or break is not a good idea.

- Store your canoe indoors. If that’s not possible, get a tarp that could provide maximum coverage.

- Choose a storage area that is dry and moisture-free.

- Choose a tarp that is thick and can resist abrasion, and all weather conditions.

- Take note of the manufacturer’s notes when it comes to caring for your canoe. It may have specific materials or parts that need special care and attention.

DON’T:

- Store your canoe on the ground in an upside-down position. This would cause damage to the gunwales.

- Support the canoe from its ends only. Support should be evenly distributed.

- Let it stand on one end or left hanging from its grab handles.

- Store it anywhere near a heat source such as a furnace.

The Most Important Tip

The most important tip, by far, that all canoe owners should observe it to “store your canoe”. It will ensure you of longer use, allowing you to enjoy it for a long time yet and get a good performance out of it, if you do.

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