5 Essential Pieces of gear you should carry

1. PFD (life vest).  You shouldn’t just carry one; you should wear it.  

 

My favorite PFD of all-time, made by Kokatat

2. Rope – Preferably a tow rope.  You never know when you will have to tow someone, or tie up your kayak.  Carry at least a 25’ line.  A throw bag or tow rope will give you what you need with a convenient carry case.

 

Double rope throw / tow line for kayaking

3. First aid kit.  Even just having basics like band-aids can make a big difference when someone gets injured on the water.  Tip: put a bottle of Visine in your first-aid kit so you can flush the sunscreen out of your eyes. (One of the most common issues with kayaking).

 

Basic First Aid Kit

4. Repair kit.  Duct tape and a Leatherman multi-tool should be all you need to fix just about anything that goes wrong with your kayak.

5. Spray skirt.  The water may be totally calm when you start out, but a swift moving storm can quickly kick up waves that will swamp your kayak.

 

Don't try this without a spray skirt!

Think like the Boy scouts and always be prepared.

Kayak Fitness Training

Let me be clear; I am not a doctor or a fitness expert.  This post is just to let you know what I do to get in shape for kayaking.  If you paddle correctly, then you mostly use your core muscles, not your arms.  Flexibility is also key for kayaking, so my best recommendation is to do yoga.  It increases your flexibility and strengthens your core.  You don’t have to join a class; you can just get a DVD and workout at home.  Target actually has a very good selection of yoga equipment and DVDs.

I am a big believer in cross training.  Walk, hike, bike, ski, snowshoe, or do anything that improves your overall fitness level.

Because I live in the Northeast, I also like to have a good repertoire of indoor activities for winter.  I actually enjoy work out videos.  My favorites are Great Body Guaranteed and 10 Minute Trainer (both from Beachbody.com).  I also like Billy Blank’s Tae Bo DVDs, but these are not for the faint of heart.

Basically, what it comes down to is general fitness level and flexibility.  So just get moving and get stretching.

Paddling Clubs, Groups, etc.

So you have realized that it is safer to paddle with other people than to paddle alone.  How do you find other paddlers?  There are two types of paddling groups: clubs and meet-up groups.  Clubs can be either a kayaking club or a general outdoor club like the ADK (Adirondack Mtn. Club) or AMC (Appalachian Mtn. Club).  Kayak and outdoor clubs share some similarities.  Both will have a schedule of upcoming paddles with difficulty ratings and both will have some kind of vetting process for trip leaders.  General outdoor clubs also have the advantage that they offer hiking, and other trips as well as paddles.  The key points with either type of club are that you usually have to join and pay a membership fee, and they have rules that apply to the outings.  When you go out with a club you will have a trip leader who knows the area and you will have to follow the rules of the club.

A meet-up group is a much less formal arrangement.  Meet-up groups are just what the name implies.  Someone posts a “meet-up” on a website and anyone who wants to go shows up for the paddle.  Usually the person posting the paddle will also list some details about skill level and conditions you may encounter.  These trips do not have to conform to the rules of a formal club, but remember, you are on your own as far as safety is concerned.  

To summarize, clubs have rules, and trip leaders.  Meet-up groups have no formal leaders, but no restrictions or cost.  Most paddlers I know will go out with both clubs and groups depending on where the trip is going.  Clubs tend to be more popular with beginners who like having a designated trip leader, while meet-ups are more popular with experienced paddlers who do not need the guidance a trip leader provides.

Deck Bags

Most sea kayakers go with the “clean deck” theory.  If you have no stuff on your deck, your kayak’s center of gravity is lower and it is easier to conduct rescues.  However, deck bags can put some important gear right at your fingertips and I do use them on occasion.  It is nice to have your camera, extra food and emergency gear right there in front of you.  Over the years, I have used a couple of deck bags and here is what I have found…

Sitka Kayak Deck Bag

Fold-down map holder

My favorite deck bag is made by Sitka.  It is nylon and not completely waterproof, but is has a nice low profile and holders for water bottles on the side.  It is a bit floppy looking, but I love the built-in map holder which folds down to give you a closer look.  I keep my camera in a small dry bag anyway, so the fact that it isn’t completely waterproof really does not matter.

Seattle Sports Deck Bag

This Deck Bag has a high profile

My other dry bag is made by Seattle Sports.  It has a built-in plastic frame so it looks very clean and professional.  It also has a clear plastic window so you can see what is in it.  This one holds more gear, but does create a big profile on top of the kayak.  I only use this one for extended trips or when I am paddling a kayak with no day hatch.  

So if you want your sunscreen, camera and other gear easily accessible, consider a deck bag for your kayak.

See you on the water,

Don Urmston

Kayaker rescues motorboat!

The Boy Scouts got is right.  I often get scoffed at by other kayakers when they see me loading all of the safety gear that I carry with me.  “How long are you going for?” they will ask.  Well I was reminded today of why I (and you) should always carry your safety gear etc.  I was teaching two friends how to kayak, and I only had two kayaks with me.  So they took turns trying out the kayak and practicing what I had showed them while I paddled along in my kayak.  We were in a small pool on the side of the Black River in Watertown just above a dam.  The current was way too strong for beginners, so we just stayed in the pool and paddled around in circles for a few hours. 

So I thought, why bother bringing any safety equipment when we will be only a few yard from shore the whole time?  Well, a motorboat launched and went upstream.  A few minutes later, the same motorboat floated by with the engine off.  They were only a hundred yards or so from the dam and I noticed the guy had a paddle and was furiously paddling toward the shore.  It did not take me long to figure out what was going on.  Their engine had died and they were headed over the dam in a matter of a minute or two.  I gave my new kayaker instructions to stay put and quickly paddled over to the motor boat.  When I arrived, I asked if they were okay and they replied “NO!”  My first thought was to clip a rope onto the front of the boat and tow it in.  I could use my tow rope or the extra rope I always carried, except both of these were back at the house!  The woman on the boat fumbled with the bow line and managed to get it untangled.  She passed it to her husband and he tied it to the back of my kayak.  I was able to tow them in, but while he was fumbling with the line and tying it to my kayak, the man in the boat had to stop paddling.  Had we been just a bit farther downstream,  we would not have had the time. 

If I had my gear with me, it would have taken me only seconds to clip onto their bow and start towing them.  In an emergency, every second counts.  So be prepared.  Bring your safety gear, first-aid kit, rope, etc. with you every time you go out paddling.  The one time you don’t bring it, is when you will really need it.

3 Keys to Hydration While Kayaking

One of the biggest dangers while kayaking is dehydration.  You are sitting out in the sun, baking and losing water as you sweat.  It takes effort and time to stop and get a drink; so many people just keep on paddling.  Here are 3 simple techniques to keep you hydrated:

1-      Stop every ½ hour and take a drink break.

2-      Use a hydration pack, like a Camel Back.  You can store the pack behind your seat, on the deck under the bungees, or on your back.  Having the tube handy means you can take a drink without taking both hands off your paddle.  This is key in high winds.

3-      Try alternating water and sports drinks (like Gatorade).  The sports drinks will give you key electrolytes that are lost when you sweat.  For extended trips, I use a mixture of 60% water and 40% Gatorade.

If you don’t stay hydrated, you will run out of energy.  This could prove disastrous if you find yourself in rough conditions.  So stay hydrated and stay safe.

See you on the water,

Don Urmston