Beginner Kayaking Skills and Preparation
In this stressful and wacky world we live in today, a break from the routine is essential. Kayaking is a great way to unwind and relax. Being on the water in your kayak can bring peace and calmness. Often you can interact with wildlife like birds, turtles, dolphins and sea lions. Kayaking can also provide opportunities for vigorous exercise. Kayaking does not necessarily require long drives or expense trips out of town. Likely there are several places within 30 minutes of your home where you can launch your kayak and enjoy a few hours of fun and tranquility. This beginner kayaking article will show you how to get started.
Kayaking is not always simple and straight forward. There are things you need to know and be prepared for. As an example, the weather can change in an instant. Are you prepared for the wind? Did you account for a westerly afternoon breeze so it will be at your back on the way in to the launch? Did you even listen to the weather forecast be fore heading out on the water. Will there be storms today? There are many things a kayaker must consider based on the local conditions you will be dealing with. If you are in the ocean, do you understand the currents and swells that are common on the waterway you will be using?
So how does one learn all of these important beginner kayaking skills? One way is by reading informative articles such as this one. Another is to join a local kayaking group or online forum and ask questions and read posts that may help you become more astute on kayaking skills. Don’t be shy asking questions. Just let people know you are new to the sport and they will help get you going. It only makes since, we all started out in the same position you are in. We were excited and anxious to get out on the water but ignorant to the dangers and challenges that come with this unique activity.
What Is The Best Kayak For A Beginner?
If you want to be a Kayaker, then you obviously need to buy a kayak! Kayaking has become a huge sport with many manufacturers now producing kayaks of all size, price and type. When getting into any new sport its best to take it slow. You may have lots of ideas going through your mind right now but without experience, you may find your ideas change as you encounter different situations you had not thought of originally.
My advice is to purchase a ‘beginner’ kayak and see how things go. You don’t want to buy a cheap product as that usually creates a poor experience and can sometimes be dangerous. You want a quality kayak but nothing that breaks the bank. Once you have had time to gain experience and develop a better idea of what your needs are and what your goals are for future kayaking, you can upgrade to a better craft if necessary.
Determine what your goals are and buy a kayak accordingly. For example, do you want to kayak in lakes primarily or in the ocean? Do you want to kayak in rivers or whitewater? Will this be for pleasure, or do you want to fish every time you go out? Do you want to go out alone or will you always have a partner? After considering your needs you will be in a good position to choose a kayak that will be best suited for you.
Here are some excellent kayaks that I would consider to be beginner to intermediate models. These have good starting price points but are good quality and have some extra add-ons.
Pelican Sit-on-top Fishing Kayak
Lifetime Tamarack Pro Kayak
Where Are The Best Places For A Beginner To Start Kayaking
Its best to choose calm, quiet waters when heading out for your first couple of beginner kayaking trips. Its also best to invite a buddy to come along. This is always the best way to kayak, even if you are more advanced. There are safety in numbers and if something goes wrong its great to have someone along to help you out.
If you plan to kayak in the ocean, I recommend you start by visiting your local bay or estuary. These areas will be good learning locations where you still get a feel for currents, tidal fluctuations and even swells but shield you from harsher wind, swells and surf. If you like to fish, the bite can be quite good in these locations.
I don’t recommend starting out in a river unless it is relatively shallow and very slow moving. Rivers have many challenges that are better left for a day when you have more advanced skills and a command of your kayak.
If you plan on kayaking primarily in small lakes or back bays you have made a great choice. These are great places to start learning the skills of kayaking and are relatively safe for a beginner. No matter where you go, you will want to consider the following safety points.
Kayaking Safety
Lakes are generally calm and have places to launch that are easy to access and launch from. Its best to have a sandy location so the bottom of your kayak will not get scratched or damaged unnecessarily. Two areas of concern when kayaking on a lake or anywhere else, are usually boat traffic and weather. Check out Kayak Safety for more info.
Lakes can be very busy with boat traffic especially if you are near a larger city. Boat traffic in itself is not a necessarily a danger (assuming everyone is sober) but you want to watch out for the wake caused by these boats. Wake is the water displaced by another boat that comes at your little kayak in the form of a wave. If you are not careful these wakes can cause your kayak to flip or take on water. One of the first things you want to practice as soon as possible is paddling through wakes of various sizes, so you get a feel for how to do it and how it affects your kayak.
On the other hand, kayaking on a lake on Memorial Day may not be a great idea. With so much boat traffic including high speed water skiers, fisherman, pleasure boats, etc. it can get a bit dicey. You need to keep in mind that your kayak is probably at the bottom of the food chain in terms of vessel size. Its best to pick times of the day, week or even the year when you don’t have to be concerned about safety due to excessive boating traffic.
The second area of concern when kayaking on a lake, or anywhere for that matter is the weather. It is critical that you check your local weather forecast before heading out to the launch. Just listening to the local radio station is good but not going to get you enough details. If you are kayaking in the ocean you need to know the swell heights, wave heights if surf launching and wind forecast. For lake kayaking the wind and storm forecast is the main items to watch. Generally, I don’t like to be out if the avg wind speed will be 10 miles per hour or more.
There is nothing more important when kayaking and boating safety than a life jacket. Besides that, it is the law. You must have a life jacket or PFD for each person in your vessel. For those under 16 the life vest must be worn not just in the boat (check your local state laws). Besides having a life jacket, be sure to leave a ‘Float Plan’ with a friend stating where you will be launching from, what time you are leaving, who is going with you, where you plan to go on the water and what time you will be back. Always let someone know where you are going so if a problem arises, you can have someone alert the authorities when you are overdue.
Beginner Kayaking Essential Knowledge And Skills
Do I Need To Know How To Swim If I Want To Kayak?
Kayaking is a fun and enjoyable sport, but it does come with potential dangers that you need to be aware of. As with any water sport you should be a strong swimmer who is not afraid of falling into deep water. Anyone who has kayaked for a long time has likely flipped their kayak or fallen into the water at least once. Some questions to ask yourself. Can I swim back to shore if I fall into the water at the furthest point from shore? Can I re-enter my kayak in deep water if I were to fall out?
Being a good swimmer is not necessarily a requirement, but is it really a good idea to put yourself in a position like that? If you wear a good lifejacket that is properly fitted, there would be much less risk of drowning and the overall risk would be mitigated.
How Do I Get Back Into My Kayak If I Flip Over?
What if you were to fall in the water far from shore, farther than you could swim. Would you be able to do a self-rescue and get back into the kayak in open water? Many people think this is an easy task, but it can be quite a challenge depending on your strength, weight and level of exhaustion at the time of the incident. How long would you be able to stay exposed to the potentially cold water before hypothermia set in? Be sure to practice this essential skill soon after getting your kayak. If you end up taking long kayak trips far out away from shore, it can be a life saving skill.
What Gear Do I Need To Start Kayaking?
Here is a list of basic items I suggest you consider purchasing before your first kayak outing.
- Basic Kayaking List?
- Kayak
- Paddle
- Kayak Seat
- Hat
- Glasses
- VHF Radio
- Water Shoes
- Kayak Life Jacket
- Kayak Safety Flag
- Fishing Gear
- Kayak Trolley
- Go Pro Camera
- Water/Food
Kayaking is a wonderful sport that is great for the entire family. You can get started with a relatively small investment. Just be sure to start slow and build up your confidence and skills. Doing so will ensure you stay safe and enjoy your newfound joy for years to come.
