Inflatable Kayak Blog

You might think that it’s a long and tedious process to pump up an inflatable kayak, pontoon or float tube every time you go out, but it’s really not that difficult or time consuming. People often say that’s why they wouldn’t own an inflatable boat, but when you compare the time it takes to strap the boat on top of a car or truck or deal with a trailer, spending 8 to 10 minutes inflating your kayak is minimal effort. The high-pressure bellows style pumps that come with most inflatable kayaks can really blow some air with very little foot pressure.

There are also electric inflatable boat pumps that can be hooked to vehicle batteries or plugged into cigarette lighter outlets that can speed the process up. They won’t do the whole job though. Electric pumps normally don’t inflate your boat completely. You’ll need to ‘top it off’ with your foot or hand pump.

I enjoy being out in the kayak but the best time is when I find something interesting to take photos of. I don’t have a real expensive camera, but the thought of having it fall in the water and get damaged is not something I like to think about. I have been looking at the AquaPac waterproof case for the camera as a way to protect it and still get great pictures. There are different size bags that fit most cameras. If I should drop the camera in the water, the bag will float so it would be easy to retrieve. They are relatively inexpensive and will be one of my next purchases for our kayaking adventures.

Here’s another paddling stroke that can be used in a hard shell, inflatable or folding kayak. It’s great to use to make your kayak turn rapidly on its place. Essentially, it’s the forward sweep stroke done backwards, starting from the back and ending close to your toes. You might also call it a “double reverse”, since it is done in a reverse manner and has the reverse affect on the boat. The kayak paddle blade is fully buried in the water; using the back of the blade, make a wide arc sweep from the stern to the bow to turn the boat in the same direction. Again, the power is coming from the rotation of your torso. To protect your shoulder joint when making the reverse strokes, keep the elbow in front of the line of the shoulders (never reach behind you, and remember to turn your body).

I first saw the Aquapac waterproof camera cases at the Outdoor Retail Show this past summer in Salt Lake City. I wasn’t too sure what to expect when I first started looking at them, but what really caught my eye was the slide show that was playing using pictures taken from the bag. They were sharp and clear and you could hardly tell they were taken inside a bag. Up until then I thought my only option for taking underwater photos was with those cheap disposable cameras you find in the camera section of your local discount store. But for a reasonable price, the Aquapac transforms my camera into an underwater camera that I am familiar with. The one that fits my camera has a hard lens that is built into the case. The case can be used in water up to 15ft deep and also keeps dust and sand out of the camera. This would certainly have come in handy when we were in Hawaii in some really windy conditions that caused the salty ocean spray to get on my lens. This is one of my “Wish List” items that I better see on Christmas morning.

I realize that most inflatable and folding kayak users don’t go on deep treks into the wild, but in case you do, you might want a SPOT Satellite Messenger. The small hand held unit gives you a vital line to friends and family when you want it, and emergency assistance when and where you need it. The SPOT tracks your progress via a GPS satellite network, then sends its location to the recipient of your choice, complete with a link to Google Maps and a pre-programmed message. And because it uses 100% satellite technology, SPOT works around the world – even where cell phones don’t.

The cost for your “peace of mind” is very reasonable at $149.99 (even less with the $50 rebate being offered through 12/31/08). To go beyond the basics, there is a yearly $100 fee for the GPS features, which are well worth the cost. The unit is a great accessory for climbers, hikers and extreme kayakers.

Just like the rudder of a ship controls the direction of the ship, the stern rudder stroke allows you to guide your kayak through obstacles as an aid to controlling the kayak downwind with the ruddering incorporated into the forward paddle cycle. To rudder, turn back with the paddle parallel to the boat. The blade is buried and vertical at the rear of the kayak. Your bottom arm is extended but not straight. Push the blade away from the stern to turn towards the paddle side or pull it towards the stern to turn the other way. While kayaking with my sister in our Sea Eagle 330, I found this stroke to be quite effective in keeping the boat on course while the two of us were paddling without interrupting her paddle stroke.

Early November and it is a beautiful fall afternoon. We won’t get many more nice days like this to get out in the kayak around this area so we took advantage of the beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures and put the kayak in at Buffalo Trace Park. I got a short leg workout as I did all the pumping with the kayak foot pump to inflate the kayak as we hurried to get it in the water before it got too dark. The lake was calm as glass and the reflection of the fall colors was spectacular! I had a hard time paddling, not because I was tired out from pumping, but because I was busy taking so many pictures. We barely had time to paddle around the small lake as the sun was sinking very low in the sky. I took a few more pictures and we packed up and headed home in darkness. What a great way to spend one of the last paddles of the year!

These two strokes are mirror images of each other and move the kayak side ways for approaching jetties or other landings. They can also be used for course corrections. These strokes are more popular as canoe paddling strokes, but are useful as well for hard shell, folding or inflatable kayaks.

To perform the Draw Stroke you hold the paddle in forward paddling position and turn your torso to the side. Put the power face of the blade two to three feet from the boat and pull the blade towards your hips keeping the top hand relatively fixed.  Keep the boat level and do not lean toward the blade. A variation is the “hanging” draw stroke, shown in the picture, where the paddle is more vertical.

To perform the Pry Stroke hold the paddle in the forward paddling position and turn your torso to the side. Plant the poser face of the blade next to the boat and pry it away from the boat by pulling with the upper hand and pushing gently with the lower hand. This will push the boat in the opposite direction.

A useful paddle stroke when you’re out in your kayak is the “forward sweep stroke”. This stroke will move the kayak in the opposite direction of the stroke. It’s executed by making a broad sweeping stroke on one side of the kayak. The power face of the blade is buried in the water and the stroke starts at bow and is swept in a wide arc with the power coming from your body twist. The stroke finishes when rotation finishes. The sweep will push you in the opposite direction. This is especially helpful in fast moving water to keep the kayak on course. Whether you’re paddling a hard shell, inflatable or folding kayak, knowing the techniques for a variety of paddle strokes will add to your enjoyment on the water.

NOTE: An example of the stroke is shown in this YouTubeVideo.

One of the basic strokes for moving a kayak through the water is the Power Stroke. To get the correct grip on the paddle, place the paddle above your head with your elbows at right angles and your hands the same distance from the blade on each side. You could place some electrical tape on the shaft just inside your hands to help keep your position when paddling. Now that you have your hands in a comfortable position for you, Bend at the waist and lean forward. Plant the blade at a comfortable extension and smoothly draw the blade parallel to the boat’s waterline. As you complete the stroke, rotate the kayak paddle to the other side. Use the same power stroke on the other side and you’re moving forward. Keep the strokes nice and even and you will be moving along with very little effort.