Cruiser sails are recommended for kayaks, canoes, inflatables, tandems and expedition boats from fourteen to eighteen feet in length with a target wind range of 5 to 30 knots. The Cruiser sail is the largest Wind Paddle sail with a deployed sail area of 17.1 square feet. The Adventure and Scout sails unfurl to a sail area of 9.62 square feet. You can see the difference in the picture showing the Adventure sail in front of the Cruiser sail.

The Playak reviewer, Hans Heupink, was quite impressed with the Cruiser, saying “most important for me is the versatility of the Windpaddle. You can use it on any craft and it doesn’t turn a kayak or canoe into a complex, heavy sailing craft.”  “The boats stay real kayaks and canoes, I can paddle them like I always did, and when I want I can catch the wind with the Windpaddle.” I heartily agree with Hans on these points, especially since I paddle an inflatable kayak. The sail I use has to be light, easy to attach and allow me the opportunity to sail when I want and paddle when I want.

Hans goes into much more detail in the Wind Paddle Cruiser review and gives the reader a complete look at all the important facets of the operation from the design through the setup and the handling of the Cruiser sail. You can check out the complete Wind Paddle Cruiser review here.

Watch these Wind Paddle demonstration videos for more information about how these sails work well with inflatable kayaks.

The first one I recommend is Paddle Your Own Kayak: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Kayaking by Gary McGuffin and Joanie McGuffin. This book is fun and easy to read and covers all the basics of kayaking. If you have someone on your gift list that has just started kayaking or a kayaker who is in the process of buying a boat, this book covers all aspects of kayaking and what type of boat works best. It’s also a great resource for any level of paddler with fun illustrations to help you remember key paddling pointers. Along with all the great information, it has beautiful photography. Your gift recipient won’t want to just put it away on a shelf, but leave it out for others to enjoy.

Stand-up paddle boarding is growing in popularity. Here’s a book that covers all areas of the sport. Stand Up Paddling: Flatwater to Surf and Rivers (Mountaineering Outdoor Experts) (Moes) by Rob Casey. If you have someone on your gift list that is thinking of getting into SUP this will make a great stocking stuffer. But even someone who has been stand up paddleboarding for a while will find great pointers for perfecting and expanding their existing skills. This book has all the help you will need to get started or get better.

My third book recommendation is for the float tube fishermen on your list. More and more fishermen, especially fly fishermen are turning to float tubes to get them into areas on the water that can’t be reached by wading or walking. The book is Float Tube Magic: A Fly Fishing Escape by Patricia C. Pothier. This is a well-written and beautifully illustrated book. With all the information you will need to get your fly fisherman started on his or her use of a float tube to catch those fish just waiting to be caught.

Books are a great gift to complete your list. They are good for the ‘hard to buy for’ folks and usually easy to find or order as last minute gifts. These are just three books I think readers will enjoy, but if you do some research on topics that interest your paddler or outdoor lover on your list, I’m sure you will find something that will make a great Christmas gift this year.

Hope this series has been helpful with some unique gift ideas for a paddlers and water lovers on your gift list this year. I wish you a very Happy Holiday Season and remember to keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!

Even though paddling a kayak is a lot of fun, sometimes you’d like to do something different on the water, like sailing, but don’t want to buy a regular sailboat for an occasional wind-aided ride. There are two sails on the market that make it very easy to convert your kayak to a sailboat. The WindPaddle kayak sail and Sea Eagle’s newest product, the QuikSail. Both sails are reasonably priced and don’t require additional hardware or rigging to be added to the kayak.

These sails are completely independent accessories and that’s why buying someone a kayak sail might be a really good gift. You’ll be adding to the paddler’s options without making them alter their kayak setup. Another great thing about these sails is that they will fit almost any type of kayak, folding kayaks, hard shell models or inflatable kayaks.

The sails are totally different in design. The WindPaddle Sail opens up into a circular sail that allows you to sail downwind with very little breeze. Weighing in as light as 13 ounces (the Adventure & Scout models), the WindPaddle stows on deck in a small folded coil 1/8th its deployed size. It’s available in 3 models for kayaks and small boats and the Makani sail is made for stand up paddle boards.

Sea Eagle has designed the QuikSail universal kayak sail in a more traditional upright v-shape. When favorable winds blow your way, it can be deployed in less than a minute. The QuikSail not only works well downwind, but because of it’s more traditional sail design, will sail up to 45 degrees to the port or starboard. It collapses to around 43 inches for storage.

As I mentioned, although both of these sails were designed with kayaks in mind, they work well with other small boats, too, so keep them in mind as gifts for other water fanatics on your list, too.

Next week I’ll wrap up our gift suggestion series with more groovy gift ideas for paddlers. Until then, keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!

Sea Squirts Life Jackets:
These adorable life jackets and swim assist vests are colorful neoprene colored to look like their favorite characters from the movies, “Clownfish”, “Grrreat White Shark”, “Killa Whale”, “Blue Dolphin” or “Pink Dolphin”. Because of the fun design, it encourages kids to wear the life jacket when they are in the water. What little boy or girl wouldn’t like pretending they are a whale swimming along side their friends?

But a cute as they are, they are also comfortable for the child. There is a tech fabric liner that provides extra comfort against their skin, they are easy to clip and zip with a heavy duty plastic zipper and clips, and they provide and extra layer of warmth for when your child is blue lipped and doesn’t want to come out of the water. The back fin isn’t just for fun. It is flexible so it lies flat when your child is sitting in a boat or on a chair on the beach, but it is also a place to grab on to if your child is in trouble and needs to be lifted out of the water. It comes in three sizes providing extra comfort. And best of all they are Coast Guard approved.

It’s a great gift idea that can make them happy and you, too. The kids will love looking like a fish and you can rest easier knowing they are wearing their Sea Squirts life jacket.

Kids Kayak Paddle:
For the young paddler on your shopping list, why not consider getting them their own kayak paddle? As I said earlier, kids can be particular when it comes to things they like. Imagine how important they will feel having their own kayak paddle instead of just making due with something geared for an adult. Children’s kayak paddles can be hard to find, but the one’s that are custom made by Cannon are not only high quality, but also very affordable. The Cannon ‘K’ series two-piece paddles are lightweight and have a smaller diameter shaft making it more comfortable for smaller hands to grip. Cannon children’s kayak paddles are made in Minnesota, right here in the USA.

Hope you find these gift ideas helpful for the young paddler on your shopping list. Remember shopping early helps take the stress out of the holidays and finding fun and custom made gifts for your special water lovers can make it a Christmas to remember.

Check back next week for more gift giving ideas for the outdoor person in your life. Until then, keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!

An Adjustable Paddle for a SUP (Stand Up Paddle Board)
When buying a stand up paddle, most people look for a paddle that’s about 8 inches higher than a person’s height. That can be a problem for a couple that shares their SUP, especially if they are of different heights. Some paddlers also want to adjust the length of their paddle for different types of paddling conditions. An adjustable SUP paddle is the answer.

My recommendation is the Cannon Adjustable Stand Up Paddle. They are custom made in their factory in Minnesota. The shaft is constructed of your choice of aircraft grade aluminum or lighter materials such as fiberglass or the even lighter, carbon material. Cannon’s two or three piece innovative construction allows you to adjust the length of your stand up paddle as well as break it down for travel. The paddle is adjustable up to 8 inches, for example you can order a paddle that is 74 inches, adjustable up to 82 inches. Cannon custom crafts the paddle to whatever range you specify.

Another reason the Cannon adjustable is a good gift is that anyone can appreciate an upgrade, and the Cannon quality will be a step up from most paddles that are being used by recreational stand up paddlers.

A Safety First Gift
The United States Coast Guard now classifies stand up paddle boards as a vessel as they do kayaks and canoes. Therefore this classification requires, by federal law, that each person must have a personal flotation devise (PFD) and safety whistle ‘on board’ while paddling outside surfing and swimming zones.

The PFD in a Bag backpack is a simple, quick, easy and inexpensive way to adhere to this mandate. Each backpack kit includes one adult sized type II personal flotation device, safety whistle, & hardware needed to attach to board in a beach friendly backpack. It attaches easily to stand up paddle boards and is great for holding car keys, water bottle, first aid kit & other personal items while paddling.

Sail The Wild Blue Yonder
WindPaddle Sails, who make small portable sails for kayaks, canoes and small boats, have introduced the Makani Sail, specially designed for stand up paddle boards. The “Makani” uses existing or owner-added deck hardware for mounting and is easily launched by pulling on the sheets/control lines. It sails downwind and with cross winds. The Makani SUP Sail is just another way stand up paddlers can enjoy their SUP’s.

Well those are my suggestions for stand up paddlers. I hope today’s article has helped you in your gift giving planning. Feel free to share this article with your friends and check back for more in our series on Holiday Gifting for the paddlers on your list. Until then… keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!