Inflatable Kayak Blog

As outdoor enthusiasts, we all want to protect the environment so we can continue to enjoy it. Re-cycling and cutting back on waste are ways that we can all make a contribution to our future generations. There’s an online effort called FreeCycle that encourages people to give away unwanted items rather than toss them in the dumpster. A recent article on Yahoo details the group and it’s good work.

It makes sense to our family. Re-cycling is an attitude, a thought process where you consider another’s use for something before heaving it in the trash heap. We’ve recycled some old barrels and received some tomato plants among other things. When you get that new extra light Cannon paddle, you could offer your old one up on FreeCycle or make it available to a novice kayaker. It’s free to join. Find a group near you and save some landfill space.

From PortableKayaks.com a very heartfelt wish to you and yours this Christmas day. May the joy and happiness of the holiday season continue to fill your life throughout the coming year. Let peace on earth, good will toward men be the order of the day, not just the passing wishes of the season. May you paddle safely into the uncharted waters of 2009 and may your wildest dreams come true!

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).

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.

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.