Inflatable Kayak Blog

Planning on getting someone a kayak or kayak accessory as a gift? If so, I have a few suggestions. Make sure you buy them something they’ll like. In other words, you might not want to make it a total surprise. A little research goes a long way and you’ll be glad when your gift is welcomed with open arms rather than a confused facial expression.

In the case of avid kayakers, you should be familiar with what they are paddling now and whether your gift will fit their preferences. Kayaks are kind of like shoes. One size or type doesn’t “fit” all. Ask their friends, fellow paddlers or significant others for advice. A portable (inflatable or folding kayak) may not be the perfect choice for someone who’s used to paddling a hard shell kayak. However, if they’re tired of storing or car carrying the hard shell, a portable kayak might be the perfect gift. Accessories, especially paddles, can also be very user specific. Find out what they have, then buy them what they’d like to have.

If you’re buying for a newby it’s even more important to research your choice. I’ve seen a few situations where a wife or husband has purchased a tandem (two person) kayak without consulting (or even hinting to) the other person only to be disappointed when they experienced that “confused facial expression”. The hassle and expense of returning the kayak could be easily avoided if you could have discovered in advance that the “giftee’s” idea of water sports is lounging on a Caribbean Cruise or maybe they have an aversion to paddles or … you get the idea.

If you need a few gift suggestions, maybe these will help you out. A Sea Eagle 330 or 370 is a great gift for a beginner who wants to start out paddling. Sea Eagle Explorer Kayaks (340, 380 or 420) or any of the Innova inflatable kayaks are terrific for someone who wants to upgrade from a beginner level kayak. PakBoat’s Arrows or Puffins folding kayaks are nice for a hard shell kayaker who’s tired of carting around and storing that hard shell kayak. PakBoats track very much like a hard shell, too. And, of course the TRAK adjustable kayak is perfect for the kayaker who has everything and wants more. All of the above also travel very well on planes or in car trunks or the back of a minivan. Some kayak accessories you might look at include these items that can all be used by any type of kayaker, traditional hard shell or portable. You could buy someone a new, lighter fiberglass or carbon Cannon paddle, a PakPod Deck Bag/Paddle Float or one of the new WindPaddle™ sails that fit most any type of small boat, kayak or canoe. If there’s a paddler on your list that’s also a photographer, an AquaPac 100% waterproof/sand proof case is a nice gift. There are also AquaPac cases for cell phones and MP3 players.

There’s some great gift ideas here, made even better by a little advance ‘gift giving’ research.

Choosing the length of your kayak paddle can be confusing, especially for beginners. First off, understand that most anyone can use most any paddle and get the job done. So, paddle length is not such a crucial factor that it will destroy the fun you’ll have in your kayak. After you’ve been paddling for awhile, you’ll have a better idea what you like or don’t like in a paddle. If you do have a choice in paddle length, here are a couple of general questions to ask your self.

1 – What type of kayak are you going to paddle? Hard shell and folding kayaks tend to be narrower while inflatable kayaks tend to be wider.
2 – How tall are you? Taller people generally use a longer paddle. However, this is an area where exceptions may eventually occur. Some people have a more upright paddle stroke while others are flatter which could result in taller people choosing a shorter paddle or vice versa.

Cannon Paddles has taken these two areas and put together an excellent kayak paddle length guide that helps you choose the length of your paddle, factoring in your height and the width of your kayak. A quick look at their paddle sizing chart and you can make a basic decision on where to start. Eventually, down the road (or should I say down river) you may change paddles but at least you’re starting out with a reasonably good fit.

Stand-up paddleboards are quickly becoming the hottest “thing” in paddle sports. One reason is that using a paddleboard is a great workout. It works your arms, midsection and legs and burns a large amount of calories in a short time. Some new paddleboards are available in a package with a paddle, however many people are using their surfboards and simply buying a stand up paddle. If that’s your situation, you’ll be glad to know that Cannon Paddles, longtime leader in paddle manufacturing for kayaks and canoes, has introduced a new line of stand up paddles. You can choose the paddle shape, shaft type (aluminum, fiberglass or carbon) and custom length of the paddle. They also have an adjustable model that allows you to adjust the length of your stand up paddle. A great option if you share your paddleboard with someone who’s height varies a lot from yours. Like all their paddles, Cannon’s (SUP) stand up paddleboard paddles are made right here in the USA at their factory in Minnesota.

I’ve been planning to write a blog on “How to Choose a Kayak Paddle”, especially for new paddlers, for the last year or so and I’ve been putting it off because there are sooooo many variations to explain. The blog would be so long and detailed that it would probably either give you a headache or cause you to not even want to take up a paddle sport. I’ve heard and read suggestions of all types in choosing a kayak paddle based on how tall you are, what kind of paddling you’re going to do and what type of kayak you have. They all make sense in one way or another. However, after talking with Stuart Lee of Cannon Paddles, I came to this conclusion … “personal preference”. Stuart is over six foot tall and uses a shorter paddle than most on the market, which breaks all the “rules” of choosing a paddle. And he designs paddles! Good ones, at that. That size paddle fits his paddling style and personal preference. It’s that simple. His suggestion for new paddlers is that they should, if possible, try to borrow paddles to test and see if they like them. If you don’t have that kind of access, just start out with an inexpensive paddle, one that came with your kayak package or some general all-purpose model. Then as your paddling technique develops, you’ll have a much better idea of the type of paddle that will fit your needs more perfectly.

I often get asked about the difference between the various materials used in making kayak paddles. The main question is … which is the best material? To be honest, there’s really no good answer. Materials used to construct paddles determine their weight, durability and flexibility. The choices range from the old-fashioned traditional material – wood, to plastic, fiberglass, aluminum, carbon graphite or even Kevlar. The more ‘space age’ the material is, the higher the price. That doesn’t always mean that more expensive is better. Each type of material has its own feel, flex and weight. All these factors must be considered in combination depending on how the paddle is being used. Bottom line is that personal preference is the best deciding factor in your paddle material decision. They’ll all move water and that’s the ultimate goal. Happy paddling!

Many paddlers take drip rings off their kayak paddles during the summer, enjoying the silence of entry into the water rather than having water dripping back onto their hands. But in winter, when the water is cold, it’s a good idea to slip the rings back on. The rings should be positioned just outside the hands, not down near the blade where they will be submerged on each stroke. If your drip rings go below the surface, all of the water on the paddle shaft above the rings will run down to your hands, causing them to chill much quicker. Using a lower and slower paddle stroke is also helpful in keeping the cold water from running to your hands.

This tip is more for beginners than experienced paddlers. Most kayak paddles on the market today have an optional placement setting when clipping the shafts together. There are two holes. One will align the paddles square or parallel to each other. The other setting aligns them in an offset mode. If you’re right handed, twist the right side of the shaft so the blade rotates toward you. If you are left-handed, twist the left side instead.
To paddle with offset blades, keep your dominant hand firm around the shaft and the other hand loose. The paddle will twist through your loose hand with each stroke while your dominant hand controls the blade angle. This technique often allows for better muscle efficiency than parallel-bladed paddles resulting in a smoother and less ‘twisting’ stroke.

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).