Inflatable Kayak Blog

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, we were in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the Houghton area at our “camp” on Portage Lake.  We had been out in the kayak on the calm lake and after a break we decided to drive to White City for another paddle. White City is a sandy beach park on Lake Superior. There’s a neat lighthouse there that sits at the end of an old cement pier about ½ mile long at the entrance to the channel to Portage Lake. In earlier years, when copper mining was the biggest industry in the area, this lighthouse was important to the ore boats that made their way through the channel to unload in the Hubbell area.

Though this is Lake Superior, it is a calmer area to put the kayak in, with its long sandbar that stretches out quite far along the pier. It was quite windy with a distinctive a chop to the water. We wanted to get another chance to try out our new kayak sail and this was definitely a good time for that. We paddled into the wind, down the shoreline for what seemed like a long time, especially since it was our second paddle of the day. We picked a spot to turn around and undo the sail. Unfortunately, we had gotten the steering guides hooked under the sail when we clipped it to the kayak and couldn’t use the guide. I had to just hold on to the side of the sail and catch the wind as best I could and steer that way. Even though we didn’t have the sail hooked up correctly, we did make it back to shore in no time flat with the nice wind we had going for us. I think after we have had a chance to use the sail and know what to expect (and don’t make a stupid mistake clipping it to our inflatable kayak), it will be a nice addition to our kayaking.

With that trip, now we can say we have been kayaking in Lake Superior. Maybe we will be brave enough now to put it in the ocean the next time we are there.

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.

National Safe Boating Week (May 16 – 22, 2009) takes us right up to Memorial Weekend, which is always a busy time for boaters and paddlers. This year the National Safe Boating Council is spreading the message of safe and responsible boating with the “Wear It!” safety campaign, increasing awareness about the importance of always wearing a life jacket or PDF (personal flotation device) while on the water. To learn more about life jacket wear and the options that are available when it comes to comfortable and lightweight life jackets, you can go to the safe boating campaign web site page that features Life Jacket Information.

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!

Cold water can rapidly incapacitate and even kill a paddler in a very short time, removing heat from the body 25 times faster than cold air does. Survival can be reduced to minutes. Cold shock is what happens when you are suddenly immersed in cold water. The most common shock response is not being able to control breathing. There is a gasp reflex that happens as soon as your skin is in contact with the water, and if you head is underwater you will immediately drown. This can only be prevented if you wear your PFD at all times.

Following the hue gasps comes hyperventilation. This causes diminished blood flow to the brain resulting in confusion, dizziness and possible loss of consciousness. Prolonged hyperventilation can cause a tingling in the hands and feet, which progressively develops into severe cramping of the extremities.

Finally there is a risk of heart attack. When your head and chest are exposed to cold water there is a sudden increase in heart rate and blood pressure that may result in cardiac arrest. You could also experience pain, claustrophobia and general disorientation caused by the other shock responses, which will also raise the heart rate and blood pressure beyond normal and can also trigger a heart attack.

Whether you are an experienced cold weather paddler and are familiar with this dangerous aspect of paddling or if you are just starting out in cold weather let this serve as a reminder to keep safe and know what to expect from very cold water.