Inflatable Kayak Blog

Here’s some more ideas to get some exercise in and keep in shape in the off season when you are short of time. None of these are designed specifically to work the muscles used to paddle your inflatable or folding kayak, we’re mainly talking here about moving the muscles around to keep them from getting stagnate. At the top of the list is man’s best friend. Take your dog out for a walk. A break will do you and him or her wonders. Walking is a very good way to keep healthy in general. Working out in the yard or just around the house also gets you moving. Remember to use your legs and glut muscles instead of your back when lifting or moving something. Oh, yes, one more thing that is almost unthinkable in this day and age, stop using some of the labor saving devices like the remote and get up and change the channel on the TV the old way, that is if you even know how to find the controls anymore.

Here’s a kayaking etiquette tip that also applies to non-kayakers. When you’re ready to pull your inflatable kayak over to build a fire on the shore or the beach to cook a hot dog or roast a few marshmallows, try to use only small driftwood pieces instead of large driftwood logs. The smaller pieces will burn completely and not leave any chance of a fire re-starting after you’ve left. Also don’t forget to clean up and leave the area just like you found it.

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!

Keeping fit when the weather is cold can be a challenge for anyone, let alone paddlers like us. Finding the time to exercise when your family and job are demanding most of your time might seem too difficult. However, here’s a suggestion on how to include some small bits of exercise while you’re doing something else, a sort of multitasking as it were. For example: While driving or sitting at your desk, do some isometric exercises. Squeeze your gluts, contract your abs, and work your calves by raising your legs up on your toes. And we have all heard the reminders to park farther away and walk and take the stairs instead of the elevator. Hey, it’s something to get the muscles working until you can get out in your kayak and paddle when the weather gets warmer.

DayTripper here with another kayak travel suggestion. Rockport, Maine was recently listed on AOL as one of “America’s prettiest towns”. The Rockport, Camden, mid-coastal area in Maine also offers some excellent sea kayaking. Although the coastline is beautifully rocky and rugged, you can find some secluded, sandy beaches like Birch Point Beach in Owl’s Head which is perfect for a day out with the kids or the sea kayaks. Your kayak can get you up close and person (remember, not too close) to the marine life and birds of the biologically diverse and beautiful Penobscot and Muscongus Bays of mid-coast Maine as well as unique views of the scenic harbors, rocky beaches and remote islands. And, in case you’re wondering, several models of folding and inflatable kayaks can handle sea kayaking as well as the hard shell models.

When you’re not kayaking, you can hike mountain trails or visit some of the harbor towns, historic lighthouses and unique shops, galleries and restaurants of the area.

Most kayakers are a ‘different’ breed of boaters generally those who enjoy nature and respect the environment. Sometimes, though, we all need reminders. When it comes to wildlife we encounter on our paddling adventures, try not to alter their behavior. It’s okay to observe, but give the marine mammals a little space. When landing on a beach, if you scare sea birds off their nests, their young or eggs can quickly be gobbled up by the competition. Also do not feed any wild animals, no matter how cute they are. Human food is often toxic to wildlife. When you’re finished eating, clean up the waste including those little bits of food that may be left behind. Leave the shore like you found it before you paddle away in your hard shell or portable kayak.

Before any athletic endeavor, including paddling, it’s a good idea to do some stretches to prepare the muscles for use. Since many of the paddling motions are not used in daily activities, stretching will help prevent injuries like muscle soreness, tendonitis, strains, and dislocations. However, in the off season, stretching can be one way to keep your muscles loose and limber even though you’re not braving the rapids or sightseeing on a calm lake or stream in your inflatable or folding kayak.

Stretching is advisable beyond any fitness regimen. It’s something that’s easy to do. (Extend your arms directly over your head … “ta da” … you’ve just done a stretch … wasn’t that easy?). Stretching is also recommended to retain flexibility as we get older, and we’re all doing that.

There are many, many different stretches you can do that are related to paddling. If you don’t know of any, they’re easy to find via searches on the web. If you have stretches that you do before paddling, use those and even though you won’t be hitting the water afterwards, you’ll be keeping your muscles ready for your next trip when the warmer weather returns.

My brother-in-law e-mailed me that it was 30 below zero in Cedar Rapids two nights ago. I spoke on the phone with a friend in New Hampshire who said it was 24 below. Those ‘Brrrrr’ reports and waking up to a temperature of one below zero, our coldest night of the year, I’m thinking of a beach, an inflatable kayak and warm sunshine caressing my shoulders. A great spot for that combination would be Belize. An acquaintance of mine e-mailed me a few days ago that he was headed down there for some kayaking, so I did some research. Belize is a small country in the western Caribbean southwest of the Cayman Islands, bordering Guatemala and Mexico. The barrier reef off Belize offers amazing kayaking and snorkeling. Several companies offer multi-day trips on the coral reefs and atolls as well as the Macal and Mopan Rivers. River kayaking is also popular in the Maya Mountain region in Southern Belize. After checking into it, I’m adding Belize to my “wish list”!

PakBoats makes a very lightweight, high quality, folding kayak. Their Puffin line has been a mainstay for several years. This year PakBoats will be introducing some new models. The XT Touring Kayaks (both solo and tandem) will essentially be replacing the Puffin Swift, which is being discontinued. The Puffin Saranac (two person kayak) will replace the Puffin II and the Puffin Saco (12 foot solo kayak) replaces the Puffin 12 Kayak. I’ll post a blog about the specific design changes as we get closer to the new kayaks hitting the market.

PakBoats has been offering clearance sale prices since early last Fall and sales have been good. Green is the only color left in the Puffin II line and, although the color selection is still intact (Red, Green & Blue), the number of Puffin 12’s and Swifts have been shrinking. At 15% off, these PakBoats are an excellent bargain. Especially taking into account that the 12’s and Swifts include a deck, which will not be the case with any of the new 2009 models. With those, the decks will have to be purchased separately.

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.