Inflatable Kayak Blog

Stretching before and after paddling is a great way to prevent injuries, reduce fatigue and improve flexibility, range of motion and overall performance. Even with a casual paddle in a folding or inflatable kayak, the neck undergoes frequent stress and imbalance. Here’s a simple neck stretch that can be applied before and after kayaking as well as a long tedious day at work. You can do this sitting or standing, although standing erect with hands on hips works best. Tilt your head as far forward as you can and hold. Next, tilt your head as far backward as possible and hold again. Repeat the same procedure, tilting your head as far to the right as possible and the same on the left side. Remember to breathe deeply during any type of exercise. It helps you to relax.

Since it’s still skiing and toboggan season in most of the country, I though you might enjoy this video. TRAK Kayaks, the company that makes the unique adjustable folding kayak was involved in a promotional stunt for charity in which a mannequin rode their kayak down a ski jump. (Note: the TV host back at the station didn’t know it was a mannequin.) The TRAK kayak is list priced at $4900, on sale now for $3430 (Canadian Dollars), which is the priciest toboggan I’ve ever seen! Not too bad, though for an adjustable kayak!

I am originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and know how beautiful and remote that area is. Another northern area that boasts similar remote scenic beauty is the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. This area stretches across eastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. The 252 miles covered by the Riverway was established to preserve the outstanding natural and scenic resources of the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers and provide for outdoor recreation in that area.

The Namekagon River is a slow moving body of water which flows through marsh and swamp land. It is a narrow twisting river that is best navigated by canoe or kayak. The St. Croix River changes from narrow to broad and shallow to deep, providing many recreational experiences. Canoes and kayaks are recommended on the upper section. Canoes, kayaks and small motor mount fishing boats use the middle section, while larger motorized boats, sail boats, canoes and kayaks frequent the lower section.

Since we usually travel to Michigan’s at least once a year, the St. Croix Riverway would make an interesting side trip to do some kayaking.

It’s kind of obvious when a freighter or a barge is bearing down on you when you’re paddling your Sea Eagle or Innova inflatable kayak in a channel. They have the right of way and there’s not much to argue about! But there are other situations when the right of way may be in doubt. As a rule of thumb, when you are out on the water remember that smaller boats yield the right away to larger boats. You probably have more control over your boat than a larger one does so stay out of their way.

We haven’t had the opportunity to get out and paddle lately, but it got me to thinking about the things to remember when we finally get the chance to got back in the water in our Sea Eagle kayak.
Be sure to think ahead and know what to expect from the water you will be paddling in. If you are going to be paddling on a river, know what classification of water you will be in. There’s an article that was posted in this blog on 12-21-08 about “Whitewater Ratings”. It also includes some calm water descriptions. If you’re paddling in a new area, try to find someone locally that will know the river and what kind of hazards you may encounter. Be sure to check out the weather conditions before you leave and be aware of recent weather conditions like heavy rain locally or up stream that could affect your paddling area. And make sure you’ve got all the important gear you want to take along. For me, it’s my camera!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you fellow kayakers! I know that many of us kayak as a couple. In fact, I don’t think I would have started kayaking if it wasn’t for my wife. We started paddling as an activity we could share and it’s turned into a major part of our lifestyle. People who we haven’t seen in years are quite surprised that two former landlubbers have turned into water lovers because of a two-person inflatable kayak.

I’ve also noticed in speaking with people who’ve purchased kayaks from us at Portablekayaks.com that they, too, bought kayaks to use together for sightseeing, general recreation or exercise. It is a great activity to share some wonderful adventures.

It has been many years since our first trip to St John’s, US Virgin Islands. We were on a Caribbean cruise and this was one of our side tours. I will never forget as we were headed to one of the beautiful white sandy beaches to snorkel, we were up in the hills and we rounded a corner and saw the beach below. If I remember correctly it was Trunk Bay, one of the most photographed beaches and for good reason. It was one of the prettiest beaches we had ever seen. Now that we have our inflatable kayak and are taking more vacations with that in mind, I think we should plan another trip back there, and this time with the kayak along.

The Virgin Islands National Park covers two thirds of the island, a third of which is underwater offering fantastic snorkeling and scuba diving. That is why you will find such pristine white sand beaches, beautiful coral reefs with multicolored tropical fish and the forests full of wildlife and exotic plants. There are great hiking trails throughout the park. There is so much to do there that St. John’s is definitely on my travel wish list.

When I posted my tip about building fires on the shore a couple weeks ago, I forgot to mention something else that I think is also important. When you break up your fire ring take the rocks back to where you found them instead of leaving them out (especially on a beach) where they may become a hazard to others. This applies to anyone who builds a fire on the shore, whether you’re enjoying your inflatable or folding kayak or just visiting a beach or rustic picnic area. And, of course, please clean up and leave the area just like you found it.

For most of us, unless you’re lucky enough to live in warm climate where you can paddle your inflatable kayak year round, this is the “off season” and I’ve been blogging lately about ways to keep in shape. I mentioned earlier about multitasking and getting some exercise in during short bits of time. Another idea that I like to do while doing laundry is to do some squats to while picking up and folding items from the basket. I also will do some stand-up style push-ups against the washer after putting in a load of clothes. I have also done some stretches with arms over my head, reaching to one side then the other or touching my toes then reaching for the ceiling. Anything that works for you and keeps you moving will add to the cumulative effects of short bits of exercise during the day. And even though these are suggestions for the “off season”, they really apply anytime of the year.

Charlestown, South Carolina has always been a destination that I would like visit. It is an historic southern town that offers warm climates, shopping, golf, scenery and beautiful houses such as those on Rainbow Row, where the mid-1700 homes are painted a bright pastel color. There’s no question I’d take my Sea Eagle inflatable kayak along. For kayakers, South Carolina has more estuaries than any other state except Louisiana, and more barrier islands than any other state except Florida. The unique combination of the two has catapulted South Carolina right to the top in the world of kayaking. The county parks also offer a wide variety of outdoor activities for the entire family and I hear the southern hospitality and southern style cooking as well as fresh seafood is definitely something to leave home for.