Canoeing Safety Tips and Information

I will be using it for fishing, touring/camping trips and also to go snorkelling from. I am undecided but do like the look of the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 and the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler. I am leaning towards the Prowler. Any suggestions please?

Take them for a test paddle if possible. When buying a kayak it is important that you get a good fit with the boat you are buying. For the uses you mention, it sounds like a sit-on-top will be your best choice, but it still has to fit your body. Find a shop that will allow you to test the boat. Considering the size of investment in equipment, this shouldn’t be a problem with reputable shops. (After my home and truck, my kayak is the 3rd most expensive thing I own)

Prefer West Coast. Inland suggestions should not transit dams and waterfalls, thank you.

start at Point Roberts and lay over at Bellingham and then on to seattle and take your time through the San Juans…or stay on an island out there..actually that sounds better and do it in the summer!

I’m look into crossing the Santa Barbara Channel (31+ miles)
Light winds in the morning, stronger north western winds in afternoon
I’m looking into crossing the Santa Barbara Channel (31+ miles)
Light winds in the morning, stronger north western winds in afternoon

Assume that the paddlers are experienced and in great shape. Waves and wind will affect speed. It is possible to paddle 1,500 meters in four minutes. It will not be possible to paddle 31 miles at that rate. I estimate that it could be done in from four to six hours. Do start early when the sea is calm. Recruit a safety boat to accompany you. Be sure you have a ‘bomb proof’ roll.

Also, looking specifically for something with a rudder and Over 17 feet long but under 23.5 in wide.

As poly boats go, Prijon has some of the most durable, and from what I recall, the sleekest, fastest boat they have is the Barracuda - it measures 16′11" x 21" wide.

Wilderness Systems Tempest 170 is 17′ long and 22" wide

And if you really are after speed - you should probably look at surf skis instead of kayaks. There is one that I have heard of that is poly:

http://www.fastkayak.com/cobra.html

Something to look at when considering boat lengths. The hull shape really affects the true length of the boat. Brit design boats, with highly upswept bows for popping you up over waves can be termed very "long" boats, but their natural waterline is much smaller than the boat’s length. Check water line dimensions. You’ll see that the faster, more efficient boats have longer waterlines. Look at hull designs like those from Epic and QCC and you’ll see the difference.

Long water line:
http://www.epickayaks.com/products/touringkayaks/18x
http://www.qcckayaks.com/kayaks/model.asp?model=q700x#

Long boat, shorter waterline:
http://www.seakayakinguk.com/
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xjfb7IAM60k/SWE903rZ6qI/AAAAAAAAFIo/nyfOArCGyBg/s400/tahe+aa2.JPG

http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Design/index.cgi/noframes/read/3135

stitch and glue kayak made from ply-wood sheets

http://www.metakrome.com/kayak/
this will give you the best advice for building and there’s a forum to participate in if you have questions.
These books, which aren’t free but offer line drawings and construction are also very helpful
http://www.seatalebooks.com/seakyak.shtml
Stitch and Glue
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/guillemot/StitchAndGlue
http://www.quigs.org/SeaKayak/index.html
http://www.qajaq.be/

You CAN, yes, but you’ll need to weigh all of the risks of the situation. What river will you be on? Is it class II or higher? That might be an issue. Is is a kayak you’re familiar with? What are the chances of you swimming? What will happen if you do swim? What are the chances that you’ll hit a rock if you swim unexpectedly? How cold will the water be?

I’ve heard of whitewater kayakers continuing this sport throughout pregnancy, but I wouldn’t suggest a newbie do it on vacation.

I would be more comfortable on a flat-water trip on a raft or canoe at 5 months pregnant. In fact, I’m considering just such a trip in Spring, and I’m already 4 months pregnant. I’m an experienced boater though, and know my gear, the river sections we’re considering, and my limitations (second pregnancy, during which I also went rafting, at 4 months pregnant though).

If the water is going to be cold, it wouldn’t be wise to do a kayaking trip without a wetsuit, and you’ll be hard pressed to find one that will fit you properly while pregnant. It would also be unwise to do a kayaking trip with anything above class II whitewater, and even class II might be too much if you’re not experienced.

The other consideration is that if you are wanting to go with an outfitter, they will not allow you go to if you are pregnant. Their insurance would kill them if they did.

My friend and i were kayaking on calm waters, after we both passed over a school of fish in very shallow water we noticed that we both seemed to have a fish flopping around inside of our kayaks. Is this possible?

C’mon now - it’s your kayak and you would know if you had a hole in the boat.
- There is no way a dry kayak that hadn’t been flipped into the water would get a fish inside it unless someone threw it in your kayak.

My friend and i were kayaking on calm waters, after we both passed over a school of fish in very shallow water we noticed that we both seemed to have a fish flopping around inside of our kayaks. Is this possible?

C’mon now - it’s your kayak and you would know if you had a hole in the boat.
- There is no way a dry kayak that hadn’t been flipped into the water would get a fish inside it unless someone threw it in your kayak.

I am 6′3 and I weigh 245 lbs. I am looking for a sea kayak and a whitewater kayak to purchase. I am also looking to be comfortable while kayaking. Money is never a problem when it comes to kayaking; so what do some of you think, what’s your advice?

Many kayak models (both sea and whitewater) these days come in different volumes for different sized people, so look for higher volume boats. Note that high volume is different than longer or wider, as I can attest to when I sit in my playboat that is barely longer than I am.

My personal preferences for higher volume kayaks: for sea kayaks, I like the NDK Romany S and Explorer HV (I paddle a regular-volume Explorer regularly and I’m 6′3" 210 lbs.). These are fairly roomy but don’t sacrifice performance like a lot of high-volume sea kayaks. In whitewater kayaks, I have a Pyranha Burn L that I’m happy with, and other river-running/creek boats that I’ve demoed have been really roomy.

Those are just my preferences. There is no substitute for trying out kayaks for yourself, so go out and start demoing (or take classes if you’re starting out). One thing to keep in mind is that you want the kayak to have a snug fit: good contact with your hips, knees/thighs, and feet. But there is a fine line between snug and cramped. So once you’ve narrowed things down to a few models, try to go out for a longer demo so you don’t end up with a boat that feels great for 10 minutes but is unbearable after 30. Remember too that if the boat is a little loose in areas, you can always foam it out.

Is it safe to go sea-kayaking in Oahu, Hawaii if you can’t swim or if you’re a weak swimmer?

If you go to the North Shore, past Haleiwa and just past Waimea Bay…you’ll find Sunset Beach. That’s where we love to kayak. It’s also cool to kayak over to the China Man’s hate if you can go that far; but, you have to deal with tourists on the beach you leave from. That’s why we like Sunset Beach … less busy than the rest.