[mud4blud]

I'm interested in getting into kayaking in a couple of minths when I move out of the hose and I wanted to know the best way to get into it. I will be living in southern mississippi, and I already know of a couple of places I could go to get to water.
How expensive is the sport overall?
where can I learn all about it?
I've been really wanting to try this out lately.

Thanks, Scott

[poppabear]

might go here http://www.mspaddle.org/ and ask around for aread pools that give lessons... best to rent a few different kayaks to find the best for your skill and build.

[DougRuss]

Another good site for Info and Advice is :http://www.paddling.net/message/

I try to get out once in awhile. Just Small Lakes and such.

The yellow Kayak( Necky "Zoar Sport"- 14') ran me about $900.00. But it all depends on what/where your going to use it?

Can find some good deals on the above Website in the Classified section, just enter your area and see whats available.

Here's a shot of mine( Yellow one) on my 2001 Cherokee ....

[MAV01]

Also try www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum
MAV

[mud4blud]

The first link is a good local one, but there's not much activity. the second one has tons of info. I'll have to sit down and read for awhile.
Thanks guys.
Anyone else?
I need a person to give me some tips and advice.

Thanks, Scott

[JMark]

I kayak a fair amount. My primary boat is a Current Designs Caribou, an Inuit style hard chine boat that is about 18 1/2 feet long and 22 inches wide. It's fast, and handles beautifully. Also holds a fair amount of gear.

But that is mostly for ocean kayaking and touring on large lakes. You didn't say what kind of kayaking you want to do. Is there white water in your area? White water is a whole different sport. It looks fun but I have not tried it.

Most people start out with a plastic (neoprene) boat. They're cheap, hard to damage, impossible to repair, heavy, clunky and unpleasant. But they do get you started. Once you've paddled a fiberglass or kevlar boat, though, you'll never set your butt in a plastic boat again...

There is a GREAT variety in boats. I went through three (expensive) boats before I finally settled in with the Caribou. (When the Caribou finally gives up the ghost, I'll get another one just like it -- they're about $3 grand). I recommend that you do a couple of rentals, if you can, to "get your feet wet," but keep in mind paddling a good boat of your own will be a very different experience. Sit in a boat before you buy it, and try as many as you can. Make sure it is comfortable and there is room for your feet etc. (They are all tight, but there are differences.)

Do pay attention to the safety issues. People drown in 'yaks all the time. If the boat goes over, and you are not schooled in getting out of it fast, you can die. You also want to invest in appropriate safety gear for your area. ALWAYS have the pfd on and buckled. I'm not a lecturer on things like that, but seriously....

It's a great sport, like Jeepin' it can take you places others don't go. And it's relatively cheap.

Have fun,

Mark

[mud4blud]

I will probably end up doing some easy to moderate river paddling and some lake usage, but likely no white water. I will want to use it to camp at times, but most likely just for sport and excercise. I'm a freak about that feeling you get when your muscles start to burn from working them.
What kind of education do I need to get involved in? I see that there are paddling instruction classes, but what will I need before someone will let me go on a club event or to rent a boat?
Also what type of equipment will a beginner need?
Thanks, Scott

[JMark]

River and lake paddling is much more like ocean paddling than it is like white water, so the equipment is much the same. You have less wave action in lakes and rivers, so there is less concern with a following sea. But for most beginners looking at designs that is not really an issue.

How big are you? That makes a difference in selecting a boat. My wife has a Wilderness Systems boat that is no longer made, but is close to the Cape Horn 15. (You can see the Wilderness Systems boats at their website: http://www.wildernesssystems.com/) She's relatively small. The WS line seems to have shrunk a lot in the last few years, but they were always a very popular maker of plastic boats (and some glass ones, too). Again, my boat is made by Current Designs, a Canadian company that is generally a higher end product: http://www.cdkayak.com/ There are a number of other quality makes.

For education, there are a number of good videos out there that are intros to ocean or sea kayaking that would be good to start with. They go over the basics of paddling, safety issues, gear, etc. I would just buy two or three to start.

Most areas have local instruction programs of some sort. It couldn't hurt to do one of these. Just don't expect too much, and don't take everything as gospel. This is a wide open field, and anybody can be an "instructor." Some are better than others. If you want *really* good instruction, I recommend a trip to Maine and a course at Maine Sport in Rockport. See http://www.mainesport.com/ Their instructors are the best in the business, most of them Registered Maine Guides. Plus, the kayaking there is some of the best in the country.

Most kayak rental places require that you be able to prove you exist. IOW, they want your money. Often they'll have a ten minute "instructional routine" before they let you have a boat. Or maybe they'll have a little "exam" they give you ("What do you do if the boat capsizes" etc), and if you show you know your stuff, no problem. Most of the time, you pay, you get a boat. In reality, that's a little crazy, as kayaking *can* be quite dangerous.

One safety issue: the "unwritten rule" among paddlers is "Never paddle alone." It's a good rule, for many reasons. OTOH, I paddle alone all the time, and really enjoy it. But I am pretty experienced and can get out of most any situation on my own. I also carry a radio and cell phone, flares etc.

As for gear, I would say this does depend somewhat on where you paddle, etc. I paddle in the Northeast, and cold weather and water protection is important. In the South, different considerations apply, obviously.

The main rule I would say is: BUY THE BEST PFD YOU CAN AFFORD. Get a good, comfortable pfd. If you're in an area with motor boats, get a color that shows up on the water (same applies to the boat itself). Red is usually good. Yellow is pretty good. But get a good one, one that rides high on your body (necessary in 'yaks) but is comfortable and easy to put on.

Beyond that, good paddles can make or break the experience. Good paddles are EXPENSIVE. A decent set cost at least $200. Buy cheap, heavy paddles, you'll pay for it over a long day. An extra set (3 way breakdown) is critical for long trips. Either way, a tether that ties the paddle to your arm is essential. You drop your paddle in strong waters on a windy day, you're f***ed.

Many people (myself included) carry a paddle float. The vids or an instructor will show you how to use it. I also always carry and wear a set of paddling gloves (open finger for warm water, closed for cold). Tennis gloves will work in a pinch.

A good spray skirt is good in some kinds of waters (certainly on any ocean waters). In hot climates, I usually leave mine off. A dry suit is also critical for cold or ocean paddling, not so much for other conditions. Regardless, I do focus closely on the footgear I wear. You go over, you don't want "sneakers" on. Likewise, stupid shoes with laces etc can get caught in the boat when you most want to GET OUT. I always wear a pair of diving booties. They protect my feet if I need to walk the boat etc., but are streamlined and I can swim in them.

A tow line is considered critical. You might have to be towed out, or you might have to tow someone else. (It has happened to me.)

A hand pump is also critical. Keep in mind, if you paddle much, YOU WILL GO OVER. I can't even remember how many times I've gone over. The boat will fill with water. You have to get back into it (a skill in itself, and one that is covered in the vids and in any instructional program). Once back in, you have to pump the water out before the boat is maneuverable again. A good pump is vital.

There's other stuff, but I'm out of time here (have to work).

Later,

Mark

[mud4blud]

Right now I'm about 5'11" and 150 lbs.
How long of a boat should I be looking at? I was looking at some that were around 10 feet. I'll have to grab a couple of videos and take a trip in a rental near here just to get my feet wet. Money will be an issue, as I will be a college student with a jeep to work on also. Speaking of that, what's the best way to transport my boat once I'm out of the water?
What exactly is a paddle float?
I've seen spray skirts, but do they just keep water out of the hull?
If you roll, will the skirt keep a seal so the boat doesn't fill with water?
so much to learn, so little time.

Thanks

[JMark]

5' 11" and you're thinking of a 10 foot boat? Um, you need to do a little paddling. A 10 foot boat is for kids.

You should be looking at a boat at least 16 feet long. Anything shorter will be slow and uncomfortable. Given your weight, you can do with a fairly small boat (meaning 16 feet or so), but with your height you need some room.

Expect to pay a grand for a boat and a half-decent set of paddles, maybe a pfd. You won't get out with decent quality for much less.

Spray skirts prevent water from getting into the cockpit (hull). A paddle float is a rescue device, useful for re-entering after a bad capsize.

If you "roll," that means you did a 360 and are back upright. And yes, a good skirt will mean that if you do that, you will come up "dry" and can keep on gettin' it. "Rolling" is a high skill (I have never tried it, and most kayakers can't do it). It is a very difficult thing that is considered essential for extreme kayaking. If you capsize, you will have to exit the boat. In that case, a skirt will not help you (and in fact, you have to be skilled at getting it off fast, or you will drown).

Mark

[Shep]

I'ts a good idea to rent a couple different Kayaks and see what works for you.. I have a perception shockwave... it's kinda tight but I like the small fit for the rocks and falls I cross...