Kayak tips for women

[tulip]

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Btw - Tulip - CPA has started a Richmond area piracy that paddles on the James every Wednesday night. The pirate queen, Mary Larson, has a couple spare boats & is willing to bring one for other people... My friend Julie's also got a spare boat she could bring if you wanted to head out with them.

Fantastic news! I wonder if they are going from Rocketts, which is right by my house. Thanks so much, Cataboo. I will email you to get Mary Larson's and Julie's info. Still no boat, but I have saved up for it. Thinking fall sales would be a good time.

[Irulan]

Good stuff, Cataboo!

[jazzalbart]

I would suggest you to do kayaking in flat water and if you are new to kayaking then you should try with inflatable boat. It is easy to paddle and much comfortable and stable in deep water.

[lovelygamer]

Wet exit absolutely terrifies me, especially in the pocomoke river-the deepest in the world for it's width (besides the nile). I absolutely know I'll freak out if I ever end up getting dumped out. I was VERY careful my first time out. I can swim though and I do wear my pfd- so I won't end up dead. My other half says he's only seen one boat flip in his six years of paddling and his friend was being a jerk and TRYING to cause drama, so it was no surprise. I'll see what's more local for education.

One of my friends gifted me a guided kayak tour which I'm hoping to take soon. I did go look at boats and gear twice so far. I haven't had a chance to get back out and paddle, but hopefully later this month. The heat has been too intense. Were looking at a perception for a starting boat, perhaps a 10 foot. They run about $400 new.

I plan to stick to flat water, safe kayaking. I'm happy looking at birds as I slowly roll along near the banks. I like small tributaries. There is an evening guided tour at Assateauge that interests me.

[tulip]

I get that the idea of a wet exit is scary. It was for me, too. I would suggest taking a safety course and learning to wet exit and a few rescue techniques. Practice them in a controlled environment so that you are comfortable with how to do it. Then go back every year for a refresher course. Kayaking, like cycling, has risks and being prepared is alot more fun than being caught off guard.

There's wonderful paddling in your area. Enjoy it!

[Kubla]

I get that the idea of a wet exit is scary. It was for me, too. I would suggest taking a safety course and learning to wet exit and a few rescue techniques. Practice them in a controlled environment so that you are comfortable with how to do it. Then go back every year for a refresher course. Kayaking, like cycling, has risks and being prepared is alot more fun than being caught off guard.

There's wonderful paddling in your area. Enjoy it!

Sound advice from Tulip (as always!) When I took kayak lessons with a small group of women, nobody *wanted* to be the first to flip their boat on purpose to practice a wet exit. Yours truly finally bit the bullet-if only to get through it. I don't like being underwater, and get disoriented when I'm upside down (hated tumbling in school) so I had a few personal concerns. In addition, I was quite overweight at the time and struggled to get back in the boat- but eventually managed it.

Frankly I still would prefer not to, but once you've done it a couple times, it helps you gain a little confidence. You will know what to expect instead of having that nagging fear of the unknown.

[sashadieken]

Well, how was it? I want to hear all about it as I will be going for my first time later this week. Always one to put the cart before the horse, I've been anticipating that I'll love it and should buy one!

[surgtech1956]

I'm in the market for a new kayak. DGF has a 14 ft Necky Looksha with a rudder, the one I have is a Old Town Guide 10 ft - from a big box store, I haven't had it that many years, buy I hate the thing its like a tank and doesn't track well. I found a Necky Manitou 14 ft with a skeg, thats clearanced price. I always research things too much, way too much, that I then become confused after reading all the reviews, etc.... I do know I want a sit in kayak.

[Kubla]

I have a Manitou (no skeg) and have been very happy with the handling. Like bikes, one could go crazy researching kayaks and hunting them down for a test paddle.'

[sashadieken]

I just got a Point 65 Martini. It detaches into two pieces so it can fit in the back of a car. Only takes a second to do and undo the straps. Forward and rear dry hatches, foot pedal rudder control, and very stable. Love it I ordered it from iMarineUSA, free shipping and it arrived in 3 days!

If you want you can add a middle section for a tandem, or however many middle sections you want.

[Pax]

Had a new kayaking experience a few days ago in the Keys... Paddling along in a boat channel near the mangroves, we encountered several HUGE manatees. We stopped paddling and sat there with them for the longest time, they were so cool! When we started to paddle off, they followed us for about a half mile.