Kayak tips for women

[7rider]

Hi! I know many of you here are pretty active. Are there any kayakers? I am going this Saturday with my b/f and I haven't been before. I know he will "teach" me but are there any first hand tips you can give for a new lady trying this out? This is one of his main hobbies and it appeals to me so I want to try to make it something I can do with him.

There are quite a few of us Maryland TE'ers who are flat water kayakers.
I have 2 kayaks - and 2 canoes. Some day perhaps we'll actually put the bikes aside and use the boats!

Check out this site for some intro articles and "how-to's" for kayaking. Tips, tricks, all that stuff...
http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/

If you are a confident swimmer and you're in protected waters, it's okay to leave the PFD on the boat. If you're not a confident swimmer or if you are in exposed water (chop, current), wear it. If you don't have a place to bungey it to the boat's deck, or you're unsure what to do with it otherwise: wear it. Chances are good, he won't take you anywhere where you're likely to get more than your feet and hands wet - unless you choose otherwise. Your PFD in MD is supposed to have a whistle on it.

Spray skirts are great for keeping biting flies off your legs - but they can be hot. And you can't scratch any itchy bits.

I found that TEVA sandals hurt my heels in the boat. I do better with full-cover water shoes. Mine are super-cheapies I thing I got from Target. They're also like 12 years old.

A hat is important. Full brim - ball cap - anything to keep the sun off your face and neck.

Bring water with a good sealing lid, as it will probably do a fair bit of rolling around between your legs. A Camelbak just gets in the way of the seat - which can be notoriously uncomfortable. The makers all say they've done this and that to make their seats oh-so-comfortable. They lie.

Wear crappy old bike gloves to protect against chafing and rubbing or blisters from the paddle.

Have fun. I can't wait to get out to paddle!