Author: Arthur

Properly adjusted kayak foot braces help increase the power of your paddle strokes and your control over the boat. Foot braces also increase cockpit comfort. Most commercial kayaks ship with built-in adjustable foot braces, but these usually provide minimal contact for your feet. You can easily make kayak foot braces out of closed cell foam. Closed cell foam provides a larger surface for your feet and a custom fit for more power and control. Instructions Difficulty: Moderately Easy Things You’ll Need: Step 1 Make a tracing of your kayak’s forward bulkhead. Use a large piece of paper and pencil to trace…

A rudder isn’t necessary for kayaking, but it can be handy while angling, in windy conditions and for long trips. Fewer paddling corrections need to be made in a kayak with a rudder, but it can be an expensive add-on. If you decide to put a rudder on your kayak yourself, installation is dependent on the model of kayak and kit you use, but some features of rudder kits and kayaks tend to be similar. Instructions Difficulty: Moderately Challenging Things You’ll Need: Step 1 Read over the instruction manual that came with your rudder kit. Lay out parts on a clean,…

Cleaning stained sails can be frustrating. No stain remover, whatever the claims, will take out every stain. Household bleach will remove mildew stains from heavy, durable Dacron sails, but don’t use it on nylon sails. It is not good enough, in any case, for the chemical bonding that takes place with rust (iron oxide.) Instructions Difficulty: Moderately Easy Things You’ll Need: Step 1 Buy oxalic acid powder at a drug store. This colorless, toxic chemical occurs in nature in vegetable matter like rhubarb root and leaves. It can also be found in certain commercial preparations like Zud cleanser and Whink rust…

Whitewater kayaking is an adrenaline-packed sport requiring skill and patience and a steely nerve. The sport is enhanced by learning new tricks, techniques and rodeostyle maneuvers. Tricks include eddy surfing, “boofing”, deliberately keeping the bow of your kayak underwater, and running waterfalls. To learn these tricks, a pedagogy needs to be followed to build the skills and techniques to execute them safely and efficiently. When practicing and learning new whitewater tricks, for safety always have a partner with you at the river. Instructions Difficulty: Challenging Things You’ll Need: Step 1 Decide what new trick you wish to learn by watching more…

If it is your first time carrying a canoe, it is a good idea to have someone assist you in lifting the canoe so that you can practice the proper technique and avoid injuring yourself. Carrying a canoe by yourself is surprisingly easy. The hard part is lifting the canoe and getting it into position. With practice, the process becomes easy. It is always helpful to have someone assist you in lifting your canoe into position, but it is good to know how to lift your canoe without any assistance. Instructions Step 1 Wear tennis shoes or hiking boots that…

Sea kayaks come in a variety of styles, designs and hull dimensions. Some sea kayaks come with rudders, some with skegs (rudders housed internally on the inside bottom of the kayak). Many sit-on-top sea kayaks or hard shell touring kayaks do not come with rudders, but have attachment points to install after-market rudder systems, making a rudder installation a quick add-on to the boat. Adding the rudder makes the sea kayak more stable and easier to maneuver. Things You’ll Need: Step 1 Set the kayak on top of a work bench, positioned with the cockpit facing up. Look at the…

If you have ever tried to paddle a two-person canoe, you know how challenging it is. When done correctly, it can look easy, but it takes practice and excellent teamwork. Do not expect to master the art of paddling your first trip out; this is just one of those activities that takes a bit of time to fully understand. Step 1 Synchronize the forward stroke. If both people on opposite sides of the canoe stroke forward with their paddles at the same time, the craft will move forward in a straight line. If the canoe seems to turn one way…

Whitewater rafting on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona can be a life-altering experience that raises the bar for wilderness travel adventures. Commercial operators offer tours that range from quick to leisurely, rugged to plush. Time, type of travel, and degree of physical exertion play a part in each adventurer’s idea of what is the best tour. Orientation Rafting in the Grand Canyon is controlled by the National Park Service to preserve the river’s ecosystem and to ensure the safety of visitors. Private permits for floating through the gorge are available but usually are booked years…

Planning and preparation can make packing a canoe easier. Packing a canoe is not hard to do as long as you don’t try to overload the canoe with too many items. These steps will show you how to properly pack your canoe for your next trip. Instructions Step 1 Only pack necessary items. Remember, you not only have to paddle the weight of your items, you will also have to carry them to the canoe on the way to and from the water. It is best to do a trial run before your canoe trip. Pack and load all of…

Building you own kayak out of cedar strips is a rewarding and moderately challenging project. The end result is a beautiful wood kayak that is as stiff and as light as a modern composite kayak. Cedar strip kayaks, often called strippers, take between 80 and 150 hours to build and typically cost a fraction of the price of a new composite kayak. Many designs are on the market, so finding a plan to suit your needs should be easy. Instructions Difficulty: Moderately Challenging Things You’ll Need: Step 1 Build a strongback based on your kit’s plans. The strongback is a level,…