Maneuvering a kayak often requires some simple but strategic techniques. Amongst these myriad techniques mastering a few simple ones give a big boost to kayak handling ability and increases safety. Heeling or Leaning is a simple technique, that when learned not only reduces the time to spin but also increases the paddler’s safety when caught in eddy currents, peel outs and ferries. Edging on the other hand is the technique to use one’s body to aid in the maneuvering of the kayak, especially when executing a turn. With routine practice, both edging and healing become natural reflexes and allows the…
Browsing: kayak
Greenland kayakers developed the planet’s greatest variety of rolls and related techniques as a matter of survival. Arctic kayaks were originally hunting tools in the quest for seal and walrus. The skin-and-frame boats paddled by Greenlanders were low profile—wonderful for avoiding howling gale-force winds and stealthily stocking prey – but easily capsized. The successful kayaker not only had to harpoon his family’s dinner, but survive being capsized by large, panicked animals, entanglement by harpoon lines and return through the tempestuous Arctic environment. The 30 recovery techniques developed by Greenlanders include some for an injured paddler to roll up with the…
Paddling is surprisingly scarce in Hollywood films. We had to scrape the bottom of the boat, so to speak, to make a list of 10 flicks that revolve around paddling to some degree. Some of them are a stretch. The African Queen isn’t really about paddling, for example, but it is about running a river, and it’s a really good movie. Whitewater Summer isn’t really a good movie, but it’s about paddling. Why so few? To be fair, paddling is still at the periphery of mainstream America—something most people did once at summer camp in a beat-up Grumman—hardly the plot…
Life is unpredictable. No matter how good you are feeling right now, things can go horribly wrong in a matter of few seconds and this is the reason you always need to stay prepared for the worst. The same logic is applicable for kayaking as well. Kayaking in cold water or in cold weather is a challenge in itself. You need to be careful when it comes to dress because if your boat gets capsized in some twisted turn of fate, wrong dress choice can cost your life. To help you out, here in this article, we are going to…
If you are planning to paddle on whitewater or on rough water, it makes perfect sense that you have basic understanding of how to empty water out of the kayak. Unless you don’t mind asking yourself what to do if kayak filled with water at that very moment, you need to learn the tricks to empty a kayak. Kayaking an exciting and amazing outdoor activity but it has its share of downsides. Your kayak can hit an underwater object or it can tip over if you fail to maneuver it properly and this is the reason why we need to…
If you are a beginner and looking for the perfect kayak for your first kayaking trip, you might find yourself inundated with information overload. Since so many kayakers are spouting out so much conflicting information about different kayak types and their seemingly endless benefits, you might feel totally lost at the end. If you finally managed to overcome the information overload, you will end up realizing the obvious truth that Hard Shell and Inflatable Kayaks are the two most popular kayaks available in the market and thankfully, they are both beginners’ friendly (Yeah, you can take a sigh of relief!).…
Don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t take part in some adventure sports like Kayaking just because you have grown old. Remember age is only a number and aging should not stop you from squeezing the last bit of happiness from life. It is all about gut, grit and determination. If you have a passion for kayaking, there is nothing in the world that can stop you from enjoying the thrill and excitement of paddling on open water. Of course, there are few facts and factors that you need to pay heed to while kayaking in your prime…
Before you start kayaking, you need to get yourself acquainted with some terminologies that are closely associated with kayak otherwise you will have a very hard time following instructions and can even make some life threatening mistakes in case of some emergencies. To help you out, here in Kayak Manual we have listed some of the popular and widely used terms so that you can have a better understanding of the anatomy of a kayak – Deck The top of a kayak is referred as Deck. In majority of the cases, this Deck part does not contain too many accessories but if…
Kayaking is all about having some fun and spending a day free from stress. We all love to leave this drab, dreary and routine-bound life and kayaking giving us the opportunity to leave this boring world for a mystical and magical land of water. But sometimes, things might take a grim turn and you might have to come to term with some serious accidents. This is the reason why so many kayakers give so much attention to safety when it comes to kayaking. Let’s get this straight. We are not aquatic animals and therefore, we need to take some sort…