It doesn’t take most people very long to get comfortable paddling a sea kayak on an inland lake. The boats, despite the seeming narrow width, are surprisingly stable once you get the feel of the balance. Where most paddlers run into some problems is when you start introducing the variable of waves and breaking surf. [...]
Here is the long-awaited fourth video in my series on the differences between recreational, whitewater, and sea kayaks. This video covers the characteristics of “sit-on-top” kayaks which can be designed for recreational use, whitewater paddling, and sea kayaking. So if you are looking to get started in kayaking, you still need to understand the differences [...]
At the last few pool sessions that I have attended, it seems that practically all of the sea kayakers have been working on Greenland-style static braces (balance brace) and the sculling high brace. As I have mentioned in previous posts, Helen Wilson’s “Simplifying the Roll” DVD has been extremely helpful in providing some very useful [...]
Just a quick note for anyone looking for rolling instruction this winter in the Milwaukee area. Badger State Boating Society is offering a rolling clinic on Saturday and Sunday, February 12 & 13, 2011. Times are 3-6pm on Saturday and 2-5pm on Sunday. You need to register for the rolling clinic in advance. For more [...]
Last week I posted a video on the characteristics of recreational kayaks that set them apart from sea kayaks and whitewater kayaks. Today, I’m posting the second video installment which will talk about sea/touring kayaks and how they differ from other types of kayaks. Yet to come are videos on whitewater kayaks and sit-on-top kayaks. [...]
It’s getting to be the time of year when those who are planning to buy a kayak for the 2011 paddling season need to be doing research for their upcoming purchases. Laacke & Joys usually starts having kayak sales during the Milwaukee Boat Show in January, and Canoecopia will be coming up in Madison on [...]
Once you have a canoe or kayak, one of the first things you need to learn is how to safely car-top your boat to the water. While there are some ratcheting straps that can be used to secure the bow and stern of your boat, I much prefer to use a rope and a “Trucker’s [...]
Many kayakers, like myself, have benefited from the personal encouragement, guidance, and instruction of more experienced paddlers received when we were newbies first getting into the sport. Those “mentors” helped us avoid getting into serious trouble, picked up our spirits when we despaired over learning a difficult skill, and pointed us in the right direction [...]
**There was a mistake on the times of the pool sessions when originally posted on the Badger State Boating Society website. Several of us arrived at 7:30pm for the pool session on November 28th and were told by a custodian that the building was closing up and the session had been in the morning. I [...]
Earlier this week, I was watching Carl Vopal finish up a few shots for a video on how to install the “Paddling Partner” ballast system for kayaks. He is planning to end this video by demonstrating how the ballast assists in performing braces because the boat has a tendency to want to right itself when [...]