Questions tagged [kayaks]

Questions referring specifically to Kayaks. Kayaks can come in a few forms. There are Sit in kayaks and Sit on Top kayaks, both come single or tandem. You can have kayaks made from plastic or fibreglass, as well as inflatables.

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What safety equipment should I carry for sea-touring by kayak?

What equipment should I carry in case of emergency on a coastal kayaking trip? I normally do short trips (1 week or less) around the islands of northwest Scotland. I tend to travel solo (sometimes no ...
Toby Speight's user avatar
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9 votes
2 answers
3k views

What are the navigation considerations on the Ohio River between Pittsburgh PA.& Wheeling WV?

I want to travel by canoe from Pittsburgh Pa to Wheeling, West Virginia on the Ohio river. What are the navigation considerations? Also I will have a bike and trailer for the canoe, will be ...
James Jenkins's user avatar
24 votes
5 answers
2k views

Is there a kayak / paddleboard for large people?

I am a very large man - I am 6'4" and weigh 450 pounds (I've lost a 100 pounds in the last year). I bike or walk everyday, (and swim laps occasionally) but want to add another sport to my exercise ...
MDV2000's user avatar
  • 343
17 votes
5 answers
633 views

Kayaking in the UK

My husband and I are both avid walkers / hikers but for a long time have been wanting to get into kayaking. Both of us have kayaked in the past. Separately we did it on school trips - many years ago - ...
Aravona's user avatar
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11 votes
3 answers
801 views

Is it likely to be my technique or my muscles that cause my arms and shoulders to ache so soon after I start kayaking?

I've never had a stamina or ache problem with rowing a row-boat or paddling a canoe, although my limits have declined with age. However, my arms and shoulders tired very quickly the few times I tried ...
ab2's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
2k views

Restoring a deformed kayak hull

I have a Venture Kayak Easty 15 and it has developed a flat spot on the bottom center just below the foot rests. What is the best method to return the bottom of this kayak back to its original convex ...
user avatar
20 votes
4 answers
13k views

Can I use one helmet for both kayaking and skiing?

I am doing little kayaking and just a bit more skiing (the seasons for both are very short where I live). Both of these need helmets, but I feel reluctant to buy 2 items, each of which will see little ...
anatolyg's user avatar
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19 votes
3 answers
4k views

If you are kayaking on a lake when whitecaps start happening, what is the best direction to get off the lake?

I am stealing Charlie Brumbaugh's question about canoeing on an open lake, because for kayaking you would get different anwers, and it's important to distinguish those. If you are kayaking on a lake ...
user avatar
16 votes
2 answers
536 views

How do choices in design of a paddle-craft influence its handling characteristics?

If you imagine cutting a canoe or kayak along each axial plane, you get three shapes. If you cut along the waterline and look down from above, you get the plan. Cut thwart-wise at the widest point ...
cobaltduck's user avatar
  • 5,168
15 votes
6 answers
7k views

Can I use a Canoe Paddle with a Kayak?

I am thinking about getting a Kayak, I am very comfortable paddling my canoe with a single paddle. My motivation is that I can canoe silently with a single canoe paddle that does not need to break ...
James Jenkins's user avatar
14 votes
4 answers
6k views

What are the options for kayak self-rescue without a paddle float?

In a standard kayaking class, you're taught solo self-rescues using a paddle float and assisted rescues using another kayak. Then there are eskimo rolls. But I've also heard about other self-rescue ...
jrdioko's user avatar
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13 votes
3 answers
3k views

What is the best way to transport a kayak?

I am planning on purchasing a kayak for next year, and am trying to strategize on how to transport my boat. I have a small 4 door car no rack and my wife has a slightly larger 4 door crossover style ...
hernan43's user avatar
  • 241
13 votes
3 answers
2k views

Where should a person who can't hold a paddle sit in a tandem kayak?

This question is related to this, and perhaps others on the site, although I don't think it's an exact duplicate. I have friends who would like to take a two-person kayak trip down a stream in the ...
Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
213 views

How to dry paddling gloves

I currently use MEC Humboldt paddling gloves for cycling in warm/cool - windy/wet weather as they offer better protection than my thin runnning gloves and are not as hot as my winter gloves. My issue ...
AM_Hawk's user avatar
  • 4,485
12 votes
4 answers
8k views

Preventing hand blisters while paddling

I went kayaking for the first time this weekend, and it was a blast! Unfortunately, I also ended up with some abraded skin on my hands, where the paddle shaft had chaffed the skin. I've done other ...
nhinkle's user avatar
  • 8,720
12 votes
5 answers
18k views

How do you repair a plastic kayak?

So roughly a month ago my other half and I brought ourselves each a SOT plastic kayak, we've been out on the water for maybe 2 hours total paddling time, but mine filled up with water. We found a ...
Aravona's user avatar
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11 votes
3 answers
751 views

How do I Eskimo roll a kayak?

If I am whitewater or sea kayaking, it is possible that my kayak will get overturned leading to a live or death situation. I've heard that it is possible to roll the kayak so it is right side up ...
Reverend Gonzo's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
6k views

How to fix a leak in a fibreglass kayak?

I have got an old kayak from a friend of mine who no longer needs it. As he told me, there are 3 leaks in that Kayak, one of them is very visible being a coin-sized hole (:D). The others are pretty ...
WedaPashi's user avatar
  • 31.7k
10 votes
1 answer
13k views

Why should the heavier person sit in the back of a tandem kayak?

Today I went to paddle with a friend and he said that I should sit in the back because I'm heavier. But why is that? How does this help with the weight distribution or handling of the kayak?
David A.'s user avatar
  • 201
8 votes
3 answers
19k views

Roof rack system suitable for both bicycle and kayak?

My wife & I are just getting into (non-sea/ocean) kayaking and biking, and we're thinking about ways to transport our equipment on our car. My guess is that once a pair of cross-bars are set up ...
object88's user avatar
  • 183
8 votes
3 answers
659 views

Training for Kayaking out of season

Kayaking is a lot of upper body and core strength, with an amount of lifting as well. Outside of the good weather kayaking season - winter months for Sit on Tops for example - what are good ways to ...
Aravona's user avatar
  • 15.4k
7 votes
1 answer
119 views

How much kayaking experience is needed for a trip on the Alabama Scenic River Trail?

My family, including my 7 yo, are thinking about taking a week trip down the Alabama Scenic River Trail next year. What type of kayaking experience is needed for a trip like this? How can we benchmark ...
StrongBad's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
435 views

What can I do to be more visible to other ships’ radar when traveling in a sea kayak?

I’ve seen small radar reflectors for sale. Should I carry one when kayaking? What else can I do such that boats can use their radar to be aware of my location when they can’t see me due to poor ...
mmcc's user avatar
  • 3,466
7 votes
4 answers
2k views

What are the trade offs between kayak and canoe for solo multiday trips?

I would like to be able do trips with the following characateristics one day: Solo. May do in combination with other paddlers, but my primary interest is getting out there on my own. Multi-day trips ...
Censored to protect the guilty's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
121 views

What are the navigation considerations on the Ohio River between Wheeling WV and Parkersburg WV?

I want to travel by canoe from Wheeling, West Virginia to Parkersburg, West Virginia on the Ohio river. What are the navigation considerations? Also I will have a bike and trailer for the canoe, ...
James Jenkins's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
122 views

What are the pros/cons of different types of kayak carts?

I'm looking into kayak carts and noticed there are two basic types - ones which have pins that protrude through the hull using the scupper holes, and others which provide more of a base that the kayak ...
StayOnTarget's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
213 views

How common are tandem kayaks?

A recent comment said: For kayak I’d say “usually 1-2 person” as tandem kayaks are very common. 3 person kayaks are rare but not unheard of, example Pamlico 160T has a third mini-seat for a child. ...
James Jenkins's user avatar