26
votes
Why are we moving in circles with a tandem kayak?
Common paddling problems
Most people are strongly right handed
You'll get more power on your stronger side
It's really common for the weaker hand to slip closer to the blade as a result of wanting to ...
- 8,004
16
votes
Accepted
Can I use a Canoe Paddle with a Kayak?
Yes, but you might want to use a short paddle.
While the difference between a canoe and a kayak in practice is only the seat, and people do swap out kayak seats for canoe saddles in playboats, you'll ...
- 8,004
16
votes
What’s the best thing to wear on your hands when sea kayaking in very cold weather?
The best answer I’ve come up with so far is to combine neoprene paddling gloves such as those sold by NRS with an additional pair of waterproof or semi-waterproof mitten shells designed to be worn ...
- 3,486
16
votes
Why are we moving in circles with a tandem kayak?
Going in circles while in a paddled craft such as a kayak/canoe/raft means that there is more force being applied on one side than the other (this is also how you turn the craft).
If you notice that ...
- 69.2k
15
votes
Accepted
How would one person control two canoes?
Lash them together in parallel with spars such that there's a wide enough gap down the middle that you can paddle in the centre.
As you say, you're not going to be making tight turns, but you are in ...
- 8,004
15
votes
Using paddles to support a bug net
Using canoe paddles to rig tarp shelters seems to be a common practice (e.g. see here or here). I would rig them as in the diagram below - as for an A-frame tarp shelter. I would expect you would ...
- 2,330
14
votes
What’s the best thing to wear on your hands when sea kayaking in very cold weather?
I haven't been paddling much for several years, but I used to go all winter with simple fleece gloves inside waterproof dishwashing rubber gloves. I tried a half dozen other alternatives, including ...
- 141
13
votes
Accepted
How do choices in design of a paddle-craft influence its handling characteristics?
Ay-yi-yi! This is a very broad question, a true answer to which would probably require a PhD in hydrodynamics or years of relevant engineering expertise. Note that the interplay between these design ...
- 4,179
11
votes
Why should the heavier person sit in the back of a tandem kayak?
It's along the lines of @stijn's comment but worse: if the nose digs in, not only do you lose speed, but your control suffers (and not just because many steering strokes require water speed). In even ...
- 26.1k
9
votes
Does 'Single-oar sculling' have any use in recreational boating?
It's mostly a lost skill (in the UK) for forward propulsion, though I have seen older fishermen use it for moving small dinghies around. I've played around with it a little myself and it's fairly easy ...
- 8,004
8
votes
Accepted
Where should a person who can't hold a paddle sit in a tandem kayak?
When paddling solo with a passenger, the passenger sits in the bow. Whoever is in control of the kayak should almost always sit in the rear (exceptions being when paddling into a current or into a ...
- 53.5k
8
votes
What’s the best thing to wear on your hands when sea kayaking in very cold weather?
Sometimes known as paddle mitts, pogies are your friends here, you can choose to wear gloves in them as well or not, depending on how cold it's got, but most importantly they allow you full contact ...
- 8,004
8
votes
Does 'Single-oar sculling' have any use in recreational boating?
I know of a sailboat owner/restorer who has made a point of installing yuloh fittings and uses the yuloh (specialized oar for sculling) preferentially over the outboard motor when possible.
https://...
- 538
7
votes
How would one person control two canoes?
For calm water towing would work. For short stretches of even the gentlest rapids the best approach would be to tie up one boat, paddle the first down (or pole up), tie it up and walk back for the ...
- 26.1k
7
votes
Accepted
Does 'Single-oar sculling' have any use in recreational boating?
Yes ! In Britanny (France) we do 'Single-oar sculling' for recreational boating. I have 2 boats (4 and 5m) in which single oar sculling is the only way to propel the boat (no motor, no sail). I use ...
- 186
7
votes
Why are we moving in circles with a tandem kayak?
If your kayak has a skeg, make sure it is down (in the water). This will help you to steer straighter by reducing the turning effect of paddling more on one side.
As mentioned, you will have to ...
- 1,543
6
votes
How to manage the sail of a sunfish when paddling?
You're a bit more cramped than a topper but it seems to be much the same game.
It's very much about the type of paddle you're using and the position you want to be in. We used praddles in the Toppers ...
- 8,004
6
votes
How to manage the sail of a sunfish when paddling?
I had the same dilemma.
I finally solved it, and it's awesome.
I added an extra line to the cockpit which goes up the mast and connects to the two spars. When I haul that line, it raises the two spars ...
6
votes
Can I use a Canoe Paddle with a Kayak?
Yes
You can use a canoe paddle without issue, kayak paddles are simply more efficient.
They actually make adapter grips so you can convert your two piece kayak paddle into a traditional style canoe ...
- 53.5k
6
votes
Why are we moving in circles with a tandem kayak?
It might seem obvious to more experienced paddlers here, but it drove my wife and myself crazy while trying to paddle on a 3-seater kayak. We were sitting on the two front seats, without noticing the ...
- 468
6
votes
How long would it take to canoe the entire length of the Belize River upstream in July?
I canoe a bit, almost exclusively down stream I tend to paddle at a steady speed, with almost no drifting. I average about 2 miles per hour (3KPH). As the river is 290 kilometres (180 mi) long that ...
- 30.3k
5
votes
How would one person control two canoes?
Towing doesn't work well. The trailing canoe will tend to swing wildly from side to side. This is a chronic problem when towing a swamped canoe to shore. This may be affected by how the trailing ...
5
votes
Does 'Single-oar sculling' have any use in recreational boating?
My brother learned it in sea scouts and used it then to bring in the small boat alone, while the others took care of the sail and tidying up.
Later in life he used it in a boat which was too wide to ...
- 3,579
5
votes
How do choices in design of a paddle-craft influence its handling characteristics?
Since there is a great general answer already, I'll add one from my experience with white water kayaks.
Length: Longer boats have a higher hull speed. When moving at more than the hull speed relative ...
- 1,923
5
votes
Can I use a Canoe Paddle with a Kayak?
Yes but try a traditional Greenland kayak paddle
You absolutely can although as mentioned above you are sitting closer to the water and may therefore need a shorter paddle.
That said, as your ...
- 3,486
5
votes
Can I use a Canoe Paddle with a Kayak?
Yes–historically single bladed paddles were common
In Alaska, kayaks varied greatly by region and evolved over thousands of years into many shapes and styles. Single bladed paddles were often the ...
- 209
5
votes
Why are we moving in circles with a tandem kayak?
Briefly: make sure the boat sits as flat and level in the water as possible. As others have indicated in their answers above, it’s not good if there is too much weight in the front (which can happen ...
- 3,486
4
votes
Can I use a Canoe Paddle with a Kayak?
I have a kayak with a rudder & it’s easy to paddle with a canoe paddle. (My kayak is narrow)
I think the double ended paddle is faster,
but more effort.
I find that I get less dripping water on
...
- 41
4
votes
Where should a person who can't hold a paddle sit in a tandem kayak?
In addition to mattnz's answer (and my answer at your related question):
I've paddled a tandem sea kayak (we were using it as a tourer that day) from the back while the front paddler was unable to ...
- 26.1k
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