While kayaking can be a fun recreational activity for many outdoorsy individuals, it may be an activity that you haven’t undertaken before. Having a history in teaching kayaking and spending some time on a canoe racing team, below are some of my personal tips and helpful tricks for first time kayakers.
When getting into (in the case of a traditional kayak) or onto (in the case of an open water kayak) a kayak, be sure to keep your center of gravity low and in the middle of the boat and hold onto the sides to keep yourself steady and to keep the kayak from tipping from side to side. Slowly and smoothly sit down into the seat. This technique of entering the kayak and situating yourself will help keep you from ending up in the water before you get to experience the joys of kayaking.
Kayak paddles have two blades on each end of the shaft. Alternating putting these blades in the water and pulling them back is what makes you move forward and is also how you steer. When you find yourself turning too far in a direction you don’t want to go in, it can be very easy to over-correct. Instead, you can easily make small course corrections by paddling one or two times on the opposite side of the boat from where you want to turn and wait to see what effect your actions have had. Paddling hard on one side with too much power can result in turning you too hard, too fast, causing you to require yet another course correction.
Two person kayaks work a little like two person canoes, where the paddler in the front provides the main power for forward propulsion and the paddler in the back provides the main power for steering. In these situations you want to make sure that the two person team you have in a boat together are capable of good communication and that they are placed in the correct position in the boat well suited to their personal physical and mental strengths. Having the right pairing in a two person kayak can make all the difference for the most enjoyable day on the water.
Correct hand position and tightness of your grip on the kayak paddles can be what stands between you and possible blisters on your hands. Be sure that the way you are holding your paddle is comfortable to you and that your blades are in line with each other to begin with. I personally prefer my blades to be offset from each other, a feature most kayak paddles have that is adjustable with little buttons and holes on the shaft. Finding your most comfortable hold may take some trial and error, but I encourage you to put in the effort to find that comfort to possibly save your hands from days of discomfort and healing.
Lastly, don’t forget to stop and look around at your surroundings! Kayaks are pretty stable and balanced vessels so you should be able to look down into the waters surrounding you (as long as you are seated fully and correctly and don’t tip too far to the side). Exploring a water way via kayak can give you views and let you explore an area that you may not be able to by any other means, so take advantage of your time there! Bring a notebook or sketchbook. Bring a waterproof camera. Bring identification books and guides to chronicle the wildlife you see. While kayaking can be a great form of exercise when done vigorously, as an exploration activity, being that close to nature gets you views you would never get to see any other way.
I hope these tips and tricks were helpful, and that you always enjoy your time kayaking and canoeing on any body of water you may find yourself on. You can always find some more tips from professionals here and here. Happy boating!
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