THE COMPLETE SEA KAYAKER’S HANDBOOK SECOND EDITION This page intentionally left blank THE COMPLETE SEA KAYAKER’S HANDBOOK SECOND EDITION SHELLEY JOHNSON New York Chicago San Francisco Lisbon London Madrid Mexico City Milan New Delhi San Juan Seoul Singapore Sydney Toronto Copyright © 2011 by Shelley Johnson All rights reserved Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher ISBN: 978-0-07-174871-1 MHID: 0-07-174871-7 The material in this eBook also appears in the print version of this title: ISBN: 978-0-07-174711-0, MHID: 0-07-174711-7 All trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners Rather than put a trademark symbol after every occurrence of a trademarked name, we use names in an editorial fashion only, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark Where such designations appear in this book, they have been printed with initial caps McGraw-Hill eBooks are available at special quantity discounts to use as premiums and sales promotions, or for use in corporate training programs To contact a representative please e-mail us at bulksales@mcgraw-hill.com TERMS OF USE This is a copyrighted work and The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc (“McGrawHill”) and its licensors reserve all rights in and to the work Use of this work is subject to these terms Except as permitted under the Copyright Act of 1976 and the right to store and retrieve one copy of the work, you may not decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, reproduce, modify, create derivative works based upon, transmit, distribute, disseminate, sell, publish or sublicense the work or any part of it without McGraw-Hill’s prior consent You may use the work for your own noncommercial and personal use; any other use of the work is strictly prohibited Your right to use the work may be terminated if you fail to comply with these terms THE WORK IS PROVIDED “AS IS.” McGRAW-HILL AND ITS LICENSORS MAKE NO GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE ACCURACY, ADEQUACY OR COMPLETENESS OF OR RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED FROM USING THE WORK, INCLUDING ANY INFORMATION THAT CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE WORK VIA HYPERLINK OR OTHERWISE, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE McGraw-Hill and its licensors not warrant or guarantee that the functions contained in the work will meet your requirements or that its operation will be uninterrupted or error free Neither McGraw-Hill nor its licensors shall be liable to you or anyone else for any inaccuracy, error or omission, regardless of cause, in the work or for any damages resulting therefrom McGraw-Hill has no responsibility for the content of any information accessed through the work Under no circumstances shall McGraw-Hill and/or its licensors be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, consequential or similar damages that result from the use of or inability to use the work, even if any of them has been advised of the possibility of such damages This limitation of liability shall apply to any claim or cause whatsoever whether such claim or cause arises in contract, tort or otherwise Contents Acknowledgments Preface Introduction Getting Ready vii ix xi Making a Decision amid a Sea of Options / Instruction / Guided Tours / Fitness and Stretching / Common Questions / The Dangers of Going to Sea Kayaks 17 Making Choices / Naming the Parts / Kayak Design / The Stuff They’re Made Of / Design Features / A Primer for Buying a Sea Kayak / Buying and Selling Used Equipment Accessories and Clothing 55 Paddles / Essential Safety Gear / Clothing as Safety Gear / Navigational Gear / Other Useful Stuff / EPIRBs Getting to Know Your Kayak 94 Seating and Foot Brace Adjustment / Customizing Your Kayak / Getting Your Kayak to and from the Water / Cartopping Your Kayak / Loading a Boat onto a Vehicle / Trailers / Getting into and out of the Kayak Controlling Your Kayak 109 Balance and the Art of Staying Upright / Your Paddle Grip / Forward Stroke / Turning (Sweep) Strokes / Support Strokes ( Braces) / Draw Strokes / Stern ( Ruddering ) Strokes / Putting It All Together / Adaptive Paddling v vi Contents Getting into and out of the Water 131 The Wet Exit / The Solo Reentry / The Assisted Reentry / A Final Word on Rescues / Rolling Real-Life Paddling 160 Staying on Course / Wind: Don’t Let It Push You Around / Wind and Topography / Waves: What to Expect and Why / The Surf Zone / Tides and Tidal Currents / Weather Finding Your Way: Kayak Navigation 197 Charts and Tools / Latitude and Longitude / Aids to Navigation / Plotting Your Course / Lines of Position (LOPs) / Ranges / Things That Can Throw You Off / Speed of Travel / Vectors / The Effects of Wind / Dead Reckoning / Distance Off / Navigating with GPS / Rules of the Road Trip Logistics 234 Playing the “What-If ” Game / Packing Strategies / Meal Planning and Cooking 10 Group Safety 250 Communication / Traveling in a Group / Towing / Family Paddling / Staying Healthy 11 Kayak Camping 264 Choosing and Setting Up a Campsite / Beware! / Useful Knots for Camping / Low-Impact Guidelines 12 Planning Your Dream Trip 275 Making a Choice / Gathering Information / Laying Out the Trip 13 Taking Care of Your Stuff 286 Gear Storage and Maintenance / Repairs: At Home and in the Field Resources 302 Books / Magazines / Videos / Paddling Clubs / Organizations and Associations / Water Trails Index 323 Acknowledgments For this new edition, I was fortunate to work with many of the same people who were so helpful the first time around in 2001 Molly Mulhern has been a constant source of support and positive influence as senior editor Jim Dugan was again a joy to work with during photo shoots and during the computer photo editing and selection (this step has certainly changed since 2001) Cheryl Levin once again served as the primary model and graciously lugged boats one minute and then assumed a precise yoga pose for the camera the very next Thanks to Ed Eaton for the loan of cartop equipment and then agreeing to show how it’s used for the camera; Stuart Lee of Accent Paddles for an hour-long discussion on the minutia of paddle design and materials; Vaughan Smith for the loan of paddles and accessories that I always seem to need the night before a photo shoot; and the crew in the paddlesports department of Maine Sport for helping move boats around and covering for staff stolen from the sales floor and put in front of a camera Kayakers are good people This book is the result of years of goofing around in boats, fielding questions from students and prospective kayak gear buyers, and pestering everyone from kayak designers to meteorologists with my own nagging questions I’ve reaped more than my share of help from fellow paddlers, industry colleagues, and friends In particular I’d like to thank the following people: Vaughan Smith for his unerring eye for technique explanations and a very sharp blue pencil; Lee Moyer for his patient and exhaustive explanations of boat design and the engineering reality behind it; Derek Hutchinson and Brian Henry for their good-natured support; Kevin Bedford for his insightful feedback during the original manuscript development; Stuart and Marianne Smith of Maine Sport Outfitters and their staff for allowing me to paw through merchandise, grab customers for photos, and clutter their lawn with gear; Matthew Levin, Cheryl Levin, Vaughan Smith, and Ben Fuller, who served as superb models for kayaking techniques during photo shoots (and cheerfully jumped in and out of chilly water on a cold, raw day); all the manufacturers and individuals who provided photos and samples—Current Designs, Necky Kayaks, Eddyline Kayaks, Ocean Kayak, Wilderness Systems, Accent Paddles, Kokatat, MTI, Paddle Boy Designs, Seattle Sports, Stearns Manufacturing, Thule, Mark and Celeste Rogers of Superior Kayaks, Cheri Nylen and Janet Zeller of the American Canoe Association, Mark Theobold, Tamsin Venn of Atlantic Coastal Kayaker, and Karen Knight vii This page intentionally left blank Preface Ten years have passed since the original edition of The Complete Sea Kayaker’s Handbook was published During those ten years, the sport of kayaking has undergone some meaningful adjustments and adapted to shifts in lifestyle and economic realities But the act of putting paddle to water with only the human body for power is elegantly simple and will never change Instead, our ability to find the time and place for these pursuits and wring every ounce of enjoyment from them mark a notable shift in the paddling world The past ten years have seen the development of new materials, boat designs, and even where and how kayaks are sold The aging of the paddling population has driven the need for lighter-weight materials, smaller and more manageable boats, tools for cartop loading and carrying kayaks, and much more comfortable seats and practical cockpit designs The ready availability of information and shopping via the Web have created a heightened price consciousness among many consumers This has often driven the sale of kayak equipment from the local enthusiast’s shop into the larger chain stores and outlets as kayaks became “commoditized.” Although this has brought kayaking to the masses, the important safety and local paddling information that was usually included with each kayak sale was often lost The most noticeable change in kayak designs is the huge growth in the popularity of recreational boats of less than fourteen feet With the plethora of these small and wide kayak designs, more people now have access to and are willing to try out kayaking These userfriendly and accommodating boats coupled with ever furiously paced lifestyles that leave little time for recreation now mean that kayaking is often done only in small chunks of time and in local waters not likely to be defined as “the sea.” This is a good thing in that it gets more people outside and on the water Yet it is somewhat troubling that there is often little regard for safety and good technique by these new paddlers and the stores that support their purchases, the thought apparently being, How much could it really matter for an hour on the local pond? But these boats don’t always stay on the local pond, and several fatal accidents over the past few years have proven the inadvisability of taking a recreational kayak to sea ix 324 Index Batteries See EPIRB Beacons, day, 203–4 Beam, 28, 29, 63, 64, 217 Beam seas, 163, 164 Bearings, 207–11 actual, 210, 211, 225 defined, 215 magnetic (see Magnetic bearings) relative, 210–11 return (back), 209, 211 true, 207–8, 211, 219 Beaufort scale, 169, 170 Belly lines, 100 Below-water forces, 162 Bent-shaft paddles, 59–61, 60 Bilge pumps reentry and, 133, 135, 141, 146–47 types and operation of, 71–72 Binoculars, 273 BioFreeze, 261 Blades, paddle See Paddle blades Boat speed, 25 Boatbuilding, DIY, 41, 42–43 Boots, 87, 261 Bow, 20, 162, 163, 164, 165–68 Bow angle, doubling, 224 Bow hatches (storage compartment), 20, 46 Bowline, 106, 107 Braces (strokes), 110, 119–21 high, 119, 120, 154 low, 119, 120, 121 sculling, 119–21, 141 slap, 119 British Canoe Union (BCU), 3, Broaching, 127, 168–69 Bulkheads aft, 20 described, 20 forward, 20 functions and design of, 46–47 installing, 34–35 rear, 145 repairing leaks, 298 Buoys, 202, 202–4, 204 Burch, David, 221, 227 Butterfly knot, 271 Calamine lotion, 269 California, 173, 174 California Current, 179 Campfires, 265, 266 Camping, 264–74 access information posted, 274 choosing a site, 264–66 hazards, 267–70 human waste disposal, 267 low-impact guidelines, 272–74 setting up camp, 265–67 Canadian Coast Guard, 67, 69 Canadian Hydrographic Service, 197 Canadian Recreational Canoe Association (CRCA), Canoe & Kayak magazine, 27, 41 Cans (navigation aids), 202–3 Capsizing, 21, 46, 131 See also Getting into and out of the water composite kayaks and, 34 disabled kayakers and, 128 handling concerns about, 13 instruction on handling, plans for handling, 252 slap brace and, 119 Carbonlite 2000, 37 Cardinal directions, 208, 211 Carrying toggles, 20, 287 Cartopping, 40, 99–101, 100 Carts, kayak, 97–98 Cat-Cow Stretch, 9–10 Cell phones, 76–78, 228, 237 Center for Wooden Boats, 41 Index Center hatches, 46 Certification of instructors and guides, 3, 4, 281 life vest, 69 in wilderness safety, 78 Channel crossings, 184, 185 Channels, VHF, 77, 203 Chart No 1, 199 Chartcases, 89, 236 Charts, 89, 197–99, 198, 202, 206, 214, 219 care and storage, 199 scales used in, 197–98 shopping for, 199 trip planning and, 234, 236, 283–84 wind behavior predicted from, 169 Chesapeake Bay, 178 Chicken and veggie fajitas (recipe), 246 Children, safety for, 256–58 Child’s Pose, Chine, 30 Cirrostratus clouds, 190 Cirrus clouds, 190, 191 Clapotis, 175 Close-by rescues, 149, 149–51, 150 Close-contact tows, 255 Clothing, 79–87 cold-water, 80–86 repairing, 298–300 storage and maintenance, 288–90 warm-weather, 86–87 Clouds, 188–91, 190, 191, 193 Clove hitch, 270 Coaming, 19–20 described, 21 keeping sprayskirt free of, 133 Coast Guard, U.S., 67, 69, 75, 203, 204, 211, 228, 230, 256 Coast Guard, Canadian, 67, 69 Cockpit covers, 105, 266, 287 325 Cockpits, 47 comfort and, 47–49 described, 20 paddle length correlated with depth, 64 Cold fronts, 191, 192–93 Cold shock, 83 Cold-water clothing, 80–86 Cold-water immersion, 4, 16, 83 See also Hypothermia Collision course avoidance, 232–33 Communication, 250 See also Signaling devices; Signals Compass points, 169 Compass roses, 89, 207–11, 219–20 Compasses, 20, 88, 201–2, 211, 214 handheld, 89, 211, 212 keeping metal from, 240 proper positioning of, 88–89 Composite kayaks aging, 288 cloth types used in, 35–37 construction of, 32–37, 33, 34 polyethylene kayaks compared with, 39 pros and cons of, 36 repairing, 35–36, 292–94 storage and maintenance, 286–87, 288 thermoformed kayaks compared with, 38 T-rescues and, 146 used, 52 Conduction, heat loss through, 85 Contact lenses, problems with, 263 Convection, heat loss through, 85 Coolers, 248–49 Cordura, 44 Corn relish (recipe), 246–47 Cortisone ointment, 260, 269 Costs/expenses of composite kayaks, 36, 37 initial investment, 15–16 by kayak types, 36 of paddles, 55 326 Index Cotton clothing, avoiding, 83 Course defined, 215 plotting, 206–11 staying on, 160–62 Course made good, 220, 221, 222 Course plotters (coursers), 89, 207, 209, 211 Cow tails, 79 Crankshaft paddles See Bent-shaft paddles Crest, wave, 172, 175 Cross section of hull, 28–29 Crosswinds, 162–64, 163, 164 Crotch straps, 130 Crunches, 10–11 C-to-C roll, 154, 156, 157 Cumulonimbus clouds, 190, 191 Cumulus clouds, 190, 192, 193 Current See Tidal current Current Designs, 27 Cuts, barnacle and shellfish, 259–60 Cyalume sticks, 253 Daisy chain knot, 271 Damage See also Repairs to composite kayaks, 35–36 on used kayaks, 52 Dangers camping and, 267–70 of going to sea, 16 Day beacons, 203–4 Dead reckoning, 222–24 Deck profile, 31 Deck rigging, 49–50 aft, 20 forward, 20, 49 Deck shape and contour, 50 Deer ticks, 270 Degrees (latitude and longitude), 200, 201 Dehydration, 258–59 Derrer, Tom, 37 Devcon, 294 Diamond position, 95, 132 Dihedral angle of paddle blades, 62–63 Dinoflagellates, 267–68 Disabilities, paddling with, 127, 127–30, 128 Distance, learning to gauge, 226 Distance off, 224–27 Distress signals, 230, 231 Diurnal tides, 181 Dividers, 89, 200, 206 Double fisherman’s knot, 138 Double kayaks, 22 assisted reentry techniques for, 149 disabled kayakers and, 130 for families, 256, 257, 258 features of, 22 hatches of, 46 by material type, 36 reentering, 139–41, 140 strokes for, 126 Dowd, John, 221 Downward Facing Dog Pose, DR track, 222–23 Draw strokes, 122–25 Drift, 179, 220, 222 D-ring, 95 Drogues, 91, 92 Dry bags, 90–91, 237, 238 Dry suits, 4, 84 deciding whether to bring, 84 described, 81–82 perils of, 289 relief zippers, 81–82 repairing, 299–300 storage and maintenance, 289 used, 53–54 Duct tape, 297, 299, 300 Dumping waves, 175 Durable water repellency (DWR), 53, 289–90 Dye markers, 74 Earth and tides, 179, 180 Ebb, 179, 182, 185, 186 Eddyline Kayaks, 37 Index Elbows, forward stroke and, 113 Eldridge Tide and Pilot Book, 185 End pours, 34 EPIRBs (emergency position-indicating radio beacons), 91–93, 92 batteries, 91 Epoxy putty, 296–97 Equipment See also Gear for trips, 284 used, 52–54 Eskimo roll, 69 Evaporation, heat loss through, 85 Exercises See Fitness and stretching Extended paddle rolls, 154–57 External rotations, 12 Eyeglasses, securing, Fairways, 231 Family paddling, 256–58 Farmer John/Jane wet suits, 81 Feathered paddles, 65–66, 67, 111, 163 Feet, numb, 261–62 Ferrying, 219 Fetch, 169, 173, 174, 175 Fiberglass kayaks, 32, 34, 35–36, 292, 293 Fiberglass paddles, 57, 58 Field guides, 283 Figure-eight knot, 271 Fires See Campfires First-aid kits, 78, 237 Fish finders, 229 Fisherman’s knot, 271 Fish-form hulls, 24, 26 Fitness and stretching, 6–13 ankles, 12–13 back and torso, 8–11 hamstrings, 7–8 shoulders, 11–12 strengthening, 13 wrists and hands, 12 Fix (navigational), 212, 223, 224, 225 Flare (boat feature), 30 Flares (signal devices), 74 Flashlights, 75–76, 230, 253 Flexibility, 39, 40 Float plans, 235, 283, 284–85 Flood (tide), 179, 182, 183–84, 185, 186 Flotation bags, 46 Fog, 194, 194–96, 196, 230 Foghorns, 76, 230 Folding kayaks, 43–44, 284 Food, 240–49, 280–81 bringing sufficient, 285 camping and, 266 cooking tips, 248–49 kitchen kit, 242–43 menu planner, 243–44 packing, 236–37 recipes, 244–48 Foot braces, 20 adjusting, 94–96, 261 described, 21 Footwear, 87, 87 See also Boots; Socks Foraging, 242, 268 Forward angle bent shaft, 60 Forward bulkhead, 20 Forward deck rigging, 20, 49 Forward stroke, 112–15, 113, 163, 164 Fracture points, 52 Freedman, Corey, 41 Freestyle kayaking, 127 French toast (recipe), 246 Freshette, 82 Friction of wetted surface, 25, 30 Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation (Burch), 221, 227 Gaskets, dry suit, 289, 299–300 Gasp reflex, 83 Gear See also Equipment; Navigational gear; Safety gear carrying inside the kayak, 105 packing the kayak, 237–40 storage and maintenance, 286–90 327 328 Index Gelcoat applying, 33, 34, 37 repairing, 290–94, 291, 292 General Prudential Rule, 231 Geographical miles, 201 Getting into and out of the water, 131–59 See also Assisted reentry/rescue; Rolls/ rolling; Solo reentry; Wet exits Gloves, 84, 159 Gore-Tex, 81, 83, 289 Gorp.com, 282 GPS (global positioning system) units, 88, 200–201, 202 description of, 89 limitations of, 229 navigating with, 227–29 proper storage of, 228 Grab loop of sprayskirt, 71, 132–33 Graphite kayaks, 32, 37, 292 Graphite paddles, 57, 58 Gray-water disposal, 241 Great Salt Lake, 171 Greenland paddles, 55–57, 157 Greenland sea kayak designs, 17, 18–19 Greenwich meridian, 200 Group safety, 250–63 communication, 250 for families, 256–58 health precautions, 258–63 lost paddlers/searches, 252–54 night paddling and, 253 towing and, 254–56 traveling formation, 251–52 Guidebooks, 283 Guided tours, 5–6 Gulf of California, 278 Gulf Stream, 179 Half-hitch, 106 Hamstrings, exercises for, 7–8 Hand layup technique, 34, 35 Hand paddles, 159 Hand roll, 152, 157–59 Hand signals, 130, 250, 251 Handheld anemometers, 93 Handheld barometers, 93 Handheld compasses, 89, 211, 212 Handheld flares, 74 Hands exercises for, 12 forward stroke and, 113 protecting from cold, 84–86 Hard chine, 30 Hatches, 46–47 bow, 20, 46 center, 46 stern, 20, 21, 45, 46 Head coverings, 83, 83, 84, 87, 89–90, 262 Headache, dehydration as a cause of, 258–59 Heading, 210, 211 defined, 215 Headlamps, 76 Headlands, 169–71, 183, 184 Headwinds, 162, 164–65 Hearing impairments, 130 Heat exhaustion, 263 Heat packs, 84–86 Heat stroke, 263 Heath, John, 56 Hebrides, Outer, 277 Height target (for calculating distance off), 226 tidal, 179 wave, 172, 173, 174 Helmets, 89–90 Hemiplegia, 129 Henry, Brian, 27 Herb salad dressing (recipe), 245 High brace, 119, 120, 154 High sculling brace, 120 High tide, 180, 181, 183 Hip snap, 153, 154 Horizontal angle measurements, 224–26 Hull speed, 25 Index Hulls cross section of, 28–29 factors affecting resistance of, 25 fish-form, 24, 26 Swede-form, 24–26 symmetrical, 24, 26 Husky tow, 254 Hutchison, Derek, 27 Hypalon, 43, 44 Hypothermia, 84 caring for, 262–63 cause of, 80 clothing for prevention of, 80–81 gasp reflex and, 83 modes of development, 85 Implosion bars, 71 In the lee, 166 Inflatable kayaks, 44 Infusion techniques, 34 Initial stability, 29 Inland waters, 230 Insects, 75, 76 Instructional programs, 3–5 Intercardinal directions, 208 International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), 204 International waters, 230 Internet resources, 199, 270, 282–83 Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), 204 Inuits, 32 In-water recovery, 122, 123 Iron Mend, 299 J-cradles, 103 J-lean, 109–10, 117 Kamals, 226–27 Kayak carts and trolleys, 97–98 Kennebec River, 187 Kevlar kayaks, 32, 36–37, 292 Kevlar paddles, 57 Keyhole stretch, Kitchen kit, 242–43 Knee hang See J-lean Knight, Karen, 127 Knots, 105–7, 272 butterfly, 271 clove hitch, 270 daisy chain, 271 double fisherman’s, 138 figure eight, 271 fisherman’s, 271 half-hitch, 106 overhand, 271 sheet bend, 271 square, 271 taut-line (rolling) hitch, 106 trucker’s hitch, 106 Knots (nautical miles), 169, 214, 217, 223 Latissimus dorsi muscles, strengthening, 11 Latitude, 198, 200–202 Latitude lines, 201 Leasing See Renting/leasing Lee, 166–67 Lee shore, 166, 167 Leecocking, 166 Length of kayaks, 24 of paddles, 56–57, 63–64, 65 wave, 172 Length at waterline (LWL), 24 Length overall (LOA), 24 Levin, Matthew, 114 Life vests, 5, 15, 69 for children, 256–57 color of, 68–69 rental disadvantages, 284 selection and use of, 66–69 sprayskirt worn with, 70, 71 storage and maintenance, 290 used, 53 329 330 Index Light characteristics of, 204–6 interpreting, 253 requirements for kayakers, 230 Light Lists, 204, 206 Lighthouses, 204, 211, 226 Lightning, 191, 193–94 Lindemann, Hannes, 44 Linear polyethylene, 39 Lines of position (LOPs), 211–12, 225 Local Notices to Mariners, 198, 203 Longitude, 198, 200–202 Longitude lines, 201 Loran, 202 Low brace, 119, 120 Low brace turns, 121 Low sculling brace, 120 Low tide, 180, 181, 183 Lower-body disabilities, 129 Lubber line, 88 Lunar cycle, 180, 181 Lunar day, 180 Lunge pose, 7–8 Lyme disease, 270 Lymediseaseassociation.org, 270 Mackenzie Delta (sea kayak design), 19 Mad cat position, 9–10 Magnetic bearings, 207–8, 209, 211, 219–20, 235–36 Magnetic north, 207–8 Maine, 173, 178, 196, 275, 278 Maintenance, 286–90 See also Repairs Maligiaq (Greenland national champion), 152 MapSeal, 199 Maptech.com, 199 Marinated oranges in cognac (recipe), 245–46 Marine Mammal Protection Act, 274 Mayday, 77 Meals See Food Medical emergencies, 263, 269, 270 Mental impairments, 130 Meridians, 201 Methacrylate, 294 Mildew, 289 Minicel foam, 34, 96–97, 130 Minutes (latitude and longitude), 200, 201 Mirrors, signaling, 74–75 Mixed tide cycle, 181 Moderate chine, 30 Molds, kayak, 33, 37, 38, 39 Moon and tides, 179–81, 182 Moyer, Lee, 27, 29 MP3 players, 228 National Audubon Society (NAS), 279 National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA), 197, 199 National Ocean Service (NOS), 179, 182, 186, 197, 198 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 197, 199, 268 Natural ranges, 212, 213 Nature Conservancy, 279 Nautical miles, 201, 225, 226 See also Knots (nautical miles) Nauticalchartsonline.com, 199 Navigation, 197–233 aids to, 202–6 dead reckoning, 222–24 distance off, 224–27 latitude and longitude, 198, 200–202 lines of position, 211–12, 225 plotting the course, 206–11 ranges, 212–14, 213 Rules of the Road, 229–33 things that throw off, 214 vectors, 218–21, 220, 222 Navigational gear, 88–89 See also Charts; Compases; Course plotters; Dividers; GPS units; Parallel rulers Navigational ranges, 212 Neap tide, 179 Index Neoprene beanies and hoods, 83, 83, 89–90 boots, 87, 87, 261 gloves, 84, 159 socks, 87 sprayskirts, 70, 70 Neo-traditional kayaks See Skin-on-frame kayaks Neutral-bend shaft, 60 Night paddling, 253 Nikwax TX-Direct, 290 Nimbostratus clouds, 190, 192 Nimbus clouds, 190 Noaa.gov, 199, 283 Nominal range of light, 204, 206 Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), 261 Notices to Mariners, 198 Nuns (navigation aids), 202–3 Occluded fronts, 191, 193 Offside, 153 Okefenokee Swamp, 283 One-arm row, 11 Onside, 153 Outback Oven, 248 Outfitters, 280–82 Overhand knot, 271 Pacific Water Sports, 27 Packing for trips, 236–40 Paddle blades, 57, 59 asymmetrical, 55–57 back face, 62, 119, 121 design of, 61–63, 66 dihedral angle, 62–63 power face, 62, 118, 119, 120–21 spines, 63 spooned, 55, 63 symmetrical, 55, 57 Paddle floats, 72, 159, 254, 255 Paddle leashes, 73–74, 135 331 Paddle shafts, 56, 57, 59–61 Paddle-float reentry, 133–38, 134, 144 in double kayaks, 141 in sit-on-top kayaks, 139 tips for, 135 Paddles, 55–66 balance and, 59 bent-shaft, 59–61, 60 for children, 257–58 cost of, 55 feathered, 65–66, 67, 111, 163 grip area, 59, 60, 111 grip on, 110–12 hand, 159 length, 56–57, 63–64, 65 materials used in, 57–59, 58 one-piece, 64–65 parts of, 55 rental disadvantages, 284 spare, 57, 73 storage and maintenance, 288 take-apart, 64–65, 298 unfeathered, 111 used, 53 weight, 58, 59 Paddlewear See Clothing Paddling, 160–96 body aches from poor technique, 260–61 with disabilities (adaptive), 127, 127–30, 128 snake-wake style, avoiding, 160 staying on course, 160–62 the tide and, 178–87 in waves, 172–78 weather and, 187–96 in the wind, 162–71 Paddling jackets, 289 Paddling strokes back, 115–16 draw, 122–25 forward, 112–15, 113, 163, 164 power forward (sprint), 115 reverse sweep, 118, 119, 121 332 Index stern (ruddering), 125–27, 169 support (see Braces) turning (sweep), 116–18, 117, 154, 163, 168–69 Paddling.net, 282 Pan-Pan, 77 Parachute flares, 74 Parallel rulers, 89, 199, 200, 207, 208–9, 211, 219–20 Parallels of latitude, 201 Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), 268 Paraplegia, 129 Pawlata roll, 154–57 PC-7, 296 Pearling, 165–68 Pencil flares, 74 Perigee, 179, 181 Perimeter deck line, 20 Perimeter lines (cartop), 100 Period, wave, 172, 173 Permatex, 294 Permits, 283 Personal flotation devices (PFDs) See Life vests Pests, 269–70 Pigtails, 79, 255 Pilates, 6, 11 Pitchpoling, 168 Plastic Welder, 294 Plastic welding, 295–96 Pogies, 84, 85 Points of land, 183 Poison ivy, 268–69 Poison oak, 268 Poisonous plants, 268–69 Polycarbonate kayaks, 52 See also Thermoformed kayaks Polyethylene kayaks, 32, 37 aging, 288 bulkhead leaks in, 298 compasses of, 88 construction of, 39–40 pros and cons of, 36 repairing, 295–96, 297 storage and maintenance, 287–88 used, 52 Porcupines, 288 Port, 203 Posture, forward stroke and, 114 Power face, 62, 118, 119, 120–21 Power forward (sprint) stroke, 115 Prijon Kayaks, 45 Prismatic coefficient, 25 Prostheses, 129, 130 P-Tex, 296 Pull-ups, 11 PVC dry bags, 90–91 Quartering wind, 164 Questions common, 13–16 on instructional programs, for outfitters, 280–81 Radiation, heat loss through, 85 Radiation fog, 195–96 Ranges, 212–14, 213 Rashes, saltwater, 260 Rear bulkheads, 145 Recreational kayaks, 15, 21–22, 23 Red tide, 267–68 Reenter-and-pump rescues, 146–47 Reflective tape, 68, 253 Relative bearings, 210–11 Renting/leasing gear and equipment, 284 kayaks, 54 Repair kits, 78, 300–301 Repairs, 290–301 of bulkhead leaks, 298 of clothing, 298–300 of composite kayaks, 35–36, 292–94 in the field, 296–97 of gelcoat, 290–94, 291, 292 of polyethylene kyaks, 295–96, 297 Index protection during, 291 of rudder and skeg jams, 297–98 of take-apart paddles, 298 of thermoformed kayaks, 294–95 Rescue slings reentry and, 133, 137, 138, 141 uses for, 73 Rescues See Assisted reentry/rescue; Swimmers, towing Reserve stability, 29 Resin, 32, 33–34, 35, 37, 58 Return (back) bearing, 209, 211 Reverse sweep stroke, 118, 119, 121 Reversing falls, 183–84 Rhomboids , strengthening, 11 Right-of-way, 231–32 Rigidity, 40 River sandals, 87 Rocker, 26–28 Rolls/rolling, 133, 151–59 benefits of learning, 151–53 C-to-C, 154, 156, 157 Eskimo, 69 extended paddle, 154–57 hand, 152, 157–59 importance of, 13–14 onside and offside in, 153 Pawlata, 154–57 Steyr, 157, 158 sweep, 154, 155 tips for learning, 158 Rotomolding, 37, 38, 39 See also Polyethylene kayaks Rudder blade, 20 Rudder cable, 20 Rudder line control, 20 Rudder lines, 21 Rudder rest, 20 Ruddering strokes See Stern (ruddering) strokes Rudders, 20, 45 controlling, 95–96 described, 21 333 jammed, repairing, 297–98 vs skegs vs neither, 45–46 wind and, 163 Rulers, 219 Rules of the Road, 229–33 Safety See Dangers; Group safety Safety gear, 66–87 See also Bilge pumps; Firstaid kits; Life vests; Paddle floats; Paddle leashes; Repair kits; Rescue slings; Signaling devices; Sponsons; Sprayskirts; Towlines Saffron rice (recipe), 245 Salmon fillets in soy-mustard marinade (recipe), 244–45 Salt water, using, 268 Saltwater rashes, 260 Saturated air, 195 Scarborough, Steve, 27 Scoop rescues, 148–49 Sculling brace, 119–21, 141 Sculling draw stroke, 123–24 Sea anchors, 91, 92 Sea Kayaker magazine, 283 Sea Kayaking: A Manual for Long-Distance Touring (Dowd), 221 Sea kayaks, 17–54 aging, 288 alternatives to buying, 54 balance and staying upright, 109–10 buying, primer for, 50–51 cartopping, 40, 99–101, 100 chine, 30 composite (see Composite kayaks) cross section of, 28–29 customizing, 96–97 deck profile, 31 design, 23–31 design features, 44–50 designers’ views, 27 do-it-yourself construction, 41, 42–43 double (see Double kayaks) flare, 30 334 Index folding, 43–44, 284 getting into and out of, 107–8 getting to and from the water, 97, 97–99, 98 inflatable, 44 learning via, 279 leasing, 54 length of, 24 loading onto a vehicle, 101–5 making choices, 19 materials used in, 31–44 parts of, 19–21, 20 pedigree of, 17–18 polyethylene (see Polyethylene kayaks) pros and cons by type, 36 repairing, 290–98 resale value, 51 rocker, 26–28 securing for the night, 265–66, 267 serial number of, 52 shape of, 24–26 sheer of, 26 single (see Single kayaks) sit-on-top (see Sit-on-top kayaks) skin-on-frame (neo-traditional) (see Skin-onframe kayaks) storage and maintenance, 286–88, 287 thermoformed (see Thermoformed kayaks) used, 52–53 width of, 28 Sea of Cortés, 278 Sea smoke, 196 Sea Wings, 73 Seal Line Smart Track, 45 Searches for lost kayakers, 252–54 Seasickness, 14, 252 Seated row, 11 Seats, 20, 47, 48 adjusting, 94–96, 261–62 comfort features, 47–49 described, 21 Seaward, 203, 204 Secondary stability, 29 Sécurité, 77 Seguin Island, 187 Semidiurnal tides, 180, 181 Serial number of kayak, 52 Serial tow, 254 Set, 179, 220, 222 Setup phase (roll), 153, 157 Shape deck, 50 kayak, 24–26 Sheer, 26, 31 Sheet bend knot, 271 Shellfish, contaminated, 267–68 Shoe-Goo, 297 Shoulders aches in, 260–61 exercises for, 11–12 Shrimp jambalaya (recipe), 247–48 Sideslip maneuver, 124 Sierra Club, 279 Signaling devices, 74–78, 75, 230 See also Cell phones; Dye markers; Flares; Flashlights; Mirrors, signaling; Smoke cannisters; Strobes; VHF radios Signals See also Communication distress, 230, 231 hand, 130, 250, 251 sound, 76, 230 Singer, Andy, 27 Single kayaks features of, 22 hatches of, 46 by material type, 36 Sit-on-top kayaks, 15 disabled kayakers and, 129 for families, 256 features of, 22–23 reentering, 139 Size of kayaker paddle length and, 64, 65 rescues and, 148 Skeg box (housing), 45 Index Skegs, 45 jammed, repairing, 297–98 vs rudders vs neither, 45–46 wind and, 163 Skincoat boats, 37 Skin-on-frame kayaks, 32, 40–43, 42 Slack/slack water, 179, 185 Slap brace, 119 Small triangle rule, 224–25 Smith, Vaughan, 114, 148 Smoke cannisters, 74 Snake-wake style of paddling, avoiding, 160 Socks, 81, 85, 87 Soft chine, 30 Solo kayaking, 16 Solo reentry, 133–39, 134, 136, 137, 138 See also Double kayaks, reentering; Paddle-float reentry Sound signals, 76, 230 Speed boat vs hull, 25 estimating, 214–18 Speed made good, 217, 220, 221, 222, 224 Spilling waves, 175 Spine of paddle blade, 63 Spine twist, 10–11 Sponge, boat, 72 Sponsons, 73 Sprayskirts, 48, 70 selection and use of, 69–71 during wet exits, 132–33 Spring tide, 179, 180–81 Squall lines, 192, 193 Square knot, 271 Stability, 29 Stanton, Robin, 41 Starboard, 203, 204 Static bow draw, 124, 125, 127 Static draw stroke, 124–25 Stationary fronts, 191, 193 Statute miles, 201 Steam fog, 196 335 Stern, 20, 162, 163, 164 Stern deck rigging, 21 Stern draw, 125–26 Stern hatches (deck compartment), 20, 21, 45, 46 Stern pry, 125–26 Stern (ruddering) strokes, 125–27, 169 Steyr roll, 157, 158 Storage, 286–90 Storms, 193 Stoves/ovens, portable, 240, 248 Straight arm pull-down, 11 Stratocumulus clouds, 190 Stratus clouds, 190 Strengthening exercises, 13 String, marked in increments, 200 Strobes, 74, 230 Stuhaug, Dennis, 41 Sun and tides, 179, 180, 182 Sun protection, 86, 259 See also Ultraviolet light exposure Sunburn, 259 Sunscreen, 259 Supplex nylon, 83 Support phase (roll), 153, 157 Support strokes See Braces Surf landings, 176, 177 Surf launchings, 177–78 Surf zone, 175, 176–78 Swede-form hulls, 24–26 Sweep roll, 154, 155 Sweep stroke See Turning (sweep) stroke Swell, 169, 172, 174 Swimmers, towing, 256 Swimming ability, 14–15 Symmetrical hulls, 24, 26 Symmetrical paddle blades, 55, 57 Sympatex, 83 Tai Chi, Tailwinds, 162, 164, 165–69 Take-apart paddles, 64–65, 298 Target angle, 224–25, 226 336 Index Target height (for calculating distance off), 226 Target width (for calculating distance off), 224–25 Taut-line (rolling) hitch, 106 Thermal underwear, 81 Thermoformed kayaks, 32 construction of, 37–39, 38 polyethylene kayaks compared with, 39 pros and cons of, 36 repairing, 294–95 used, 52 Thigh braces, 20, 21, 47, 49 303 Protectant, 52, 286, 289, 299 Three-hatch baidarkas, 18 Thule Outrigger, 100, 103 Thunderheads, 192–93 Thunderstorms, 193 Ticks, 270 Tidal current, 169, 184–87, 219–21, 228, 236 defined, 178–79 speed of, 214, 217–18 Tidal current charts, 178, 186–87 Tidal current tables, 182–83, 185–86, 219 Tidal day, 180 Tidal height, 179 Tidal race, 179 Tidal range, 179, 180 Tidal stream, 178–79 Tide, 178–87 common terms, 178–79 defined, 178 diurnal, 181 high, 180, 181, 183 low, 180, 181, 183 mixed cycle, 181 moon and, 179–81, 182 neap, 179 semidiurnal, 180, 181 spring, 179, 180–81 topography and, 183–87 Tide tables, 178, 179, 181–83, 185, 228, 234–35 Tie-down straps, 100 Time, 24-hour scale for, 223 Topographical maps, 169, 197, 283–84 Topography tides and, 183–87 wind and, 169–71 Torso exercises for, 8–11 forward stroke and, 114–15 Torso Tool, 114 Touring kayaks See Sea kayaks Towing, 254–56 Towlines, 78–79, 254 Trailers, 107 Trails.com, 282 Trapezius muscles, strengthening, 11 Traumeel, 261 Trenches, avoiding, 264–65 T-rescues, 143–46, 144, 145 Triangulation, 227 Trip planning, 234–49, 275–85 choosing a destination, 276–82 focus and style, 280–81 gathering information, 282–83 laying out the trip, 283–85 meal planning and cooking, 240–49, 280–81 packing strategies, 236–40 skill level considerations, 276 timeline, 278–80 weather preferences, 276–78 “what-if” game, 234–36 Trough, wave, 172, 176 Trucker’s hitch, 106 True bearings, 207–8, 211, 219 True north, 207–8 Turning (sweep) stroke, 116–18, 117, 154, 163, 168–69 Ultimate stability, 29 Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure composite kayaks and, 33, 37 dry suits and, 289 life vests and, 290 Index polyethylene kayaks and, 39, 52 skin-on-frame kayaks and, 43 storage precautions, 286 thermoformed kayaks and, 37, 38 Unalaska (sea kayak design), 19 Unfeathered paddles, 111 Up-and-over strategy, 217–18 Upper-body disabilities, 129–30 Used equipment, buying and selling, 52–54 Vacuum-bagging process, 33–34, 35 Variation, 207 Vectors, 218–21, 220, 222 Velcro closures, proper care of, 290 Vertical angle measurements, 224, 226–27 VHF radios, 76, 196, 203, 228, 237 procedure for use, 77 Visual impairments, 130 Vortex shedding phenomenon, 56 Walking lunges, Warm fronts, 191–92, 193 Warm-weather clothing, 86–87 Warp, 272 Washington, 196 Water See also Getting into and out of the water bodies of suitable for kayaking, 15 for drinking, 258–59 getting the kayak to and from, 97, 97–99, 98 Water temperature, 82 See also Cold-water clothing; Cold-water immersion Water temperature table, 82 Water trails, 273, 283 Wave action, 25 Wave crest, 172, 175 Wave height, 172, 173, 174 Wave length, 172 Wave of translation, 25 Wave period, 172, 173 Wave trough, 172, 176 Waves, 172, 172–78, 173, 174, 175 death of, 174–76 development of, 173–74 dumping, 175 factors affecting size of, 173 refracting, 175–76 spilling, 175 surf landings, 176, 177 surf launchings, 177–78 surf zone, 175, 176–78 terms used to describe, 172 Waypoints, 228–29 WD-40, 298 Weather, 187–96 clouds, 188–91, 190, 191, 193 fog, 194–96, 230 helpful proverbs, 189 lightning, 191, 193–94 storms, 193 trip planning and, 276–78 web sources, 283 Weather (wind direction), 166–67 Weather fronts, 191–93 cold, 191, 192–93 occluded, 191, 193 stationary, 191, 193 warm, 191–92, 193 Weathercocking, 162–63, 166 Weather.com, 283 Weather.gov, 283 Weathervane, 166 Weight of composite kayaks, 36, 37 of paddles, 58, 59 of polyethylene kayaks, 40 West Greenland sea kayak design, 19 Wet exits, 71, 87, 132 defined, practicing, 131–33 Wet suits, deciding whether to wear, 84 described, 81 337 338 Index repairing, 298–99 storage and maintenance, 289 What Now? (video), 148 “What-if” game, 234–36 Whistles, 68, 76, 130, 230, 250 Whitewater kayaking, 20, 89, 149, 154, 158, 184 Width of kayaks, 28 target (for calculating distance off), 224–25 Wilderness EMT certification, 78 Wilderness First Responder certification, 78 Wilderness first-aid courses, 78 Wildlife, observing, 273–74 Williwaws, 171 Wind, 162–71, 236 cold fronts and, 193 cross-, 162–64, 163, 164 head-, 162, 164–65 navigation affected by, 214, 221–22 quartering, 164 tail-, 162, 164, 165–69 tides and, 187 tips for paddling in, 167 topography and, 169–71 waves and, 173 Windbreaks, 165, 167 Windward shore, 166, 167 Wood paddles, 55–56, 57, 59, 288 Wool clothing, 83–84 Wrists aches in, 260–61 exercises for, 12 forward stroke and, 112 paddling and, 60, 61 preventing potential problems, 61 Yakima Boat Loader, 100, 103 Yellow rainbow, 135 Yoga, 6, ... permission of the publisher ISBN: 97 8-0 -0 7-1 7487 1-1 MHID: 0-0 7-1 7487 1-7 The material in this eBook also appears in the print version of this title: ISBN: 97 8-0 -0 7-1 7471 1-0 , MHID: 0-0 7-1 7471 1-7 All... forward of your foot and strain the connective tissue of the knee joint This lunge position stretches the groin and quadriceps of the extended leg and the hamstring of the forward leg To protect the. .. the use of or inability to use the work, even if any of them has been advised of the possibility of such damages This limitation of liability shall apply to any claim or cause whatsoever whether