Know Your Neighbours: Six Things You Should Try

October-November 2006

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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by Bryan Nichols

Some of us paddle a little, some a lot, but we often do just one ‘type’ of sea kayaking. Not so long ago, many folks thought the only real sea kayaks were six meter fiberglass touring boats, and the only real type of sea kayaking was a challenging, multi-day trip.

Well, that was the last millennium. People are now discovering there are all kinds of fun things you can do from a kayak. Not only that, kayaks are being designed and built to be especially suited to their favorite activity. Sure there are long, sleek and seaworthy touring kayaks, but these days you might also see short, flat kayaks designed to play in green waves, or large, stable kayaks with built-in rod (and drink) holders for fishing. You might even come across kayaks with sails, outriggers, trolling motors or foot pedals. Near Tampa, where I’ve spent the last couple of years, there seem to be more plastic sit-on-tops rigged for fishing than traditional hardshell touring kayaks.

As the recreational kayak boom proves, there’s more to sea kayaking than touring. What can you do from a kayak? While hunting might have been one of the original reasons for kayakers to paddle away from shore, who really wants to harpoon marine mammals these days? We’ll leave the pointy sticks at home. But consider this: maybe you haven’t really experienced 21st century sea kayaking properly until you’ve tried at least half of this list.

For each activity, I’ll let you know how I’ve fared, what sort of kayak might make it most enjoyable, and whether or not I’d recommend a try.

FISHING

This sport is exploding in popularity all over North America. I’m not much of a piscivore, but I’ve dabbled in a variety of places. Latching on to a big salmon in a kayak is something else. In Belize I’ve been hungry enough to catch large barracuda from a kayak, using just a hand line to troll. That’s painful, very exciting (they jump) and ultimately nerve wracking. Try sliding a big barracuda between your bare legs. This is one I don’t recommend!

FISHING KAYAKS

There are now kayaks designed specifically for fishing, with built-in rod holders. Some shops will custom outfit your kayak with everything from electronic fish finders to battery powered live bait wells. If you’ve got the money, go for it, but you can fish from nearly any kayak as long as it’s stable. You don’t want to be getting jerked around in a narrow, tippy kayak, holding a fishing rod instead of a paddle. It’s also worth considering where you’ll put a fish once you catch it—you might not want scales, blood and guts in the cockpit or hatches of your $4000 Kevlar touring yak.

Want to Try? Kayak fishing is popular for good reason. Kayaks can get into fishy areas where larger boats fear to float, and catching fish from a small kayak is much more exciting than from a big boat. It’s also more impressive, if you’re the boasting sort. You fish? Of course you’re the boasting sort. If you’re inclined to wet a hook and line, be careful—fishing accidents are increasingly common. Also be sure you’re a responsible slayer (or tormenter) of fish. Kayaks are low, so catch and release can be easier. Only kill what you’ll eat, always follow local regulations, and please respect marine protected areas where fishing is not allowed. Fishes need sanctuaries where they are able to get big and breed like the dickens. Scuba divers notice the difference right away, and more and bigger fishes tend to make everyone happy eventually.

SAILING

There’s nothing like sailing. Sailboats haven’t gone the way of steam engines or vinyl records because sailing has such an amazing feel. If you’ve wondered why all those white sails appear on windy weekends, you might consider kayak sailing. I’ve sailed all kinds of things, but kayak sailing remains dear to my heart. If the wind dies, you can just paddle back to shore.

SAILING KAYAKS

In theory, any kayak can be sailed—it’s the equipment you add that makes the difference. Downwind is easy. Crosswind, things get trickier, and upwind—well, you need the right setup. There are very few kayaks designed specifically for sailing, because efficient paddling and good sailing aren’t that compatible. Stability and some sort of lateral resistance are the main problems, as most kayaks have relatively little of either, as you’ll soon discover when you stick a big sail up. Sailing kits, especially upwind sailing kits, address these deficiencies with things like leeboards that keep you from slipping sideways and outriggers to keep you upright.

Want to Try? Anyone can run downwind with a couple of paddle halves stuck through their raingear. Fancier downwind kits will make the process easier and more fun. For that real sailing rush though, consider an upwind kit. Alas, they get a lot pricier and often have to be custom fitted for your boat, so most people won’t do it. That’s a shame, as the rewards are priceless. Beg, borrow or visit a kayak festival to give one a try if you can. See these articles Triak Hybrid. and Canoe Sailing.

RUNNING RIVERS

You don’t have to tackle Class IV rapids in your huge Kevlar touring kayak. For sea kayakers, perhaps the most interesting part of a river is its estuary. Kayaks, unlike larger boats, can really poke their way into these areas, and estuaries are some of the richest places on earth, biologically speaking.

Of course, narrow rivers also provide a great excuse to try much smaller kayaks. Borrow or rent one that fits you like a glove, a boat that acts more like an extension of your body than a miniature yacht. You might find it’s a lot of fun to paddle a short, highly maneuverable boat that turns on a dime and rolls with a flick of the hips. Who cares how well it tracks when you’re zipping around corners in a creek or river?

RIVER KAYAKS

There are lots of kayaks designed for rivers, even for very specific activities. Sea kayakers would likely find most to be slow, tippy and claustrophobic, but there is now a wide range of intermediate, recreational-type boats that will help with the transition. That short plastic boat you considered a slug on the ocean might seem much more fun on the right river—give it a try. It’s great to experience what thigh braces and hip flicks are all about!

Want to Try? Go for it—but remember to pick the right river. Ignorance is not bliss floating downstream—you need to know what’s around the next bend, and what sort of trouble you can get into. If you don’t know what Class III means, or what a ‘sweeper’ is, you’d better do some research or paddle with someone who can tell you. Why not take a lesson?

SNORKELING/DIVING

The main reason I took up sea kayaking isn’t because I love to paddle—it’s because I love the ocean. Sea kayaks are the best way to explore the temperate oceans, but even in cool water they aren’t the only way. Sea kayaks also make great platforms for snorkeling, and even scuba diving if you’re willing to tackle the equipment, training and risks. I’ve snorkeled and dived from kayaks from Vancouver Island to Belize—it’s a great pairing of activities.

SNORKELING KAYAKS

There are a number of sit-on-tops marketed to divers, largely because they’re stable, easy to get back onto, and have a molded depression suitable for holding a scuba tank. But you don’t need such a boat for snorkeling. You don’t even need a sit-on-top at all—most folks can hop in and out of any reasonably stable sea kayak, even in deep water.

Want to Try? A lot of cold water paddlers are intimidated by rescues and don’t even like leaning their boats. Hopping in and out might seem unlikely to you, but the trick is just a bit of practice, which you should be doing for your rescues anyway—you are practicing your re-entries, right? Tip: with swim fins, it’s much easier.

The key to good snorkeling is picking a time and place for good visibility. Summer is often the worse time in the Pacific Northwest, but visibility can change day to day. If you can see down from your boat, slip into the water with a mask and fins on. You’ll be wowed by a whole new world below. Hang on to your kayak with a rope and snorkel along with it in tow. Remember to bring along a red and white dive flag, so other boaters know you’re in the water.

SURFING

A common complaint of Type A people is that sea kayaking is too peaceful and serene. The best way to boost the thrill level is to take your kayak to a sandy beach and play around in surf. I’ve surfed in big touring kayaks and smaller recreational ones, including a sit-on-top. Taking a wave on the bow of a big touring kayak, feeling yourself tilted up, straight up, and then right over backwards is decidedly not serene. Perhaps there’s a zen-like peace in the lull before the next wave sends you through the mixer.

SURFING KAYAKS

Any boat will surf in the right waves. If you’re the dedicated sort, there are all sorts of possibilities. You might see advertisements for lengthy ‘surf skis’, or others for small, flat play boats that will allow you to do tricks as you slide down a wave. You probably won’t know what you really want until you try your local waves a few times in whatever boat is available, and talk to others on the beach.

Want to Try? In the waves, you’ll get to practice your bracing and rolling skills. If the conditions are right you’ll also get a rush of adrenaline and that ‘Woo Hoo!’ screaming fun that the anti-couch potato part of you craves. Big surf will chew up you and your kayak of course, so consider a lesson, know what you’re getting into and wear a helmet. Also, remember that good surfing is very dependent on the right conditions, and those conditions tend to be rare and often overcrowded. Try to paddle to places where there aren’t any board surfers.

TOURING

Given the popularity of recreational day paddling, I just had to include ‘touring’. Though kayak touring is usually considered the core of the sport, there are ever-larger numbers of sea kayakers who only pop out for a day on the water. They’ve never stuffed those watertight hatches full of gear and never known the bliss of arriving at camp on just the right tide. If you’re one of the numerous people who’ve tried paddling a sea kayak a few times and loved it, you should consider loading up some camping gear and going out for a few days.

TOURING BOATS

Here’s where those big, seaworthy touring kayaks shine. This is what they were meant to do, and many paddle better when loaded. The more touring you’re hoping to do, the more you should consider things like volume (for gear and food), speed (to get you farther from civilization) and seaworthiness (to keep you safely afloat if the seas get tricky). Many day paddlers use boats suitable for touring, but make sure yours is seaworthy before you set out—be sure your boat has secondary flotation in the event of capsize (either watertight hatches or flotation bags).

Want to Try? Of course you do. Get out and camp before you’re too old and grumpy to sleep in a tent. Evenings, nights and early mornings in the great outdoors cannot be adequately described, only experienced. The easiest way to get into kayak touring is to sign up for a guided trip—you’ll learn plenty if you pay attention. Good trips take good planning, which is what winters are for.

GO FOR IT

So how many types of ‘sea kayaking’ have you done? Give one or two of these variations a try and you might just fall in love. This issue has plenty of advice, and there are many more articles available on the WaveLength website. The scrappy fish, challenging winds, exciting rapids, inviting depths, gnarly waves and remote campsites are all out there waiting for you and your kayak.

© Biologist Bryan Nichols has tried all the above and more. He’s found that fun comes in all flavors.