#silentwake

What happens if my kayak capsizes

It eventually happens to all paddlers; you will fall into the water – either purposely or unintentionally. What happens to you and your gear during this process can range from just another day on the water to a major incident. This posting will cover what normally happens, and what one can do to minimize the ordeal. Let’s explore what the action of falling into the water is commonly called in the…

10 ways to make your kayaking easier.

Over the years of instructing, or just paddling with friends, I have asked the question – What ideals of kayaking you know now are topics you wish you knew when you started for the first time? I have compiled ten of the most common subjects which came up in the conversations. The reoccurring theme within these top ten is paddler development. How to properly paddle Kayaking is fairly easy sport…

Chart Reading: Why do some lights flash at night?

Seasoned kayakers will tell you, paddling in low to no-light environment can be challenging. While on the water at night, shoreline object recognition is not as vibrant as it usually is during the day. A kayaker should have the ability to navigate safely during their time on the water. Much like reading a street map while driving, paddlers can use a navigation chart to reach their destination. In…

How to make better decisions before paddling

Paddle sports generally are a very safe, fun, relaxing and enjoyable activity. The majority of people can pick up basic techniques and methods to navigate the waterways rather quickly.  Kayaking, however can be dangerous, and the dangers increase without taking simple precautions. There are techniques which are used to reduce hazards and make the journey on the water safer to the paddler. Risk…

You purchased your first kayak, now what?

Congratulations, you have advanced from the notion and desire to own a kayak, to ownership. Time to take that beauty out for a paddle on any stretch of water, right? Besides, you have seen numerous pictures and videos of folks jumping into the sport of kayaking without incident, what could go wrong? Well, this is not necessary the plan of action…. As a child when we learned how to ride a bicycle,…

Items for kayak safety.. and some you may not have thought about

Being prepared for your next water adventure and packing the right items for the uncertainty can be overwhelming. Ideally, what you bring along should reflect upon your paddle destination and the ability to understand and demonstrate proper usage.

In today’s blog we will explain to you some items which aid us during our travels – and might get you out of a sticky situation.

The PFD: The ideal…

Whether liked or not, weather will be a factor .

  As paddlers, we must have a basic understanding of weather and weather patterns. Knowledge of simple weather predictions and forecasting will provide a safe and memorable paddle. Before heading out, it is always a good idea to obtain the local weather report – so there are no unexpected surprises. Where do you get this information? Local morning news, newspaper, internet, phone apps, and with…

For those of us who have fiberglass yaks understand how beautiful they can be when they are shiny and new. Keeping them that way, can be a bit of a strain, especially if you really want to paddle frequently. I personally will have minor scratches which will appear wherever I have attached my back up paddles, Camelback, or other items I frequently place on my deck. Mainly this happens near my…