Anybody go sea Kayaking?

Just got myself a sea Kayak, went out first time Yesterday. Had fun but ache like mad today. I know I will get better and develop a technique, but what was I doing so wrong? Each time I paddled the boat would zig zag along and I was forever having to correct my direction. This just wasted energy like crazy... Any tips?

[Luckypants]

Yes, get some proper coaching now. The sea is not a place to be fannying about not knowing what you are doing. Massive currents you cannot fight, tides, overfalls, reefs etc. Do you know how to avoid getting into bother? Can you self-rescue when you do?

I know the above sounds harsh, but I have first hand experience of dealing with kayakists who have ventured out unprepared (albeit on rivers) and needed rescuing.

If you have plenty of experience of going to sea by boat, then I apologise and will be quite happy to provide some tips to help you get going in your kayak.


PS Only ever transport your kayak facing forward on your car (bow at the front) else Neptune will be angry and bring bad luck to your ocean trips A sea boat should always travel forwards.

Thanks, I do have good experience locally and know the waters here quite well. Have been jet ski-ing for over 10 years here. I always wear full kit and carry a tow line and of course the mobile. I am considering getting two distress flares from the local marine store. So I am safety concious and know where most of the hazards are in the sea here. I just could do with some pointers on the technique.

I recall when I started riding big bikes being told how to counter steer and that totally changed my riding style and I had more confidence and fun. So looking for the same sort of advise for the kayak please.

Cheers

[Luckypants]

OK - well without seeing your paddling technique it will be difficult to comment. Zigzagging is often caused by the paddler slouching and carrying the paddle to low. You need to be sitting up, nicely braced by knees and feet, paddle across the chest (quite high) and be aiming to put the blade in the water near the feet and pull the kayak along the side of it. Pull with bottom arm and push with top arm to get the shoulders rotating while looking ahead. The aim is to imagine the paddle as being solid in the water and you pull the kayak along using it, not pulling the paddle down the side of the boat. The paddle shaft should be close to vertical.

Does your boat have a rudder?

now I'm going to bang on about safety again, is this a closed cockpit kayak? Have you practised getting out of the capsized kayak? Can you right the boat and re-enter? could you swim it to shore? You must be able to say yes to these to be safe, seriously get some training.

Hi thanks for the notes.
Its open kayak (like surfboard with seat)
Yes I can jump off and get back on from it being capsized, I did that yesterday so I knew how. I could swim it to shore if I really had to, but might get some training anyway.

Sounds like just the paddle technique is what I need.

[Luckypants]

Ahh it's a sit on top. I was expecting something more like this...



You may find getting a skeg - a fixed rudder like the fin on a surfboard - will help the boat track straighter.