Kayaking

Top tip:

Don't put your thick yak spraydeck on with the loop used to secure it tucked underneath. If you must do this, don't capsize while surf canoeing, banging your head along the bottom and managing to wind yourself in the process. Don't then fumble in the inky blackness trying to find the loop only to panic and use up what little air you have left, even more quickly.

If you must do this, don't do any of this miles away from the rest of the group and only managing to escape with you life by punching through the yak deck (somehow ripping through the material and allowing water to flood in and you to be able to remove the yak deck and get out). Then staggering into the shallows before collapsing, leaving a kindly passer by to retrieve your canoe and paddle.

I wish someone had told me this when I was younger.

[Luckypants]

War stories, love em!

"blah, blah massive stopper,.... blah, blah 12 meter drop, blah, blah, hand roll, bla blah, strainer,, blah, blah, mad fisherman, blah, blah, off home for tea and medals...." They get scarier as time / beer wears on.

(ohh forget to mention helicoptors, all the best ones have them! )

I dont want to derail, but this seems opportune to ask this q

..I fancy one of these for popping in the car boot etc. I know wont be as good as a real one but look mighty convenient for taking off places for a lake type bimble


Any good??

Originally Posted by Luckypants

War stories, love em!

"blah, blah massive stopper,.... blah, blah 12 meter drop, blah, blah, hand roll, bla blah, strainer,, blah, blah, mad fisherman, blah, blah, off home for tea and medals...." They get scarier as time / beer wears on.

(ohh forget to mention helicoptors, all the best ones have them! )

ha ha ha. Rips. Helicopters. Almost lost consciousness. A must for every paddler's story.

My wife regales folk twice nightly about her near death experience, which was similar enough to Ceri's there above.
With one crucial difference. Somehow she got it into her head that when someone said to her "wait.... pull the deck cord and you will be fine" she thought that fine meant the kayak would pop itself back up again.
So she gives it a bit of a pull.
Still capsised.
Another pull. Nothing. PULL PULL PULL. Nada.
AHHHHH PANIX KICK KICK KICK.

She swears this was over the course of "at least a minute", I was standing next to her though, and it would say 10 seconds... max.
Anyway... that was her, done with paddling for that day.

What I always like... is when you are surfing, and the break is a bit big, and you get yourself into the rip to motor out past it, but you mistime your run.
Paddle paddle paddle.
Big wave... bigger bigger...
PADDLE PADDLE PADDLE!!
WAVE GETS A BIT VERTICAL...
Paddle paddle...? .... Ahhhh Bolli..CRUMP.
Cartwheel time! Yaaay.
Crump Crump crump.

Or, if you are cool (read lucky) you can surf it backwards. And try and let on that you meant to do that all the time. And then capsize.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Dr Rich

I dont want to derail, but this seems opportune to ask this q

..I fancy one of these for popping in the car boot etc. I know wont be as good as a real one but look mighty convenient for taking off places for a lake type bimble


Any good??

Can't make out the manufacturer, can you tell me? My lad works in a shop that sells loads of inflatable sit on tops, so will ask him when he gets back - Sunday cos he's gone boating in Nottingham.

In general inflatable sit on tops are loads of fun. Great for a bimble about, play in small surf and even running reasonable (up to grade IV IMO) rapids. Again, get bouyancy aids. If kids involved get bouyancy aids that fit properly and not too big.

If you want to try one on white water, they do 'Orca' experience days at Canolfan Tryweryn near Bala. 'Orca' is the name of the type of craft they use.

If you go somewhere hot, or its summer.
Lots sunscreen on your hands. Trust me on this one.

Dan

It was a Sevylor from here
http://www.brighton-canoes.co.uk/inflatables.htm
I saw someone with one on the Wye (bimbling) and thought what a parctical idea.