Boating Law Facts

How To Get Into Your Kayak

Getting into a kayak such as the Ocean Kayak Scrambler safely and without getting wet can be more challenging than you think and every single kayaker irrespective of their degree of expertise will experience troubles from time to time. There are a number of actions you can take to minimise the risk of ending up soaking wet before you even launch your kayak. Apart from the embarassment you’ll feel, if you finish up in the water without your kayak, you can also damage your kayak if you fail to launch it correctly into the water.

Choosing a place that is free of rocks, calm and in shallow water is an important first step. Whether you prefer to get into your kayak, whilst its on land or already put in the water is something you will then need to decide on. An option, if you are using a short plastic sea, recreational or whitewater kayak such as the Pungo 120 is to get into the kayak whilst on land and push off from the ground, sliding the kayak into the water. Whilst keeping a paddle in the kayak or in your hand, just search for a spot on the ground or a level rock to locate your kayak, then climb in and push your way into the water.

You’ll want to follow these steps if you prefer to climb into your kayak when it’s already in the water:-

1. Place the kayak in the water with the front (bow) first ensuring you keep a hand on the back (stern) grab loop. Make certain the cockpit area of the kayak is in water that is suitably shallow to stand in.
2. Hold your paddle and walk along the side of the kayak to the cockpit area. Assuming you are getting into the kayak from the left side (you can get in either side), make certain your right (free) hand maintains contact with it at all times.
3. Place the paddle perpendicular to the kayak close behind the seat up against the cockpit’s rim. Then put your right hand (the closest hand) across the kayak and on to the paddle. Your fingers need to be holding the cockpit rim whilst your right hand’s palm will need to be on the paddle. Make certain you keep the kayak steady.
4. Place your right leg into the kayak and in place. Shift your rear end and weight over the kayak whilst your left foot remains on the ground.
5. Now take the paddle with your left hand and it should be behind your back. Place your rear on the back of the kayak and sit down on the cockpit’s back.
6. Steady yourself on the kayak with your two hands grasping the paddle on both sides of your body, with your right foot on the kayak’s floor. Now bring your other leg into the kayak and you’re ready to go.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 16th, 2012 at 10:34 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. The entry is tagged under ocean kayak, ocean kayak scrambler, pungo 120, wilderness systems kayaks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.