Sea kayaking equipment

The Best Sea Kayak

A pod of paddlers stood next to their well-crafted carbon-fiber sea kayaks, disdaining the plastic sit-on-top fishing kayak taking off from the beach. “Do you call that a sea kayak?” one tittered. Another chimed in: “Ha! Looks more like a kiddie wading pool.” Still another said, “I bet that cost under $500—brand new!” They sniggered as the fisherman waded knee deep into the small surf, plopped his butt onto his seat, and began paddling slowly toward the breakers. He timed the first breaker wrong and fell out of his boat to snorts and muted howls of laughter from the owners of the cool kayaks. But the fisherman hung on to his craft, and when the turbulence subsided, he crawled back on and continued his journey through the surf. Eventually he made it outside and disappeared around the bend.

rec kayak — Sit-on-top recreational kayaks are often used by newbie paddlers in calm waters. Here we see a lady without a PFD escorting her dog across the lake.

With dismay mingled with pride for the fisherman, I watched the little drama unfold as I stood next to my truck in the parking lot. I had planned to embark from this very beach. “Too crowded,” I said to myself and drove to another put-in a mile away. As I hauled my Tsunami X-15 off my rack and carried it to the sand, I wondered, “Would those guys laugh at me behind my back because I also paddle a sit-on-top, although mine’s made of Kevlar instead of rotomolded plastic?” My X-15, designed by Glenn Gilchrist and Jim Kakuk, is an ocean rock garden kayak made tough to be played with rough, carry a bunch of gear, and still go pretty darn fast. I love it. But I reminded myself, like all boats, it can’t do everything….

Tsunami X15s and one X2 — Tsunami Rangers with Tsunami X-15 and an X-2 tandem, ready for surf and rock action

This event occurred seven years ago, but I never forgot the air of arrogance emanating from the paddlers with the genuine kayaks. In the past three years, I’ve attended three major sea kayaking symposia in different locales. All three times I noticed a dearth of sit-on-top kayaks, though there were plenty of plastic, fiberglass and exotic layups of modern sea kayaks around. There were a few gorgeous wooden kayaks and some useful folding kayaks about but not one sit-on-top. “That is odd,” I mused, because sit-on-top recreational kayaks are everywhere. I don’t have the stats, but would wager that there are more sit-on-top rec kayaks around than the traditional kind. Yet, you never see traditional kayakers hanging with sit-on-toppers. It seems to me that rec kayakers should be welcomed into the sea kayaking community. Though regular sea kayakers have a lot of knowledge to share, sit-on-toppers can also contribute a lot.

Then you have the surf skiers. These guys paddle sit-on-tops with a winning attitude. The surf skis’ long, sleek hulls make them look like racing machines—and they are. Most surf skiers I know are fantastic paddlers in excellent shape. I’m proud to say I’m friends of John Dixon, who designs and races in surf skis, and Don Kiesling, who designs and builds surf ski rudders and also races. For more information on surf skis check out https://tsunamirangers.com/2011/01/26/surfski-racing-part-one/.

Similar to surf skis are outrigger canoes whose paddlers are also in tip-top shape. You can see these guys in singles, doubles, and multiple paddling options out on the open ocean in Hawaii, but you won’t see anyone snickering at them as the canoeists zoom by. They don’t hang out with regular sea kayakers, but it would be a boon for all if they did. Though I’ve paddled canoes in rivers, I’ve yet to experience an outrigger canoe in the ocean. Someday….

SUPkayak — Two Tsunami X-15s accompany an SUP at sea

Now the latest craze is the SUP, the stand-up paddleboard, which looks like a fat surfboard with a guy standing up and propelling himself with a long paddle—sort of like traditional Hawaiian surfers did ages ago. Ranging in price from $400 for an entry-level SUP to $1800 for a pro model, the popular SUPs are turning the paddling world on its head. A guy named Dave Cornthwaite just paddled an SUP 2,404 miles! SUPs are here to stay.

Wave ski action — Misha Dynnikov on a wave ski at Ross' Cove

Before SUPs were wave skis, a paddling craft which hit the market in in the 1970s with designs by venerated watermen such as Merv Larson and Dick Wold. Wave skis look like oversized boogie boards, but paddlers surfing them can really rip on the waves. Wave skis are definitely fun.

Michael Powers age 71 by Steve King — Michael Powers, age 71, in his trusty old river kayak at Pillar Point

Surf kayaks, surf shoes, and good ole slalom river boats do the same job as a wave ski, but the rider gets to stay comfy inside, with a spray skirt keeping the water out. In 1980 I first tried a fiberglass Dekadense river kayak in the surf (designed and built by Jim Kakuk), and then later branched out to Perception Mirages and Dancers, and various whitewater playboats over the years. I greatly enjoyed trying out a Rhino surf shoe built by Doug Schwartz a few years ago. Nowadays, I use a Tsunami X-O Crossover sit-on-top slalom kayak in surf.

And lest we forget, there is the ubiquitous inflatable kayak, which has got to be the slowest form of propulsion at sea, but holds a lot of gear, can be carried on a plane, and is stable as the Rock of Gibraltar. If it’s good enough for Audrey Sutherland, one of the world’s best sea kayakers, it’s good enough for me. I have enjoyed paddling inflatables in surf, on an overnight ocean expedition, and of course going down rivers.

Alaska canoe — Native American ocean-going canoes are still used today

Also here to stay, as they have for thousands of years, are traditional ocean paddling craft, ranging from sea-going Chinese dragon boats to giant waka canoes paddled by the Maori in New Zealand to big coastal native American canoes. All are still paddled to this day. A few years ago we Tsunami Rangers met some Chumash canoeists who paddled in a traditional canoe from the California mainland out to Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands. We were impressed with the paddlers and their sturdy boat.

baidarka and derek by Nordby — On the left is a baidarka built by George Dyson and a British-designed kayak paddled by a young bloke named Derek Hutchinson

I’m very happy that modern craftsmen are making Aleut baidarkas and Inuit kayaks using modern fabrics (instead of seal skins), and other native sea boats made of reeds or dug out trees. It’s very interesting to watch such beautiful boats in action, and they are a real joy to paddle. Baidarkas, for instance, are not only historically interesting, but are fast and sleek, can be used in surf and rocks (with care!), are perfect for expeditions, come in a variety of designs, and undulate with the water, which makes you feel united with the sea.

Kim_at_skook — A Hurricane Rider plies white water at Skookumchuck in a sea kayak. A skilled mariner can paddle just about any boat in any condition

All in all, we can see that it’s a wide world of boats out there, and they are all good, and all have their place. Someday I’d like to go to a symposium and see ocean-going boaters of all stripes joyfully interacting with each other and enjoying the plethora of paddling craft. There are so many new things happening in paddling designs. New materials, new designs, new uses for kayaks and similar craft. Just the other day I saw a photo of a river kayak with a hydrofoil attached to the bottom of the hull. I was intrigued, to say the least, and look forward to seeing and trying new stuff such as hydrofoils. Why not?

Lest you think I’m a dreamer, I leave you with these immortal words written by Kenneth Grahame and spoken by Water Rat in The Wind in the Willows: “Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

What types of ocean boats do you paddle? What would you like to paddle? Have you invented a new type of paddling boat or designed a boat? Please share your “messing about in boats” stories and musings by commenting below this post.

Camo Your Camp

How Sea Kayakers Can Blend in at the Beach

Dayglo orange is the color to wear when camping at 14,000 feet on Mt. McKinley. You want to be highly visible against the snow should you need rescue. And it’s legal to camp in the mountains, so there is no problem with bright colors. But on the beach, where camping is often frowned upon, especially in California, you should not draw unwanted attention by the constable. The solution? Camo. Camo your camp, your body, your gear, your tent, even your boat. Here’s how.

Camo your gear — Gear bags should blend in with the surroundings.

It’s easy to camouflage your body. You can wear desert camo, which can be purchased at dime stores, or you can make your own camo clothing, as I do, or even wear aloha shirts with beach scenes printed on them. When it’s warm, you can blend in by wearing hardly anything at all, ahem. Your gear bags can be neutral colors such as sand, grey, and brown, or be a mossy oak or desert camo pattern. It’s up to you.

Camo your tent2 — Brightly colored tents can be covered with camo to look like a mossy rock or a bush.

Tents are big and must blend in with sand, rocks, and driftwood. It’s tough to find a reasonably priced camo tent in colors other than woodland, so the answer is to cover your tent with a camo tarp or netting, or to do like I did and spray paint your tent and tarps an appropriate camo color. If you place rocks and driftwood around your tent, it should fit in fairly well with the surroundings.

Camo your boats2 — The white-hulled boat looks like a bleached log and the other kayak is covered with camo.

Sea kayaks are another matter entirely. First, don’t leave them on the sandy part of the beach, where they are highly visible. Instead, haul them up to the driftwood zone and place them so they look like logs. There aren’t a lot of camo kayaks available, but some have white hulls which look like bleached logs from a distance. You can add camo netting to make them blend in better. As you can see from the photo below, using rocks, driftwood and brushy material is an excellent boat camouflage. How many boats do you think are in the picture? That’s right—two!

Camo your boats — These two gaudily-colored 16-foot kayaks are well camouflaged using natural materials.

Camp fires are problematic on beaches which do not permit fires. The best and safest plan is to forgo a fire. When it is legal, make a small fire that is not easily seen, and remove all traces afterward. Be sure to clean up your camp and make it so the next high tide removes any trace of footprints. Now that’s keeping a low profile.

Dave Whalen makes a small fire — In the evening, Dave Whalen slices driftwood to build an inconspicuous camp fire.

I am not advocating that you camp on a beach where it is illegal, though it is possible I may have done it a couple of times in my life. I don’t remember…. Regrettably, many of the beautiful wild beaches in California and elsewhere in the U.S. have strict no-camping policies (except in designated pay campgrounds, away from the beach, full of cars driving by, people shouting, dogs barking, music blaring, garbage stinking, generators droning—all the stuff we hate). This is a shame because it is typically okay to camp in the mountains, or on BLM or National Forest land. Why can we not legally camp on a secluded beach?

Even when camping at a legal beach (such as on the Lost Coast), it is fun to practice blending in with your surroundings, and making it so others are unaware of your presence. Anyway, who wants to look at a garish orange tent? Not me.

What do you think? Is it wrong to camp on a pristine wilderness beach if the authorities say no? What do you do to reduce your visibility on the coastline? Do you have a beach camping story to share? Please post your comments below.

Sea Kayaking as a Martial Art?

Sea kayaking is a lot like martial arts. The judo principles of “balance, leverage, and momentum” are needed in ocean adventure kayaking. In judo, you want to keep your balance while your opponent loses his. While kayaking, you definitely want to stay up and not fall over. Right?

a front choke — Professor Bob McKean uses leverage to choke Jesse Ellis

Leverage is used in judo to obtain mechanical advantage, as seen in chokes and joint locks. Kayakers leverage by proper use of the paddle and rudder for speed and ease of maneuvering.

Troy Shehorn uses James Savage's momentum to throw him with an advanced jujitsu technique

In judo, aikido, tai chi, and other martial arts, the opponent’s momentum is used to throw or manipulate him. Likewise, kayakers use the momentum of breaking surf to get a good ride. In martial arts and kayaking, the three judo principles used in concert should produce maximum effect using minimum effort.

Body, Mind, and Spirit

Common among all martial arts is the building of a strong and supple body through the physical act of practicing, lots of practicing. In execution of techniques, typical martial arts are more anaerobic and explosive, and typical sea kayaking is more aerobic in that a person may paddle several miles at a given pace. However, paddling in waves and rocks is more like a martial art in that quick, agile, and aggressive moves follow stillness.

Control of one’s mind is essential in martial arts and kayaking. In tai chi, yi (the mind) pushes chi (energy) through the body as desired. I do the same thing when kayaking in ocean whitewater. Occasionally, while kayaking, I need to perform an almost superhuman feat, and my calm mind directs my energy to burst through a huge breaking wave. My mind dissipates fear and concentrates force in martial arts and in kayaking.

Eric Soares Surf Kung Fu — Eric Soares develops ki and shin in the surf zone

But without shin (spirit), mind and body would be adrift in both martial arts and kayaking. Shin is fighting spirit. It’s the spark that motivates the Muay Thai boxer to rally and win after taking a beating. It’s the impetus that impels a kayaker who loses his boat in storm surf to keep swimming to safety when his body wants to surrender. Advanced martial artists constantly work on upping their spirit. We kayakers should work on this more. A strong spirit imbues you with courage. Without courage, kayakers are afraid to take risks—afraid of surf, storms, and rock gardens.

Techniques and Equipment

Techniques are usually emphasized in martial arts. For example, in jujitsu, there are myriad ways of throwing someone, choking, or locking joints—or combining these. In the jujitsu system I study, we have over 20 lists with about 20 techniques on each, with numerous variations for each technique. Even something simple like karate’s forward kick has dozens of ways it can be done. You can kick from your front or back foot and can aim high for the head or chest, low for the knee or shin, or anywhere in between. You can snap your kick for impact or thrust your kick to push your opponent backwards. You can forward kick once or multiple times with one leg or both legs and contact with the heel, the instep, or the ball of the foot. And the list goes on.

Kayaking, in contrast, has fewer techniques. We have forward and back paddling strokes, sweeps, pries, sculls and draws, and a few others. But in ocean whitewater, you combine these into ninja strokes and constantly switch from a forward power stroke to a hanging draw to a quick pry to a bow rudder—and that’s just to stay in one position behind a wash rock for five seconds. We also have rolls, rescues, and navigation methods, but in general martial systems are more comprehensive than kayaking.

Stick fighting in the Tule River — Lieven Leroy and Lawrence To practice stick fighting in the Tule River

Many martial styles have uniforms (e.g., a judo gi), protection (such as pads, mouth guards, and kendo armor), and weapons (which range from samurai swords, knives, halberds, staffs and sticks to iron fans and throwing stars). Kayaking is even more equipment dependent (boats, paddles, life jackets, protective clothing, and ancillary gadgets and gizmos). My personal belief is that if you are a dedicated martial artist or kayaker, technique is more important than equipment. Otherwise, if you want to stay safe on the streets, carry a machine gun. Why practice kicks and holds for decades? If you want to stay safe on the water, ride the ferry. Why tire your body in a tiny boat?

The Main Advantage of Each Discipline

The biggest advantage of martial arts is that it permeates every aspect of your life. Good martial artists pay attention in all situations, are ready for action at any time, and apply martial principles to everyday situations. “Wax on, wax off, grasshopper.” For sea kayakers, taking up a martial art (hwarang do, krav maga, wing chun, iaido, bagua, silat—any martial art) in earnest will vastly improve your kayaking. You will be more disciplined, more in command of your body, more alert, and braver. The force will be with you.

The main advantage of sea kayaking in perilous conditions (as the Tsunami Rangers do) is that it is life and death. On the mat, though we practice dangerous techniques such as neck breaking, we are v-e-r-y careful. Training partners are so expensive. Even “no holds barred” contests have safety rules such as no eye gouging. But the sea cares not for your safety. It will come up behind you and wham! It will hit you again and again, even after you have expired. Every instant you kayak in cold, turbulent water with rocks sticking up you risk your life. Only you can save it.

Wave Warrior on the Reef — Eric Soares tests his mettle in white water on an ocean reef

And that is why whitewater sea kayaking is a martial art. It gives practitioners a chance to act with abandon in dangerous circumstances. In today’s world, you can’t just go out and engage in a real sword duel to prove your mettle. But you can test yourself on the water. It’s still legal. For martial artists, taking up whitewater kayaking or another dynamic life-and-death activity (e.g, bull riding) in earnest will let you experience the fear and thrill of living on the edge. You will no longer doubt if you can defend yourself in a real situation. You will know you can.

(Thanks to martial sea kayakers Wayne Hanley and John Kirk-Anderson for their thoughts and inspiration, and to Troy Shehorn, a consummate martial artist and a heckuva river rafter).

If you are a martial artist or sea kayaker, please post your comments or questions on this column by pushing the comments button directly below and sharing your thoughts.

I merely skimmed the surface of martial arts, so please feel free to add in whatever I missed or messed up on.

After a day of kayaking, Eric Soares and Dave Whalen spend the evening practicing martial arts

Surfski Racing, part one

(Special blog post from Don Kiesling, Tsunami Rangers officer)

Racing is a fun and effective way to improve your paddling skills. In order to go fast, you must hone both your technique and your fitness. Your improved stroke and athleticism will carry over to all of your paddling endeavors. Additionally, you may want to improve your speed by using a surfski. Racing skis are tippier than recreational (cruising / exploring / rock bashing) kayaks, and you will spend many hours improving your balance so that you can focus on paddling and not bracing. Again, improved skill will benefit every paddling outing, making you more comfortable on the water. Finally, races are fun social events, where you can meet many talented and enthusiastic paddlers.

Don Kiesling paddles surfski — Don works on paddling technique in his surfski

The racing stroke may seem one-dimensional – just a forward stroke over and over again. However, there are many nuances, and one can spend a lifetime on mastery. Each person has to figure out the best method for applying maximum power. Not only on each individual stroke, but over the course of a workout or race, your technique may need to vary. Other examples of when you may change your stroke are in winds, currents, or while drafting another kayak. It’s best to find an experienced paddler or coach to help you identify your optimal technique. Once you’ve spent time practicing it, you will start to figure out how to paddle effectively in the aforementioned conditions.

Although most kayakers are fit from lots of paddling and other sports, your first race will probably be a humbling experience in both watching the top racers speed away from you, and in feeling the fatigue overcome your limbs and lungs. It’s not uncommon to feel “gassed” after the furious first few minutes, and then realize that you’ve got 5, 10, or more miles to go! Don’t worry, it gets easier in subsequent races as your training base builds, your efficiency improves, and you learn the best way to pace yourself. If you’ve trained for other types of racing (running, cycling, swimming, etc.) you may already know some protocols for achieving race-level fitness. If not, you should research this and/or talk to a coach. The basics include building a fitness base with a few months of moderate-intensity paddling and technique work. Then you progress to speed work and race simulation-type efforts. You can also benefit from strength and mobility work, which are great for the off-season.

Drafting surfskis — Surfskiers draft to save energy

What is drafting? As in other sports, there can be a significant advantage to being just behind or adjacent to another racer. As a kayak moves forward, the displaced water creates a wave. Another kayak can be positioned on this wave so that it’s pointed slightly downhill, reducing the resistance. In effect, the second kayak is surfing a small wave! The downhill orientation is nearly imperceptible, but the decreased resistance is very obvious. Drafting effectively takes practice, though, so it’s best to practice with a friend before attempting it in a race. You have to find the right position, and especially avoid bumping the boat in front or allowing the front paddler’s paddle to hit your boat. Drafting is only effective in flat or light upwind conditions. In rough conditions and especially downwind, it’s best to use the natural waves to your advantage and find your own line. Finally, be sure to check a race’s rules regarding drafting. Sometimes it’s allowed, sometimes not, and sometimes with restrictions (e.g., only draft boats in your class).

pt-diablo — Racers brave waves breaking on rocks

If you haven’t tried a surfski, it might feel weird at first because you don’t use your legs and knees in the same way for boat control. Your contact points are simply your butt, hips, and feet. Although it’s different from a decked kayak, it’s not more difficult, and with some practice you will be feeling comfortable before long. The benefits of surfskis over decked boats include the ease and safety of a simple re-mount procedure in the case of capsize, the simplicity of not needing a spray skirt, the encouragement to dress for the water temperature because you get splashed, and the ergonomic setup for a powerful paddling stroke. However, every surfski is shaped differently and you may have to try several before you find one that feels comfortable.

bonita-buoy — A surfski is at home in big swells

Top-of-the-line surfskis are roughly 21 feet long by 17 inches wide, with a fairly round hull shape. Therefore, while extremely fast, they’re very tippy for most racing novices, and you aren’t fast when you’re bracing to stay upright! However, the surfski market has recently exploded with designs that are more forgiving due to shorter length, more width, and in some cases, a flatter bottom. A classic mistake is to buy an expert ski, and to struggle with balance for the first few months or years. Some paddlers have quit the sport, and many others have greatly hindered their progress, by trying to start with a surfski that’s too far beyond their abilities. Most novices would be wise to start with a more stable model. As a rough guide, a surfski that is at least 19 inches wide will be a good starting point for experienced kayakers. In some cases, paddlers master their first boat, and then upgrade to a top-of-the-line model later. While some may need to sell that first ski to finance the second, it’s great to hold onto the first one for “big water” days, or to loan to friends who may be itching to try racing. Fortunately, there is a big market for beginner surfskis and they hold their value.

surfski easy to carry — A lightweight surfski is easy to carry

Surfskis are almost always lighter than touring kayaks. Lighter is faster! But the result is that they’re also more fragile. You may be used to running your kayak up onto a beach, or chucking it onto car or garage racks, but you’ll want to baby your racing surfski a little more. Alternatively, get up to speed on doing your own repairs, because composite repair is expensive! This is not to say that surfskis are insufficiently built for their intended use. Just get used to launching and landing in a foot or two of water when possible, and plan to transport and store your ski on foam cradles, or something similar.

Hopefully you’re now stoked to try surfski paddling for fun, fitness, or racing glory! The next article will have more information about racing and finding the good races, so racers: Start your engines!

Please feel free to post your comments and questions just below this article. Don or I will respond where appropriate.

To receive my weekly post, just enter your name, click on the “subscribe” button (near top of right column) and you’ll be notified of each new post. -Eric

Swimmer First, Kayaker Second?

Exactly 25 years ago I wrote my first kayaking article called “Survival Swimming”, which was published in SEA KAYAKER Magazine. I thank editors Bea and John Dowd for having faith in me to write an article worthy of their magazine.

I’ve experienced a lot and learned some things since then. The other day I mused, how do I feel today about swimming versus kayaking? Which skill is more essential? Back then I was taken aback at the dearth of sea kayakers who were competent swimmers or even wore wetsuits or drysuits in cold water. Back then, I definitely believed that swimming was more important than kayaking. Upon 25 years of reflection, today I still believe that swimming is more important than kayaking. Let me ‘splain.

Dozens of kayakers have told me they don’t plan on capsizing when they go kayaking (who does?), which they use as an excuse to not dress for immersion and to have faith that nominal or even nonexistent swimming skill is okay. Then you read the sea kayaking accident reports: time and time again the kayaking victims got cold and could not swim, with often fatal results. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

N12mears08 — Nancy enjoys a refreshing swim in a cool creek on a hot day

Learn to Swim Well

If you are not a competent swimmer (i.e., cannot swim 500 meters in rough water), this winter is a good time to hone your swimming skills. If you already know how to do the crawl, breast stroke, side stroke, and back stroke, then just work on improving your form while increasing your swimming stamina (which keeps you in kayaking shape). That’s what I do. Each stroke has its strengths. Use the crawl for speed, breast stroke in a following sea, back stroke against waves, and side stroke with your face away from the waves when moving perpendicular to wind.

If you have trouble with one or more of those four strokes, then go to a heated pool and have an instructor teach you (e.g., community colleges, the Red Cross, and YMCA offer inexpensive classes, or you can find an underemployed swim team member to coach you). In a few weeks you should have the basics down and be ready to practice in rougher water.

As the seasons turn and the sun warms up the water, practice distance swimming in a local lake and engage in adventure swimming in nearby creeks and rivers. And don’t forget to swim in the sea (this winter you could book a vacation to Hawaii, the Caribbean, or perhaps Australia where the water is warm right now). As I look out at my snowy yard, I dream of the Bay of Islands in New Zealand (I’ll do a blog post on it in a few weeks).

Eric swims backstroke with paddle — I'm swimming backstroke with the paddle--and it's easy!

Be sure to practice swimming with your paddle. Should you tip over and lose your boat in the wind, current, or surf (it can happen!), you definitely don’t want to be up the creek without a paddle.

Dress for Immersion

Sea kayaking attire is a personal thing. One cannot tell a kayaker what to wear while paddling. So let me just say this: dress for the water, not the air. “But what if I get too hot?” someone always asks. Roll a couple of times, and you will cool off. What? Can’t roll? Ah, another skill to master.

Eric Soares w Danger sign at Mavericks — Eric is dressed for the conditions at Mavericks

The main thing is to suss out the conditions you will paddle in, and then dress appropriately. In the photo above, taken last week at Pillar Point where the infamous Mavericks wave resides, I’m wearing the gear I will need to paddle in 50F water and air, 15-knot winds, 5-foot waves, and sharp rocks. For warmth I’m wearing a full, custom-made wetsuit; two thin neoprene scull caps, one with a visor; neoprene divers’ booties with a hard gripping sole to protect my feet from urchins and sharp rocks; and thin neoprene gloves.

For impact protection I’m wearing a helmet and a special PFD (personal flotation device) that has 15 pounds of buoyancy and Kevlar sides and back—in case I get hit by a boat or a rock. The PFD also provides a bit of warmth. Note that I do not depend upon my PFD to “keep me afloat” until help arrives should I capsize and lose my boat (a real possibility in these conditions). A PFD is an accessory that will assist you in floating, but will not keep your face out of the water if you are unconscious or numb (either from impact, hypothermia, injury or illness) in rough water.

Test Clothing, Accessories, and Swimming Skill in the Water

Before you take off in your kayak, always evaluate yourself in the water, without your boat. If you will be paddling in calm cool water on a pleasant day, don’t trust the illusion that it’s “mild outside” so you don’t need to test the waters. Just wade out and swim around for about three minutes or so, no big deal. Does your anorak fill up with water and impede your mobility? Uh oh—better put on your drysuit. Does your drysuit leak? Better adjust that zipper right now. Your head is cold? Put on the neoprene hood stuffed at the bottom of your gear bag. Your rubber boots fill up with water and make it almost impossible to tread water? Swap the boots for those extra thick divers’ booties. PFD hike up around your face? Readjust it or try out the spare.

rough swim at Pillar Point — Eric swimming where he will kayak--on the reef at Pillar Point

In the photo above, taken a week ago at Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay, California, I’m swimming in the surf and rocks where I plan to paddle. It turned out that after five minutes of body surfing on the reef, I was still warm and my gear worked. I played with my kayak in the rocks behind me in the picture. Yay!

I leave you with these words of wisdom, spoken by the late storm sea kayaking king, Steve Sinclair: “Kayaking is an in-water sport!”

Comments, questions? Here’s an assignment for you: Inventory your kayaking apparel. Is it truly adequate for the conditions in which you paddle? How do you know? Oh yes, please share your kayak swimming stories, good and bad.