You
will find that BC's coastal waters are
filled with interesting marine wildlife.
The shoreline, though rugged in spots,
is very inviting with opportunities to
enjoy the many sandy beaches and natural
hot springs, to visit the quaint fishing
villages and ancient aboriginal sites.
There are countless different sea kayaking
excursions you can take, they vary from
short day trips to lengthy two week jaunts.
They also differ in the degree of difficulty
from the novice to the very experienced
kayaker.
Before
venturing out into the water, there are
some simple things every kayaker should
know and follow. They include, understanding
the sea condition, paying attention to
weather forecasts, to comprehend and be
able to handle the equipment and to know
your limitations.
The first and most important thing you
should do if you plan to sea kayak, is
to take a course from a qualified instructor,
learn all you can about this recreational
sport, be aware of the hazards and practice
your techniques, self rescues and assisted
rescues. Something else you should do,
is join a sea kayaking club. To learn
all about the conditions of a region,
talk to kayak equipment dealers in that
part of the country. Safety should always
be the main concern.
Type of Kayak:
The importance of having the right kayak
that suits your wants and needs cannot
be over stated, your equipment can make
all the difference in the world. There
is a difference between river and sea
kayaks. The boat, that is going to take
you out on the sea, will have to stand
up to the severity of the weather, waves,
hazardous rockbound beaches and landing
sites and it must be able to carry your
gear. If you want speed from your boat,
then the narrow or special purpose single
seater is the kayak to purchase. Should
stability and load capacity be more important,
you want a general touring designed single
or double kayak.
On open waters, the narrower or special
purpose kayak tips easier, meaning the
paddler must be prepared for rolling but
it does give you speed. The general touring
types are shorter than the narrow ones,
with more storage room and stability,
they tend to be the more popular choice.
There are a number of designs that do
a cross over with features from the two
different types. Still another design
is the collapsible kayak, which has its
pros and cons. Great if you are an apartment
dweller or short of shortage space, but
can be more difficult to maintain and
will need to be assembled every time you
want to use it. Less expensive than the
collapsible kayaks are inflatable ones.
Seat and Paddle:
The type of seat you have on your kayak
is a personal preference, so shop around
and find the one that suits your needs.
When choosing the type of paddle you need,
there are a few things to keep in mind,
such as the length which is a personal
preference. You can purchase wooden or
synthetic paddles, the choice is yours.
Other points to be considered are whether
you want a feathered or an unfeathered
paddle and the blade shape of your paddle
depends what type of paddling you will
be doing.
Necessary
Miscellaneous Items:
Other items that should be considered
are rudders and skegs, built-in buoyancy,
bulkheads and hatches, spray skirts and
spray decks, waterproof storage container
and every boat should carry a repair kit.
This kit should contain essentials like
patching deck material, an assortment
of nuts, bolts, clamps, rivets and screws,
a tool kit that consists of needle-nosed
pliers ,a screw driver, hack saw, waterproof
glue, copper wire, and duct tape.
Safety Equipment:
Safety equipment is a must! Everyone in
a boat must have a life jacket or a personal
floating devise (PFD), this is the law.
Pumps and bailers are also necessary.
Each boat should be equipped with flares,
lights and reflectors. Other safety items
include a waterproof flashlight, for weather
forecasts you need a transistor radio,
for contacting ship or shore and other
persons in your group carry a VHF radio,
for which you will need a license. Have
tow line, rigged and ready for use. Carry
a safety helmet for rough seas. Essential
are drogues and sea chutes, some people
also carry anchors.
Clothing:
The type of clothing you wear when paddling
makes a big difference. Your outer garments
should be waterproof and windproof, such
as a drysuit or a wetsuit, your inside
layers should be light clothing of wool
or polypropylene. Footwear can be rubber
boots or wet suit booties. For cooler,
rainy weather you will need pogies or
gloves.
Planning:
Every last detail should be planned, before
you start out on your sea kayaking trip.
Whether paddling with a small group or
a larger one, pre-trip daily planning
should be a must. That way everyone knows
where to go and where to meet, should
the group be separately for any reason.
Learn all you can about the waters you
plan to paddle and discuss your trip,
listen to weather forecasts, pay heed
to the winds and be completely aware of
your sea kayaking experience and knowledge.
Practice your rescue techniques, do them
over and over, until they become second
nature. When trouble hits on the water,
fast thinking can save your life or that
of a companion. There are a number of
different rescue methods, you should know
and practice each and everyone.
Navigating:
All sea kayakers should have at least
basic navigational skills, should know
how to read charts and how to handle and
read a compass. You should wear a diver's
watch to calculate distances at sea. A
radio direction finder (RDF) can be very
useful and when in open water a sextant
can be a necessity. You should also be
versed at reading the sea, pay attention
to ocean waves, the swells, the breakers,
waves and wind speed, tides and currents.
Learn all you can about sea kayaking and
remember the hazards. Be safe, have fun!
Book
a Sea Kayaking Adventure
The
following BC Adventure Network members invite you to adventure
with them:
Vancouver Island
Spirit of the West Adventures: We offer sea kayaking tours to the Johnstone Strait & the largest pods of killer whales on the BC coast – Desolation Sound, Quadra Island, & Campbell River - & guided excursions to explore ancient native villages. Set a course for a one of a kind wilderness... more
