Carrying a Sea Kayak by Yourself

"Oh, my aching back!"

If you've ever had to carry your sea kayak by yourself, you've no doubt uttered those words more than once yourself. The best way to move a sea kayak is with two people, of course, but that's not always possible. Sooner or later you'll find yourself having to carry your boat alone, and if you want to avoid an unnecessary back strain, you need to learn the right lifting techniques.

Now bear in mind that even if you use the proper techniques, you could still end up injuring yourself, especially if you have a heavy kayak. If you have a history of back problems, or you're getting older (like I am), you might look into one of the kayak rolling systems now on the market. These two-wheeled carts work over all types of terrain, and they can certainly be a life (and back) saver, especially if you do a lot of sea kayaking alone.

If you do end up lugging your sea kayak by yourself, the first thing to remember is to keep your back as straight as possible. Bending at the waist should be avoided, as this puts the most strain on your lower back. The trick is to get the boat up on your shoulders without having to bend over to lift it.

One technique I've heard of, and practiced, is to stand next to the kayak, near the bow end. Then squat down, with one knee bent forward to serve as a platform, and the other knee on the ground for stability.

The next step is to roll the kayak on its edge, then lift it up and rest it on your thigh (the one forming the platform). Then, once you have it balanced, pull up on the cockpit coaming with two hands and slide the kayak up your leg while at the same time rolling it onto it's edge, with the open cockpit facing you. Place your arm that's closest to the kayak into the cockpit opening, and rest the coaming on your shoulder.

Once the kayak is properly positioned, you can stand up, while still maintaining your straight back. You may have to adjust the weight on your shoulder to find a good balance point. Another tip is to perform this maneuver while wearing your PFD, which will provide extra padding against the coaming edge, which can be sharp on some boats.

Now you're ready to move down to your launching point. One problem often encountered is caused by the wind, which can toss your boat around like a sail. If you run into this problem, you can straighten your arm out inside the cockpit to help stabilize it.

To lower the kayak back to the ground, you simply reverse the process. Keeping your back straight, squat onto a knee, while at the same time forming a platform with your other leg. Roll the kayak so that it's again resting on your thigh. Then, with both hands on the coaming, slide it down your leg and back onto the ground.

While the newer kevlar and other composite boats are lighter and easier to carry, they can still be quite heavy if they're loaded up with all your gear. To avoid this problem, you'll probably want to empty your boat, then pack it with your gear when you're at your launching area.

Again, if this sounds like a lot of work (and it is), you'd be smart to invest in a good rolling cart system. Or if you're paddling with friends, use the buddy system and take turns helping each other down to the water with your boats.

Believe me, your back with thank you for it.

Need a New Touring Kayak?

Is that trusty old touring kayak getting a little long in the tooth? Are you finding it harder and harder to keep up with your paddling companions? Are you finding that your current boat just doesn't have the storage capacity for those long, multi-day excursions? Or are you in the market for your first sea or touring kayak?

If so, you might consider purchasing your next boat from one of the online merchants. Retail paddling shops are great if you can find one, but most only carry one or two brands, and expect to pay the full retail price. Online merchants, on the other hand, often carry several brands and dozens of touring and recreational kayaks, and usually at very competitive prices. They have secure ordering systems, good warranty and return policies, and will ship virtually anywhere in the world. And you won't have to spend a weekend driving all over town in search of that perfect new boat.

If you've got a moment, check out one of our recommended merchants. You'll be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

Touring kayaks from Backcountry.com
Shop Backcountry.com for a great selection of name brand touring kayaks, including Perception and Dagger.

Tips & Tricks

Stuff those bulkheads

You may have noticed, but loading up the aft compartment on your touring kayak can significantly improve handling. The only problem is that gear in a half-filled compartment tends to shift when your boat rolls, which can cause real problems when you try to right your kayak. One solution to this problem is to fill that unused space with air bags. And if you really want to stuff that aft stowage area, try loading it through the cockpit instead of the hatch.