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April 16, 2006 08:15 - Pelican kayaks - Great Entry Level Boats That Won’t Break The Bank
If you’re a recreational kayaker or fisherman (or woman) looking for an affordable, entry-level boats for weekend use, it’s hard to go wrong with Pelican Kayaks. While Pelicans won’t keep up with the sleeker, high-performance Perception and Wildneress Systems kayaks, they do just fine for paddling around flatwater creeks and lakes, and at prices starting under $300, they won’t break the bank, either. Pelican kayaks, manufactured by Pelican International Corporation, are affordable, high quality, entry-level kayaks that come in a variety of sizes and configurations. As a company, Pelican International has been around since 1968, and they also make canoes, peddle boats, and fishing boats. They stopped making kayaks for a time in the 1990s, but they returned to the market in 2001 with a series of sit-in and sit-on-top boats that feature 3-layer rotomolded hull designs.
Pelican has named their hull material “Ram-X” and “Ram-X-Celtm.” The latter is an advanced, 3-layer material that’s strong, impact resistant, and has good rigidity and memory capacity. While not as light (or expensive) as kevlar or other composite materials, the Ram-X does make for a solid, affordable boat that will last for years under typical use.
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April 14, 2006 07:21 - Kayak Sailing - A Trend That's Catching On
A trend that’s been catching on with many paddlers lately is that of adding a sail to their kayak. Sails can be a great way to keep moving even when you’re tired -- especially when you’re on a multi-day tour and you’re not as young as you used to be. And a whole new breed of kayak sailors are emerging out of the wind surfing and board sailing crowd.
Some manufacturers, like Hobie Kayaks, are even offering sails as optional accessories for their sit-on-top kayaks. And there are dozens of options for adding a sail to an existing boat.
Now there are two main types of kayak sails - a compact downwind spinnaker, or kite sail, which is primarily used to catch a handy tail wind while touring. Or you can opt for a full sailing rig with a boom that will allow you to sail around in circles if you want. We’re going to refer to the first type of sail in this article.
Kayak sails are particularly well-suited to the sit-on-top variety of kayaks. Sit-on-tops, or SOTs, have open cockpits that are extremely easy to wet exit and get back into after a roll. They’re also very stable in the first place, and so less likely to capsize in a sudden gust of wind.
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April 13, 2006 06:55 - Hobie Kayaks offer unique, innovative designs for fishing, recreation, and more
Hobie Kayaks, manufactured by a company that's been making watercraft since 1950, offers unique and innovative sit-on-top kayaks for a variety of uses. Hobie has been active in the watersports industry, and has made or is currently making surf boards, sail boats, fishing boats, and of course, kayaks.One of Hobie Kayak's innovations is their MirageDrive system, which is a set of foot pedals that allow the paddler to operate a pair of underwater flippers that propels the kayak forward without the need for a traditional paddle. This unique system frees up the paddlers hands, which is a great feature if you're fishing and don't want to set down your rod every time you want to move your boat. As for steering, the paddler can turn the boat by operating a rudder through a set of hand controls.
Another Hobie innovation is the fact that you can add a sail to many of their kayak models. Now admittedly a sail takes a little getting used to, but once mastered, it allows for almost effortless kayaking on a breezy day.
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March 27, 2006 09:01 - Even On A Warm Day, Cold Water Can Be A Hazard
As spring approaches, the lure of warm, sunny days and open water is enticing for landbound paddlers coming out of a long winter. But be careful. Just because the air temperature is warm doesn't mean you'll be safe in the water.Water temperatures will be low well into the spring, and most paddlers--especially inexperienced ones--would do well to stay on shore for a while longer (typically water temps warm up sometime in May). Inexperienced paddlers are more likely to roll their kayak -- and take a dip in frigid, possibly deadly water in the process.
One solution to the hypothermia risk, of course, is to wear a good dry suit. Dry suits are sealed at the wrists and neck, and will keep your body dry and buoyant. But even a dry suit may not be enough protection if the water is too cold.
Expert cold weather paddlers are usually aware of the risks involved in winter/spring paddling, and act accordingly. They know that windy days can be especially hazardous on the water, as the wind chill factor can drop the air temperature tens of degrees.
And if you paddle alone, you should always have a solid self-rescue plan in place. What will you do if your kayak rolls and you have to make a wet exit? What if you can't get back into your boat? Some paddlers even carry flippers on board in case they have to swim to shore.
The allure of spring kayaking can be alluring, but be careful. If you're a relatively inexperienced paddler, go out with a group of more experienced friends. Dress for the worst case scenario. Let somone back home know exactly where you'll be going. And make sure everyone in your group knows what to do in the event of an accident.
