Agree w Peter on sequence of learning self rescues. Paddle float and cowboy first, because frankly you should not be out in conditions that one of those would not work in to start.
I happen to be at the other end of that, checked things out over the weekend and it appears my roll needs to be recovered. This virus has everything behind including paddling. But I checked out paddle float and cowboy and those are fine. Not much of a jump to the paddle float heel hook version. As long as I don’t paddle in conditions where those would not work, dress for immersion, manage conditions conservatively, I can get the basic places I want to go. So get those first.
Ok thanks for the info everyone. I’ll read over those articles in the links, and watch some more YouTube videos. While my wife might be there to assist me when practicing, she most likely will not kayak with me 95% of the time. I’d like to learn all the different methods and techniques regardless.
Right now I view kayaking the same way I do cycling. It’s something I enjoy, but also something i want to be efficient at. I find that once I’m efficient and very comfortable doing something, I enjoy going out and using those skills to explore a lot more. Because I’m not as worried about the basics that get me to and from.
Right now I’m getting 2-3 kayak outings in a week. It seems like a good amount to help me get used to the new muscles in using while paddling. And I’m still fixing some small stuff on the boat. I have some new bungees coming for the deck. I’m changing over from the blue that came on it to black bungee.
I also am working on a better way to transport the kayak. With my little 8 footers, I could just throw in them the back of the car. With the 16 footer, it will fit like that but not as well. I need to get a roof rack. I’ve been doing some research on what’s best for me. The trip down to the boat launch is only .5 miles, but I want something I can use to take the kayaks out to the inlet etc.
Is Summer Haven River out by the Matanzas inlet? My wife grew up here but I didn’t. She just calls it “the inlet”. I should ask her more questions. Lol.
Also, my wife is interested in getting a more serious kayak eventually. She likes the older Old Town Loons, model 120 and 138. Would either of these be decent enough to be recoverable if she flipped it? I’ve read they are wider than most sea kayaks. And the cockpits look pretty big.
The other end of the Summer haven river is to the ICW, normally, down towards Marine Land. Of course it has been breached in the last two big storms. It is a really short humble “river”. However it is within paddling distance, 6-8 miles of Captains BBQ.
They are recreational kayaks. The bow does not have foward flotation or water isolation. So if capsized it gets real…no REAL difficult to recover since the front will be full of water. However you can put an airbag in the boat and create both. I have on my Old Town Egret (discontinued) The Loons have big cockpits, don’t take a skirt like a sea kayak. It is kind of like a beach cruiser vs a road bike.
I’ll have to let her try out my kayak to see if she likes the tighter cockpit. I know I like how close fitting it is. I feel like I’m one with the boat.
How big is your wife? She would have to be pretty big to have great contact in the huge cockpits of the Loons.
If you pay attention to the manufacturers descriptions it is pretty clear. Loin 120 is clearly called a rec boat, not big water. Your boat is a sea kayak.
Further consideration, would you want to paddle together? Your boat is a lot faster than those others you mention. You will have to pay back a lot in your own paddling unless she is also in a proper sea kayak.
No she’s not that big. Tall at 5’7”, but only around 120 lbs. I think she would feel at home in a sea kayak, but will have to try it and see.
I think she is pushed towards getting more of a Rec kayak so she has the room to take a kid with her. And in that case, maybe it’s better to get a kayak with a big cockpit (or tandem) for use with the kids (close to shore), and a more serious kayak for her to use when going offshore.
I was pushing for just getting a canoe for use with the family, and that might be an option too. If I can find the right deal.
It seems that with covid many of the Used kayaks and canoes have been bought up, and the prices are higher right now. I think that this time next year (or maybe even this fall) the market will be flooded with kayaks and canoes that people bought to use during covid, but really have no long term use for.
RE: the paddle float re-entry posted by Rookie above, that looks pretty cool. I don’t have a paddle float yet, but I see they have them for 38$, on Amazon for a dual chamber float.
Do you carry the float in a pocket on your PFD, or is it stowed in the kayak somewhere? I think could attach a pouch to the seat back pretty easily.
Lol. A tile sponge is exactly what I was thinking about using. I bought a two pack recently and only used one. After 7 years of living in my house I’m finally done with all the tile work.
Completely different discussion. And I cannot suggest that a kid be squeezed into a rec boat cockpit any time especially on the kind of water that your sea kayak can handle.
Could you please start again and describe the places and level of paddling you, your wife and the child are likely to do? And whether together or not?
Me:
Right now I follow the shore along the Matanzas River. I’m about 10’ from shore, in water about 6”-3’ deep. The area where I paddle is protected from the actual river by quite a bit of grass (whatever the type is that grows in water and is under water showing about 1’ of the plant at high tide, and out of the water at low tide).
Until I’m comfortable with a wet exit, and I have all my safety equipment, this is where I’ll kayak.
Eventually I want to venture out into the river more, and towards the ocean. No rush, I want to be comfortable with what I’m doing first.
My wife:
The same area I described where I’m currently kayaking. She would not venture away from shore with a child. And she would be kayaking with me along side.
I think that eventually her and I might kayak into deeper waters sans child, but that won’t be for a while. I’ve been having her watch the kayak videos with me, and I’m sure she would be willing to practice some safety maneuvers before we went out into the river.
I have some experience canoeing with small children. We spend some time in upstate NY every year, and my dad owns a small marina. I’ve taken each of my kids out in small boats and canoes each year, and the kids have varying degrees of either being scared or being crazy in the boat. Some are clinging to me, others I can barely keep in the boat:). I have 4 kids ranging from age 2 to 11.
My wife and I also have some experience canoeing together, on the Withlacoochee River over on the west side of FL. We have a small fiberglass canoe we used for that, that is now in storage in NY.
I started boating very young, and my dad sent me to the boating safety school thing at 10 so I could drive a boat by myself. Also went to sailing school the same year. Obviously boating is very important to him. Lol.
Not that anything I did as a kid really matters (that was 25 years ago anyways), but just saying I’ve had boating safety drilled into me since I was a kid. My dad taught the boating safety class. Lol.
Since kayaking is new to me, I’m open to any input you have.
As to the kids, it appears that you have solid experience canoeing with them. And are likely to know what makes a canoe safe for someone with less time in one. It seems that the immediate solution for any trips involving kids should probably be a used beater craft that is safe near shore, where someone could swim or wade to safety.
Once you get into recovery from a capsize, you are at deck lines, two bulkheads and/or secure float bags and smaller cockpit. Not a rec boat that you can stick a child in. And by the way those are criteria for assisting someone as well as self-rescue. I have tried to rescue a rec boat loaded with water myself. I don’t recommend it for success.
Many/most boats that have adequate static lines (not bungies) also have two bulkheads. So the float bag option doesn’t always get you to a boat with the rest of it. And those boats always have huge cockpits.
It sounds like you need to wait to see how your wife feels as you do training, before making a boat choice for her.
