Most of the world is semi-diurnal tides (2 highs & 2 lows per day). The Gulf of Mexico is predominantly diurnal (1 high and 1 low per day) with a few mixed days per month.
For a more in depth explanation: https://beltoforion.de/article.php?a=tides_explained&p=tidal_cycles
Lessee. There was the three foot tide range and an outflow from Lake Ingram in the Everglades that made a significant outflow with standing waves of about two feet and strong eddy lines. This is where the wind and tide were both coming from the same direction.
And the day I waited at the exit of Lostmans River in the Everglades a mile off shore because again the wind and the tide had blown the water out and did so while I tried to get across the mouth.
In that part of the Gulf tides are actually semi diurnal but they are not evenly spaced apart . They can be five or seven hours or so between high and low. In Maine they are pretty regular 6.25 hours
The importance of tidal races is that you have to go with the flow when you encounter them. We have some here that whip along at 8 knot-15 knots. You canât paddle counter to that.
Whitewater training is an excellent tool. There are eddy lines and whirlpools in the ocean at least in my neck of the woods. It is a good investment to pay someone to coach you⌠DIY gives you no feedback. Tried that for my roll⌠For many months⌠Paid for a lesson. Was rolling in two minutes. And kept practicing many many times. But it is a skill that can escape you; the bike riding analogy really seems to fail.
This will be some major training and learning thank you!
I want to learn especially to roll as the wet exit / reentry sounds like alot more work.
I will try again with the Galveston area shops to see about instruction. Their websites dont have any training yet (Corvid 19).
KR, check out Houston Area Sea Kayakers. Several ACA and BCU instructors teach for the sea kayak club. There are not many instructors in the Northern Gulf region - how do I know this? I drive 10-13 hours a few times a year to paddle with other Open Water Kayak Instructor buddies.
kayak hank
They are not offering classes right now. I am not sure what to do. I will figure out something by Friday 6/26 when the kayak is suppose to be here. But I want to start learning right away will try to be patient and keep looking at their site.
I expect be teaching again in September (and maybe August) in the Gulfport MS area. Keep an eye on the ACA website for course dates. PS - itâs too hot, and water conditions do not support most lessons in my area during the summer.
Hank are you an instructor?
yes, ACA Open Water Coastal Kayaking
I think I will practice from now till Aug/Sept around Galveston, both near the texas city mainland and to the Galveston ocean side. I live in Texas city which is about 15-20 miles from where I live near Moses Lake to 2215 Seawall Boulevard Galveston. I will do that starting Saturday, do you think that is a good day trip?
Wish I knew your waters first hand, unfortunately, I do not so it is hard to suggest areas to paddle. I have heard from HASK members that Galveston Bay gets nasty during the summer.
Best advice I have right now is to get used to paddling in quiet waters. Also, if you can find a fresh water beach area, practice getting into a kayak from in the water. Check out some paddling.com videos beforehand on how to do a scramble or cowboy reentry. Anything beyond that gets awkward to self teach. Keep in touch with HASK and pray that they offer some basic classes. What you can be introduced to in a 4 to 8 hr class (& have nuances of how to do a skill easier) may take you forever to learn on your own.
PS - My personal preference is to do basic skills learning in fresh water. Salt water training is important, however it is very debilitating in the heat of our summer. That is why it is hard to find courses in our region in the summer months.
its all salt water here. Moses is a salt water lake less then 1/4 mile from me. And each day I do check out paddling website. I like You tube also. I look at the Old Town Castine seat and I wonder if I can learn to roll in it, it is high. I had also decided to do the Cowboy scramble and to get a float for my paddle to help
A paddle float will help a lot, and of course youâll need a manual pump to get the water out of the boat.
Paddling.com training videos are good. Newer ones are better than 5 or 8 year old videos as techniques are improved/changed. Be aware that any yahoo can post on YouTube - there are lots of antiquated and somewhat dangerous info being put out by folks. If YouTube, stick with the acknowledged pros, i.e. Gordon Brown etc, and not Jimmy Joe Billy Bob who found a great kayak deal at Samâs or Dickâs so now heâs making YouTube videos.
As for your kayak back, after checking the Old Town website, it appears a bit high for easy rolling though I first learned with a high back seat in a Looksha. I would be more concerned with reentering a kayak cockpit with the high back when you do a scramble or assisted reentry. You will find that the high back gets in the way.
And the Old Town website confirmed what others have pointed out, your Castine is not the kayak choice for your big trip, quote âThe Old Town Castine is a day touring kayakâ.
High seat backs are an enemy of rolling which is why sea kayaks have back bands. Then again the larger cockpit in that boat is not all that friendly either.
But frankly you canât roll until you can feel the paddle grab the water. Right now you donât even know what l mean.
You simply have a lot to learn. In the meantime something like a paddle float rescue can be learned from videos.
In order to do the cowboy you have to be able to crawl around on the deck of your kayak without capsizing it. So spend time doing just that, get up on the back deck and scotch to the bow. Then turn around and back towards the stern.
You will dump, a lot, so do this in shallow water near shore. But if you can do that some of the self rescues get easier. And it is something that you can mess around with not needing to find a coach.
Any competent instructor is going to have you get wet, many times until you have confidence in your abilities after a capsize. You are sure to end up in the water with a loaded kayak in rough weather a long way from shore. You better dress for immersion and practice, a lot.
I ordered the paddle float and bilge pump already. I been reading and it says dont put out till you have PFD, paddle, whistle, which I have and also a spare paddle, Bilge Pump, Paddle Float and skirt. I want to learn badly, so will do this the right way.
In case it was unclear, l am basically suggesting that you not really go out right off. Spend time doing the balance exercise like l mentioned, which can happen 8 ft from shore.
Most newbies especially guys have the curious idea that serious paddling has to be about heading out and making some significant distance in some equally impressive time. It isnât. It is about a whole pile of skills that hopefully ate present as well as a fast paddle time.
Coming back with joint damage from bad form or just missing being a newspaper story because of misjudging bad weather change speaks volumes more than getting anywhere in a hour or less.
Celia
Your telling me to learn basis first then other things. I am looking up at Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUHYtQR79Z4
I think I have to learn it so its instinctual and that could take a few seasons.
Have to learn this way is better then not learning. I am truly hating Corvid 19
Learn your paddle float self rescues and assisted rescues before you worry too much about a roll. You want to be confident in these even if you have a good roll. Even the most skilled kayaker sometimes misses a roll depending on conditions. Practice, practice, practice. These skills must become instinctual. Your life may depend on it.
I also wouldnât rely too much on a cowboy rescue on a boat with a high rear deck. It takes excellent balance and I have rarely seen one performed successfully in rough conditions, which is after all the most likely time when you might find yourself in the water.
Check online for kayaking groups such as Meetup to see if there are any local to you. There are several around where I am and most are very welcoming to new paddlers and willing to teach skills for free.
You mentioned you had been reading. One book you definitely should read is Deep Trouble. Itâs an excellent compilation of true stories involving kayaks and lessons learned. Great teaching tool. Available at Amazon or maybe even through your library.