There are a wide variety of paddle sports, ranging from the placid to the frankly insane, and it pays to be sure that you know what you are getting into. Most people take a gentle approach and learn to start paddling for the kayak on completely safe, flat, sheltered water.
Techniques on How to Paddle a Kayak
These considerations are covered in this article. The important point when starting is to think about your safety; do not just jump into a boat and paddle off. Canoeing and kayaking are not dangerous, but a cavalier approach most certainly is.
1. Considerations and Precautions for Paddling the Kayak for Beginners
There are a wide variety of great kayak paddles in sports, ranging from the placid to the frankly insane, and it pays to be sure that you know what you are getting into. Most people take a gentle approach and learn to paddle on completely safe, flat, sheltered water.
Even so, most kayaks and canoes seem initially unstable, and for most people that is exactly what distinguishes these craft from more solid dinghies and rowing boats.
The possibility of being capsized means that you have to take certain precautions. Being able to swim at least 50m (170ft) in clothing is a prerequisite, and wearing a buoyancy aid (personal flotation device, or PFD) is important, particularly when you start because you might fall into the water quite often.
What is more often overlooked is the need to think through what will happen if you do end up in the water. Will the boat float? Will you be able to get ashore quickly? Is there land close by?
These considerations are covered in this article. The important point when starting is to think about your safety; do not just jump into a boat and paddle off. Canoeing and kayaking are not dangerous, but a cavalier approach most certainly is.
2. Dressing Up Properly for Kayak and Canoe Paddling
While on the kayak, you will need something that will give you protection and comfort. Also, something that will not create problems with water. Let’s talk about some paddling clothing tips.
PFD for the Safety on Water
A personal flotation device is for safety if something wrong happens. Always try to wear some life vests if you are planning for paddling on the river or lake. Here are some PFDs below:
- Eyson Slim Inflatable PFD
- ABSOLUTE OUTDOOR Onyx A/M-24 Life Jacket
- ONYX Kayak Fishing Life Jacket, Tan
Dressing According to Temperatures
You are paddling on the water, so consider the condition and temperature of the water. If you are kayaking on the cold water or hot water, you should consider wearing it according to that. Check out some of the wetsuits for kayaking.
Paddling Wetsuits
- NeoSport Men’s Premium Neoprene Wetsuit Jacket
- Wetsuit Co Men’s Performance Loose Fit Short Arm Shirt
Paddling Dry Suits
- Kokatat GORE-TEX Meridian Dry Suit
- Kokatat Hydrus 3L Meridian Dry Suit
Don’t Wear Cotton
Cotton tent to suck the water, if you go near it. It also tends to lose water slowly. It is better to wear something that dries up quickly and doesn’t create some uncomfortable feeling with the touch of water.
3. How to Hold a Kayak Paddle
To navigate the kayak properly you will first need to know is how to hold it perfectly. To hold it properly you will need to follow these simple yet very effective steps.
- Just understand the basic of swimming, when you swim, you use your hand cups to pull yourself on the water. In the same way, you will use the kayak paddle to keep the kayak running on the water.
- If you ever have seen a kayak then you know that it has 2 blades attached to it. For paddling, you will need to hold the shaft and another part is the blade which will be useful to pull your kayak on the water.
- Hold the paddle properly maintaining a gap around 40 to 42 centimeters apart.
- While you are paddling for a pretty long time, it is a good idea to change the grip width. That helps to distribute the weights and lets your muscles relaxed a bit.
- Know how to use both of your hands. If you are right-handed, then use the right hand to control the paddling.
- Put the paddle in the right direction for proper kayaking. It is the basic kayak paddling technique you need to learn before getting started.
4. Kayak Paddle Setup: Angle and Positing of the Kayak Paddle
To get the maximum performance from your fishing kayak on the river, you need to learn proper kayak paddle setup techniques. It is not as complicated as installing a fish finder on a kayak, but still, you need to see the process to be on the safe side.
Here’s how you can do it.
When Should You Start Feathering?
If you get high winds in the middle of the river, then this might be a good opportunity to take the adventures of feathering. If you angle the blade on the higher position, you will get good advantages. This is because of the resistance you will feel on the lower side.
Techniques of Paddling
When learning the advanced kayaking techniques, you will need to understand how to paddle feather properly. You need to rotate the paddle holding it in such a vertical angle that it slices the water.
In the meantime, the other blade will slice the wind on the upside creating a comfortable less resistance for the kayakers.
5. Your Body Posture During the Paddle
Talking about holding the paddle, we cannot forget about the position and posture of our body. To make kayaking efficient and comfortable a perfect posture is ideal.
You should keep your shoulder at the 90-degree angle with the kayak to have perfect posture. To do so, you can have proper back support as well. Sitting up will give you better consistency and will hep you kayaking a better distance and longer comfort.
Putting your leg together gives you advantages of torso rotation. It makes kayaking efficient but can do less effective in balancing in the kayak. If you need a better balance, spread the legs a bit with bending the knees.
Kayak Paddle Stroke Techniques
Here are the paddle stroke techniques for beginners.
6. Forward Stroke for Moving the Kayak and Canoe Forward
After you are done adjusting and holding the paddle properly; place the blade in the water and pull it towards you. Now pull out the paddle from water and dip the other side inside. Now do the same thing with this side and again pull the paddle out.
For moving the kayak forward, keep on doing the step again and again. It is better to paddle a kayak in a straight line for better length.
As a beginner you might think or feel that you are not going very straight; do not worry; slight right and left is okay to go. After you achieve a good hold on this technique; start moving your upper body slowly.
This will help to lessen the pressure on your shoulder and arm as well. Also, you will become less tired as you will be moving your upper part along with your shoulder.
Remember you are not supposed to sink the shaft inside the water; you will only keep the paddle inside and hold the shaft with your two hands. As a beginner you might want to start with big strokes; this might lessen your speed a bit but it will not make a big difference in your journey.
Also do not be overstressed while pulling the blade through the water; pull the paddle with the rhythm of the water as this can make your kayak paddling life easier.
7. Reverse Forward Stroke for Controlling the Speed
This means you will have to paddle backward. It is best for controlling your speed; this is also used for stopping your moving kayak.
If you want to make this stroke; then hold the paddle in the same way as for forwarding stoke and put the blade inside water, turn your upper body towards the back and push the paddle towards the front part of the kayak.
Now change your paddling side and repeat the same process. As you will be doing the reverse, it is better to keep an eye on the front so that you do not crash with something.
8. Sweep Stroke of the Paddle
This type of stroke is best for turning your kayak. While moving forward if you make this stroke a couple of times then your kayak will gradually turn to your desired side. For doing this stroke put the paddle in the water, close the front tip of the boat; after that make a big half-circle starting from the front tip till to the stern.
This is a very effective way if you can make the half-circle perfectly. Also, the more you can push the paddle towards the front tip the faster you will be able to move your kayak.
You can also change direction with the help of this stroke while going backward; just perform the same method but start making the half-circle from the stern to the back bow.
Also, some may say that by paddling on one side you can change the direction; but this does not help in every case, and also it takes a lot of time and energy as well.
9. Draw Stroke of the Paddle for Kayak Fishing
If you are planning to pick something up from water or you have planned for kayak fishing; then this is the stroke for you. Also, if you are planning to speed up to catch another kayak then you can also use this stroke. Moreover, you can move sideways with the help of this stroke.
Working with different fish finders like cheapest side imaging fish finders and under imagine one does need some improvisation to set it on the water on the right spot. For kayak fishing, it is necessary.
Also, if you need to move away from rocks or any other objects then make draw strokes to move sideways. For making this stroke bring your shaft up in the air and keep your paddle close to your face; then with force push the blade in the water vertically.
You need to push it far from your kayak. Now pull the paddle towards your boat and repeat the same process. Keep doing it until you get your desired result.
Where and When to Paddle
Boating is great fun, whether it is for kayak camping or just fishing. But it pays to be careful Stick to the elementary rules and always put safety first. A few minutes careful checking before you get into the water, is all that is required.
Suitable Waters Until you have achieved the level of self-sufficiency that sets a kayaker or canoeist apart from someone just “having a go”. it is best to seek out safe, predictable environments to paddle in, where there is help at hand if required.
10. How to Paddle a Kayak in Different Time for Different Waters
You should learn to paddle on still water, although this is often surprisingly hard to find. Non-tidal rivers and lakes in calm weather, or reservoirs where public access to the water is allowed, would be suitable, but make sure there is good bank access in case you have to swim ashore.
Beaches are generally safe for beginners as long as the waves are less than 2m (6%ft) and the wind is not blowing offshore. Find out about the character of the stretch of beach you plan to use in advance and make sure there are no strong currents you cannot see.
How to paddle a kayak in different waves and water currents checklist.
- The points to consider on a beach are wave size, wind, and water currents.
- Sheltered inland waterways such as this river are ideal for safe paddling.
- For novices in search of trouble-free water, inland lakes are best of all.
11. Paddling in the Wind: What and What Not
Where Not to Paddle several situations are unsuitable for paddling. Some situations can present difficulties, while others are dangerous. It pays to know what to avoid.
Do not paddle where the wind or current can carry you away faster than you can paddle or swim. Avoid fast currents when learning; it is far easier to learn if the conditions are in your favor.
12. Proper Areas for Paddling a Kayak
Do not paddle where it might be difficult to get out of the water. Remember that you might be cold and tired after capsizing.
Avoid any obstacle that might present a problem, such as steep banks, deep mud, and slippery rocks, which can be a nightmare to the tired paddler with a boat full of water.
If there is a current, avoid paddling where there are rocks, trees, pontoons, or obstructions in the water. A barely visible current can be enough to pin a boat or a person against the upstream side of an obstruction, and this is a common cause of paddling accidents.
Always stay away from weirs. Do not approach them either from above or below. Not all weirs are dangerous, but it takes experience to be able to tell a friendly weir from a dangerous one, and even friendly weirs have minor hazards.
The only safe policy is to give them a wide berth unless you are an experienced and confident white-water paddler who chooses to accept the risk. To beginners, weirs represent a genuine threat to the safety and should be avoided at all costs.
Here is the quick checklist for kayak paddling technique:
- Beware of water flowing beneath low bridges, such as this. Although the water here is fairly slow-moving, it could easily pull you along with it.
- If your boat were to jam under the low bridge, you could find yourself in trouble very quickly.
- Know how to paddle a kayak correctly with the paddle with proper training.
- Do not paddle on fast-flowing water until you have learned a range of skills.
- Weirs can be extremely dangerous for paddlers, and it is always advisable to stay away from them.
13. Serious Hazards While Paddling: What to Do
Some situations can and do prove fatal. You must be aware of the dangers involved with any of the following.
River Levels Be aware that river levels can rise and fall very suddenly while you have freshwater fishing experience. This might only affect your access to or exit from a river, but it could turn a friendly stream into a lethal one.
Rivers rise because of the amount of rainfall or because of snowmelt. Many mountain rivers rise very dramatically in the afternoon because the sun melts the snow or ice, and the water produced reaches the river a few hours later.
The mud banks and reeds here would make it very difficult to get out of the river with your boat.
“Beware when paddling upstream of any obstruction in the river, especially if the water can flow through or under it, as in the case of this log-jam. The current could very easily force you into or under such an obstruction.”
Also, many very steep rivers are dammed for hydro-electric power. When the turbines are required, the dam will be opened and a lethal wall of water can be sent hurtling down the valley.
14. Avoiding Strainers and Siphons
These are usually found on white water rivers, but they can occur anywhere the water is flowing at a significant speed. To know how to paddle a kayak properly you will have to know how to avoid siphons and strainers.
A barrier through which water flows, such as a fallen tree or log jam is called a strainer because it lets water pass through but will catch anything solid. These are very dangerous. Do not risk being swept into the upstream side of one.
Even more dangerous is the siphon, where the water disappears underground. Get too close and you will be sucked down too, and possibly jammed stuck.
When first learning to paddle, it is best to practice in a familiar area, within sight of a reliable launching and landing place, instead of attempting any kind of journey. As you build up your experience and become more familiar with the boat and the basic maneuvering techniques, you will be able to go further afield and use your boat to explore.
Once you have become hooked on boating, it is very easy to become complacent and to imagine that you are more experienced and more capable than you are.
Beware of asking too much of yourself too soon. Remember your limitations and, just as importantly, those of the other members of your group. A failure to do this can seriously compromise your safety, and no amount of fun will justify this risk.
15. Are You Up to Paddling the Kayak?
It is vital that you have a realistic idea of the kind of distance you can paddle, and that you know your limitations in terms of ability, fitness, and strength: some people are surprised at how quickly they become tired in a boat out on the water.
Remember, too, that you could get hot, cold, tired, hungry, or dehydrated according to the weather conditions.
While this might not be any different from when going for a long walk, if any of these conditions affect you severely while you are on or near the water, the consequences can be far more serious.
Consider this before you set out, and make sure that you are properly equipped.
16. Advance Planning for Paddling the Kayak
It always pays to be prepared for likely eventualities. Make it a key part of your preparation routine to plan the route of your journey, using an up-to-date Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 map.
If your group can all do this together, so much the better. Listen to a detailed weather report for the area on the day of your trip and consider how the weather is likely to affect the water conditions.
If you know what to expect, you will be able to make an informed choice to continue with the trip, to resort to the contingency plan, or to put the whole thing off for another day to avoid anything too severe that might cause you problems.
“Paddlers will often “raft up” to give themselves a rest if anyone in the group is feeling tired.”
Check that you have the right type of clothing and equipment for the conditions, and enough food and drinking water to see you through to the end of your trip.
Finally, consider the needs of the weakest member(s) of the group and adapt your preparation plan accordingly, allowing more time for the journey and more provisions as necessary. Your plan must take account of all levels of expertise if everyone is to have an enjoyable time.
17. Videos on How to Paddle a Kayak
There are many videos on YouTube on advanced kayaking techniques and tips. These videos are free and you can learn your kayaking and paddle very easily from these videos. Here is the one I will suggest for a better understanding.
Checklist for Kayak Paddling Technique
Here is the checklist. If the answer to any of the following questions is “No”, reassess your plan before you set out on the water.
- Is everyone in the group capable of looking after themselves? If not, will some be able to look after the others?
- Do you have all the appropriate equipment for today’s trip?
- Does everyone know how many hours they will paddle for?
- Are you sure that you can get to where you intend to go at that time?
- Does someone on land know where the group is going and what time they are expected to finish?
About me: Hi, I’m Alex N. Ferroni, One of the creators of The Safariors blog and former camping trainer at Tripspot Magazine. I wish some other outdoor, hiking, hunting, fishing and camping enthusiasts have made this blog to share our thought. We are learning a lot through each trip, and we want you to learn that too!
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