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A Sea Kayaking Primer

By Eugene Buchanan

Climate
The first thing you need to do is ask yourself what type of climate you're shooting for. Do you live in the heat-enshrouded South and are hoping for a cooler escape, or are you a Northerner looking to thaw out from a long winter? Deciding this will help determine what to bring and where to go. There is sea kayaking, obviously, wherever there's a coast, which goes all the way from the frigid north to tropical waters.

Length of Stay
The next thing to decide is how long a trip you're after. Do you want to camp under the stars--be it next to a calving glacier or beside the lapping Fijian sea--or go out for day trips, allowing you to sleep in shore-side luxury? If you opt for a multi-day trip, you'll have to pack accordingly, fitting all necessary belongings inside small drybags that can be stuffed inside a hull (don't worry, outfitters can help with this). Day trips allow for lighter boats and easier paddling, but like a day hike versus a backpacking trip, they don't put you as far into the wilds.

Self-Planning or Outfitter?
Perhaps the biggest question to answer is: Do you want to plan the trip yourself? This means acquiring maps, deciding on the route, shopping for food and lining up the necessary gear and equipment. All this can be somewhat of a chore if you're traveling off the beaten path. The foremost concern is lining up a boat; 20-foot sea kayaks don't fit the requirements of carry-on luggage. Or, you could take a foldable (see equipment below).

The easier route, of course, is to go with an outfitter who will take care of everything except the actual paddling. To follow this option, consult the guides and outfitters section of leading paddling magazines, or call one of several trade associations for a list of outfitters servicing the area you wish to paddle.

Alone or With a Group?
Whether you go solo or with an outfitter, you also have to decide whether you want to paddle alone or with someone else. Unlike whitewater kayaks, which only hold one person, sea kayaks fit one or two paddlers. Single kayaks offer more flexibility (since you're the only one at the controls), while tandem models make better time and can carry more gear.

The Right Equipment
Don't be afraid of paddling solo, however; unlike whitewater kayaks, touring kayaks are remarkably stable and are designed to go straight. Steering is most often accomplished with the use of a foot pedal-controlled rudder. If a rental operation isn't located near your destination, one solution is to go with a folding kayak that can be checked as regular luggage. Although you lose some of the performance capabilities of a hardshell kayak (made out of plastic or fiberglass), folding boats more than make up for it with ease of transport. Folding kayaks are also available in single and tandem versions.

A Test Run
For a taste of the sport without having to commit to a long trip, attend one of several sea kayak symposiums staged throughout the country each year by calling the Trade Association of Paddlesports at 414-242-5228.

Eugene Buchanan lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where he has worked as editor and publisher of Paddler magazine since 1992. He is an accomplished freelance writer whose credits include The New York Times and Men's Journal, Outside, Powder, Ski, and Sports Afield magazines.

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