How to Launch Your Kayak
Launching your kayak does not have to be
difficult as long as you know what you're doing.
When it comes to launching your kayak, there are a few
important decisions that you must make. The first thing you
should decide is whether or not you want to launch your kayak
from the land, or on the water. You can even launch your kayak
from a dock, though that is usually a bit harder to do than
launching the boat from the beach, or on dry land.
The two main methods of launching your kayak from the land
consist of the regular launch, and of ''wet-footing'' it. Wet
footing means that you load up your kayak in the water so that
the bottom will not rub against the sand or rocks that might be
on the beach.
You should definitely use this method to launch your kayak
if you are going to be launching from a rocky beach, or any
other situation where there might be objects that can harm your
kayak in the sand.
After all, while most kayaks are generally designed to be
fairly sturdy, it is always possible that they could be
damaged. This is especially the case if they are loaded up on
land, and then dragged over rocks.
When launching your kayak from the water, you should make
sure that you are able to put everything into your kayak that
you want to use. You should probably load the lighter objects
into your kayak when you are still on land, as well, since they
won't cause any extra harm to your kayak, and it will make
getting in a lot easier once you are in the water.
If you decide to try launching your kayak this way, make
sure that you practice a little bit first. That way you'll be
able to get into your kayak quickly and easily, and you won't
fall.
If you think that this method sounds too complicated, some
people find that it is easier to get into their kayak on dry
land.
However, you should only use the dry land launch if you are
on a sandy beach where there are no major obstacles between
yourself and the water. Then, pull your kayak out so that the
bow is actually floating. This is so that you will not have to
drag your kayak over too much sand before you get into the
water.
Keep in mind that launching your kayak can get a lot more
dangerous and difficult if you are launching in an area where
there is a lot of surf. While it is always possible to launch a
kayak in high surf, you're probably better off avoiding this.
Therefore, you should try to find a beach that is sheltered for
launching your kayak.
About the Author: Jakob Jelling is the founder of
http://www.kayakhelp.com. Please visit
his complete kayaking guide for all skills and ages. |
Reprint/Distribution Source : ArticleWareHouse.com
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