Kayaking Equipment Information For Beginners

Whether you’re looking for a challenge and a chance to test your kayaking skills or just looking to see Florida from another point of view, there are plenty of opportunities to do so. Participating in a reputable kayak tour is a good way to see what Florida has to offer.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida is a popular destination for many organized kayak tours. A Day Away Outfitters offer several tours based in the refuge.

Manatee Encounter: kayaking with this beloved Florida resident and endangered species can be a fun and enlightening experience. The tour lasts two hours and manatee sightings are guaranteed from April to October. Difficulty rating is easy.
Birding Tour: This 90 minute kayaking tour gives paddlers the chance to see some of Florida’s migratory and native birds. Spoonbills, herons, egrets and more call the refuge home. Difficulty rating is easy.

Black Night/Cold Light Bioluminescent Night Tour: This isn’t a refuge tour but it is highly recommended. In the summer, the waters of the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon light up thanks to bioluminescence. Every movement produces light. Manatees glow, sting rays look like something out of something out of science fiction movies and fast moving little fish look like glow-in-the-dark rockets.  The tour lasts 2 1/2 hours. Bioluminescence is guaranteed June through September. Difficulty rating is easy. Kayakers can truly see Florida in a whole new light.

Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail

This popular sea kayaking destination in Florida is one of the longest and wildest publicly owned wetlands in the United States. The 105 mile trail features a big variety of marine and bird life. White pelicans, egrets, bald eagles and ospreys inhabit the area. In the water, kayakers are likely to see crabs, fish, sea turtles, manatee, cannonball jelly fish, small sharks and rays.

Six designated campsites are spread out over the trail. Camping permits are required and guide books are available. The trail is open from September 1 to June 30th.

Normally speaking, using a kayak is something almost most people can enjoy. It does not require any previous experience or knowledge, and as long as you’re in average fitness level, you should participate in this fun, easy-going, tranquil sport out on the water. Whitewater rafting is also a popular activity. This isn’t so calm and relaxing, but more thrilling and exciting. You don’t need any experience to try your luck at whitewater kayaking, but you at a minimum should be at at high fitness level and be able to swim. Extreme kayaking is a sport that combines these 2 water sports, and is typically only for those with experience and confidence in whitewater rapids.

Extreme kayaking can be done in several ways, however most experienced kayakers will slide down the face of a waterfall and land into the busy waters below. Therefore, the gear used in extreme kayaking is different from is used in old school kayaking. Extreme kayaks are built to beat the rugged waters and speed. The most common materials used to build these boats is Kevlar and fiberglass, making for a durable surface if damaged or scratched at all. The boats range in size for extreme kayaking, from big enough to hold one person to twelve feet or longer.

The difficulty of the rivers is divided in classes by the International Scale of River Difficulty. This is how to decide where the greatest conditions exist for extreme kayaking. Traditional kayaking is performed on rivers with a Class I grade, this means the calmest and tranquil rivers. Extreme kayaking is performed on Class III-IV grades, which means they are recommended for advanced rafters only. There are several different types of extreme kayaking and they don’t all start with going down the front of a waterfall into a flowing stream of rugged water.

While it is one of the oldest types of getting around, kayaking has become a popular choice for water entertainment and recreation. People have been traveling by kayak for a long time, mainly because it was once the only method of water transportation. But over time, it evolved from a requirement to a recreational sport, leading to the development of kayak gear and accessories. If you are preparing to take part in in a kayak adventure for the first time, you might be unsure of what you will require. Here are a few tips for buying the best kayaking accessories.

Obviously, you will need the kayak. If you are going through a kayak travel company, you probably will have the opportunity to get a kayak as part of your package. Although if you are going by yourself, or with family, you’ll need your own kayak. Kayaks come in many different sizes, you also need to decide how many friends will be going with you. Even if you are planning to kayak without anyone else, you should consider getting a kayak with two or more seats. This will leave you room for others on following trips and you can still distribute the weight by using heavier items for leverage if you want to paddle alone. Talking of paddles, you will need those also.

Picking which paddle takes time and there are factors to consider when getting paddles. First of all, be sure the paddle is right for the specific type of paddling you are going to do. As an example, if you are going to paddle through white water, you will need to get a paddle with a strong and thick blade. You also should make sure the paddle fits your body strength and height, as well as the height and width of your kayak.

A paddle and kayak, life vest, head gear and spray skirt are the usual basics. Kayaks used for surfing and doing tricks are normally referred to playboats. Kayaks for rocky rivers are normally referred to creek boats. River kayaks are for a quick and easy ride and stability. Most kayaking beginners start with a traditional river kayak.

Each person requires their own kayak. The size and shape of the kayak is based on the paddler’s size and the type of area the kayak will be used in. Kayak companies usually keep demo or demonstration kayaks available for a test. This gives kayakers an opportunity to try before they buy.