Recreational Kayaking For Beginners

Here at Folbot, we think kayaking is a great way to spend time outdoors, get a low-impact workout, and explore the natural world around you. For a beginner, learning to kayak might seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually much easier to master than you might think. Your first step is to decide what kind of kayak is right for you. Kayaks are built differently for different tasks—fishing, recreation, touring, expedition, etc—so make sure the kind of kayak you buy is appropriate for the type of outings you want to take. If you’re not sure, visit our website, or call us, and we can help point you in the right direction. We offer two great recreational kayaks, the Citibot and the Gremlin, but you can certainly use any of our other boats for a fine time out on the water.

Kayaking is great for the whole family and even the little ones get excited about their Folbot!

What To Bring

1. Make sure you always wear a Personal Flotation Device (aka PFD or life vest) anytime you’re out on the water. Safety should always be your number one priority.
2. You want to make sure you stay hydrated, so bring plenty of water. We recommend a BPA-free refillable bottle that seals securely. Opt for one with a carabineer so you can attach it directly to your kayak. If you’re planning on being out on the water for a while, try filling a wide-mouth water bottle (like a Nalgene) with trail mix, crackers, or other snacks so you don’t have to cut your trip short due to hunger.
3. If you have equipment you need to bring with you that you don’t want getting wet, such as a camera, car keys, medication, etc., we recommend using a dry bag to keep your belongings nice and dry during your trek. Make sure it’s attached to the boat in some way so that it doesn’t float off if you flip over.
4. If you’re going to be out in the sun for a while, make sure you apply sunscreen at regular intervals to avoid getting burned. We also suggest wearing a hat to avoid burning the top of your head.
5. To avoid squinting all day from the glare of the sun off of the water, bring a good pair of sunglasses with you. Use a croakie to prevent losing your glasses in case you get flipped over.
6. Check the weather before you go and dress accordingly. We recommend dressing in layers so as to be prepared for any weather condition. Make sure that you’re wearing lightweight clothing you can swim in, in case you end up in the water. Also, keep a dry change of clothes in your car. You’re probably going to get a little wet while out on the water (whether you mean to or not), and you’ll be thankful for not having to drive home in wet pants.
7. Have a spare paddle with you just in case anything happens to your main paddle. You wouldn’t want to be in the middle of a kayaking trek without a paddle. There’s a reason the phrase “up a creek without a paddle” has such a negative connotation.

Find A Trail

When looking for a good site to go paddling, start locally. Look for a flatwater lake, river, or inlet. It’s better to pick a spot that you’re a little bit familiar with so you’re more comfortable in the water.

If you want to try branching out a bit, trails.com has listings of flatwater paddling trails around the US. Just make sure to do some research on any site you choose before you go so you know what to expect.

Paddling Safety

Although it’s not necessary, it may be helpful to you to take a basic kayaking skills course if you’ve never been in a kayak before. This way you can learn how to stay safe on the water and you’ll know what to expect when you finally cast off on your own. The American Canoe Association has listings of various kayaking skills classes offered around the country. There are probably kayaking schools or retailers that offer lessons in your area, do a search and see what works best for you.

Getting In And Out

To get in and out of a kayak, remember to keep your weight low and centered. If you’re launching from a dock, hold onto the dock as you enter the kayak feet first, and slowly lower yourself fully into the kayak. To get out, you just do everything in reverse order. For launching from water’s edge, place your paddle in front or behind the cockpit opening, across the deck. Lean to one side so that the blade of your paddle is resting on the ground, steadying the kayak as you enter. Quickly enter the cockpit, crouch, and sit and use your paddle to gently shove you off. And to get out, you simply do everything in reverse order.

Basic Skills Techniques

Grip the paddle firmly with your thumbs under the bar, facing the water, at about arms length. Use your core to power each stroke in order to prevent strain on your arms and back. For a basic forward stroke, start by placing one edge of the paddle in the water and dragging it toward you until your hand reaches your hip, then repeat the process on the other side.

There are several ways to turn, but the most basic is to use your paddle as a rudder and drag it close to the kayak. The boat turns in the direction of the blade. This technique causes you to slow down a bit, so to keep your momentum, use a sweep stroke. A sweep stroke requires you “sweep” the paddle wide on one side of the kayak until it reaches the back of the boat (the stern) Alternate a forward stroke on one side of the boat with a sweep stroke on the other. Continue this pattern for a wide arc turn.

And that’s all you really need to get started. There’s plenty of time this summer to put a kayak to good use, so get out and get paddling and remember HAVE FUN!

Three Beginners Enjoying a Folbot Rigged up for Sail!

Tips For Kayaking With Children

Kayaking is a great way to spend time outdoors with your children.  It’s a healthy and fun activity that’s easy to learn and doesn’t require a lot of strength to master, so it’s a great activity for kids of all ages. Not to mention, kayaking allows you and your children to interact with and learn about the natural world around you. On the water, under a clear blue sky, paddling, giggling, in awe of nature… these are the kinds of memories your children will cherish long after they’ve grown.

 

 

Here are a few tips to ensure you and your family have a fun, safe time out on the water:

1. Safety First! Always make sure your child is wearing a personal flotation device or PFD (life jacket). Whether they’re paddling their own kayak or just riding along with you, a PFD will make sure they’re safe and prepared in case they end up in the water. Make sure you have your child try the PFD on first so that it fits snugly and comfortably. Although it may seem to contradict your instincts, remember to never strap your child into the kayak. This ensures that if the kayak does flip for whatever reason, your child’s PFD will allow them to float up to the surface with ease.

2. Wear Layers. You never know what the weather is going to do, so it’s best to prepare for different situations. Dressing in water-resistant layers will keep your children comfortable and allow them to enjoy themselves more. Also bring a change of clothes so that they can change into something dry in case they end up getting wet during the activity.

3. Bring A Snack. Parents know that when a child gets hungry, they get grouchy and become impossible to please. If you don’t want to have to cut your trip short, try filling a Nalgene-type water bottle with goldfish, trail mix, cheerios, or other kid-friendly snacks. Always remember to bring plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Just remember to avoid disposable plastic water bottles in order to cut down on pollution.

4. Pick The Perfect Spot. Unless you and your children are experienced kayakers, I recommend finding a spot with relatively calm water and low currents, like small protected lakes, bays, and slow moving rivers. Kids tend to tire easily, so be conservative when planning how long your trek will last. Try going in loops around your starting point, so that you can easily return to shore if your children tire. This will keep the trip from turning sour, and ensure that your kids will want to go on a kayak trip again in the future. Also try to plot out where your bathroom break spots will be ahead of time so you’re not caught by surprise when the time comes.

5. Engage Their Imagination. Children tend to need constant engagement to keep them from getting bored, and you should prepare for this ahead of time. Do some research into the kinds of wildlife you might see on your trek, and try to pick a location that has a lot of variety. Allow the kids to get involved during the planning stages, so that they feel more engaged with the activity. Also plan on playing some fun games while you’re out on the water. Here are a couple of ideas:

• I Spy
• The Alphabet Game- Try to find objects that start with each letter of the alphabet in order from A-Z.
• 20 Questions- One person comes up with a person, place, or thing, and everyone else gets 20 yes-or-no type questions to figure out the answer.
• Kayak Tag-Basically the same as regular tag, only you tag the nose of someone else’s boat with your oar for them to become “It.”
• “Fetch”- Throw an object like a ball or frisbee, and have your kids paddle over to retrieve it.
• Leap Frog- Paddle in a straight line and have the last kayaker paddle up to the front. For an added challenge, you have to weave in and out through all the kayaks in line in order to get to the front.
• Racing Without Paddles- Everyone must store their paddles and race to a previously decided finishing spot using only their hands to propel them.

 

If you have any other tips or tricks for planning a fun kayaking trip with children, please be sure to post them in the comments!