Sea Kayaking

Jinaka Canoe Guides no longer offer sea kayak coaching.

A sea kayak is designed for journeying.

Prerequisite Skills: It is advisable (but not essential) that you have some experience in a normal kayak before you try a sea kayak. It is important that you will be able to be comfortable sitting in a kayak for up to a half hour at a time, as well as be calm in the event of an involuntary swim. If you wish to do journeys, you really do need to be comfortable in a sea kayak for 2 hours or more. If you have any doubts about this, you should reconsider the appropriateness of sea kayaking. As with canoeing, coordination rather than strength is important so you should not need anything other than a reasonable level of fitness.

What is a Sea Kayak? In general, it is boat with an enclosing top which can be paddled by one or more people using paddles with two blades, but differs from an ordinary kayak in that it has special storage lockers for carrying camping equipment, food, etc.

Shape and length: Not all sea kayaks are the same shape, and they are usually a lot longer than ordinary kayaks which make them fast in comparison. The shape and length affect the stability, turning ability, and speed. Beginners will benefit from more stability. Longer kayaks take more turning and have a higher hull speed than short ones.

Solo and double sea kayaks: Most sea kayaks are solo boats, there being only one seat, but there are also doubles sea kayaks, but these are not beginner’s boats.

Paddle skills: The paddle skills required depend on what type of paddle is used. Broadly speaking, the most common paddle has two blades at opposite ends of a shaft which enables strokes on both sides of the sea kayak to be made one after the other.

Comfort: The general sitting position in a kayak is with outstretched legs. This position takes getting used to and some people will not find it comfortable. In contrast, in canoeing it is easy to change position and keep comfortable without having to get out of the canoe. It is worth taking the time to use the back support and foot brace adjustments to be as comfortable as you can.

Clothing: The clothing you choose to wear will depend on the weather and water conditions. Good quality clothing should keep you warm, retain only a small amount of water when wet, and dry quickly.

Rolling: Usually, most sea kayakers will have had previous experience in an ordinary kayak. Sea kayaks are usually much longer than ordinary kayaks and take more skill to roll. In sea kayaks at a beginner’s level, if you fall in, you can just remove yourself from the kayak, get help, and get back in when it has been turned the right way up and emptied of water. As you become more skilled, you will fall in less often. However, with increased skills, there are other challenges that look enticing, and eventually the skill of rolling will be of benefit.

Enjoyment: Keeping dry and warm for as long as possible will increase the likelihood of you enjoying sea kayaking. Enjoyment can range from just relaxing, watching wildlife, improving your balance and paddling skills or becoming part of your environment. You can carry quite a reasonable amount of equipment in a sea kayak which has watertight compartments especially for storage.

Safety: Avoid paddling alone, it is not recommended practice. Always wear a correctly sized buoyancy aid. If there is any risk of head injury (e.g. excited children waving paddles about, knocking one’s head on rocks), wear a suitable helmet. Take special care to protect any equipment or valuables that will be damaged by salt water.

How to get started: If you are under 18 years old you should look for a provider certified by AALA (the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority). If you are over 18 (not covered by AALA), you should look for a provider with British Canoe Union (or equivalent) qualifications relevant to the type of environment in which you will be kayaking.

To make an enquiry or to book, please send us a message and we will reply to you.
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