Paddling in the Twenty-first Century

First of all I want to acknowledge and give the nod to the paddling purists who believe that the canoe is the only way to go. The intent here is not to sway but to inform the interested public about the relatively new sport of recreational kayaking. Ocean kayaks and white water kayaks have been around for a very long time, but companies like Dagger and Old Town have  recently developed a line of affordable touring and recreational kayaks. These are especially designed for those paddlers who are faint of heart where the deep sea and river rapids are concerned, but still like the idea of getting out on lakes and rivers to do some day touring or recreational paddling. These companies now market a wide variety of recreational and touring kayaks to meet the needs and tastes of all from the beginner to the zealot.

This new breed of kayak is designed with a wide body, extra length and buoyancy, which make them very stable in the water. They can be rolled but this is not easily accomplished.. Most of them weigh between fifty and sixty pounds and are between twelve and fourteen feet in length with a cockpit width usually between twenty-four and thirty inches. One person can handle them when necessary. Portage when necessary is fairly easily accomplished because of their lightweight construction and their balance from end to end.

My good friend and fellow KTC board member, Phil Morris and I got involved in recreational kayaking about a year ago when we each purchased and Old Town Loon 138. This kayak is constructed with an inner and outer layer of polyethylene and an inner core of foam which gives the kayak stiffness and insulation from cold and noise, but most importantly the foam core gives it the all important buoyancy and flotation. This kayak like most of the recreational and touring kayaks has a wider stance, which gives it extra stability, and the wider profile also allows for a larger opening in the cockpit for easier entry and exit from the kayak. This kayak like most recreational kayaks has a seat that can be moved backward and forward and it has a comfortable backrest. There is plenty of room to store gear both in front of the kayaker's feet and behind the seat.  There are also adjustable foot rests for the kayaker to brace his or her feet against for comfort and power stroking.

The longer recreational kayaks track very well with a smooth quiet glide. They really appear to knife through the water. The one down fall of the longer wider recreational kayaks is the fact that they do not maneuver as quickly and easily as the much shorter white water kayaks. But, they do not need this maneuverability most of the time on rivers and lakes.

During the past year Phil and I have had our kayaks on Elk City Lake numerous times and once on Beaver Lake in Arkansas. We have also had the kayaks on the Elk River many times now. We took them to Noel, Missouri last July and put them on the Elk River there. It was there that we discovered that these like any kayak or canoe can tip over and fill up with water. This is when we learned to appreciate the flotation built into the kayak. Our problems with that experience were not the fault of the kayak so much as our inexperience with rushing water.

Still deferring to those that are canoeists first last and always, what are the attractive aspects of recreational kayaking? One person can easily handle the kayak. Since they are designed for one person the paddler is always free to go out alone if he or she so desires. Most are very reasonably priced and do not take long to master in terms of steering, handling and paddling techniques are concerned. They are actually very easy to get in and out of with a little practice and they are surprisingly comfortable to sit in. Be aware of the fact that this is coming from a guy pushing sixty years of age with arthritic knees and aging muscles and joints.

Another great feature of the recreational kayak is the fact that it has a good straight-line drift.  Case in point:

In late October Phil and I took the kayaks out on the Elk River for one last run before winter set in. It was a beautiful sunny day with the temperature in the upper seventies and a nice breeze out of the south. We paddled for a long time that afternoon and on the return to our launch point we decided to just lean back and drift for a while. It was one of the most relaxing experiences that I have ever had. I leaned back and watched the breeze move the tops of the willows along the riverbank in a delicate endless undulating wave. Birds glided through and out of my line of vision as I watched a jet pass silently and disappear far away above me. Other than the chirp of the birds as they floated by and the hushed sounds of the willow branches as the warm breeze pushed effortlessly through them there was no sound at all. I fell into a doze for a few minutes and when I woke up I discovered that I was still in the middle of the river. Phil was about fifty yards on down stream still dozing.

We had another remarkably peaceful experience like this on Beaver Lake. We paddled back into a cove protected from the wind. The water was clear and was as smooth as glass. The only sound to be heard was the distant drone of a speedboat and that sound was carried away from us by the wind out on the lake. Phil and I agreed that we could have stayed there for a very long time, but we still had far to paddle on the lake that day.

If silence and tranquility are always to be found on the trails then you should know that these may also be found on the rivers and lakes of Kansas. Some may not be aware of it but some waterways and the waters along some shorelines are officially designated as canoe and kayak trails. If you are thinking of investing in a canoe I would  suggest that you at least look at recreational kayaks. A few dealers will even take you out to a lake to try one out before you purchase it. Whether it is in a canoe or a kayak I encourage you to take to the water on our rivers and lakes to experience a different perspective on the peace and beauty inherent in the Kansas countryside.  

May yours be safe and enjoyable paddling wherever you do it.

Copyright-Rocky Shire