Any Kayakers/canoe'rs on here? (1 Viewer)

[spikeithard]

Just recently have gotten into kayaking and I LOVE IT.

Bought a 13 foot advanced elements expedition kayak last week and took it up to Tobermory Ontario for a spin with a friend this long weekend. Was amazing floating over ship wrecks in the harbors.
The expedition is an inflatable kayak that uses insert-able metal frames to add rigidity. Only takes about 5-8 min to blow it up by hand pump too. Folds up into the trunk of my car!

Here are some pics and a video of the yak and my excursion.
If you have some videos or pics of your paddling please share

The 'Grotto'. Amazing clear water and a sweet water filled cave right under where I am standing taking this picture....

Ship wreck about 2:28 ish

 

[atomiktoaster]

Yeah, I have a couple of rotomolded kayaks. Kayak fishing has been my newest interest with them. No gopro mounts though.

 

[Trihonda]

Used to race kayaks and canoes as a part of adventure racing. Now I just have a tank of a 2-3 person Ocean Kayak Malibu sit on top. Just like the kind you'd find at an Oceanside beach resort.

 

[xxmurrxx]

I'm into kayak fishing. Have several sit on top kayaks. Prefer the kayak over my small fishing boat. It's a great hobby.

 

[Trihonda]

Some pics.. We often tow our kids behind us.

I learned in adventure racing, the secret to towing is to use an elastic rope. My go-to for towing has always been surgical tubing. Beyond strong, and stretchy! The reason stretchy is important (for those that don't know), that if towing a bike or boat, any change in speeds causes jerks.

 

[AK Chip]

Manitou II Necky

 

[spikeithard]

nice @AK Chip , where was that? (edit: I see your from Alaska lol)

I went to a small town off the shore of lake Erie this morning for work so when I was done I floated around in the calm great lake for a bit.
And then before sunset tonight I tried out my cities man made lake/reservoir (Fanshawe lake) and it was nice minus a ton of floating green algae. was nasty getting in and out but the scenery, calm water and sunset was great.

 

[AK Chip]

The pic was from Portage Lake. Nice glacier about 45 min from the house.

 

[AK Chip]

 

[Trihonda]

We're heading camping THIS weekend. Can't wait.

I had to go up early to snag a "non-reservable" camp site... 45 minute drive. I then hit the mountain biking today trails at the campground (Mirror Lake State Park), then hit up a nearby casino (Ho Chunk), where I made $100. Winning.

We're going tomorrow, and we'll be bringing up our kayak. The lake is amazing, with bluffs everywhere. It's shielded my the wind (hence the name "mirror" lake). Here's a video of the lake, albeit it's not me in the video. It's more like a river with bluffs on all sides.

 

[spikeithard]

Beaut

Your in Wisconsin .. your not too far from pictured rock national lake shore. Ever been there? Beautiful!!!

 

[Trihonda]

I've never been there, but have heard about it. It looks amazing! I think they turn into some pretty spectacular ice caves in the winter, right?

 

[spikeithard]

I would assume they would.

I watched a documentary called 'drain the great lakes' recently. quite amazing the history and formation of the lakes. I highly recommend it!

 

[RainmanTrail]

I can't really claim to be an avid kayaker, but I'm always down for an adventure! (y) :thumbsup: Here's a pic of me from last summer at Hell's Hole on Trinity River in northern CA. Had a blast!!

 

[spikeithard]

awesome ^ not sure how you stayed afloat there in that river with such heavy balls of steel??

 

[AK Chip]

Maybe we need to schedule a little meet up with cards and kayaking?

 

[RainmanTrail]

awesome ^ not sure how you stayed afloat there in that river with such heavy balls of steel??

I didn't!

 

[Trihonda]

Camping update...

Got up and hit a morning kayak trip. Our campsite is conveniently located near the boat/kayak launch. So an easy portage to hit the waterways.

Learned we will no longer be towing the kids behind in an inflatable raft. Too heavy. The dingy was listing sideways at a 45 deg angle, which kept pulling the rear end of our ocean kayak off track. I got lots of practice countersteering. .

Our trip was gorgeous. Bluffs on each side of the narrow waterway. Ended at a waterfall/dam that required a turnaround.

Then back to camp, where the entire family took 3-4 hour naps. After dinner, I was full of energy, so I did a night mountain bike ride on the off-road trails... I'm well equipped with lights, but there were some large animals that crossed the trail ahead of me. Just barely in range of my illumination, so it startled me a bit... One of these animals was the size of a small deer, bur looked like a large cat.... Nearly peed myself, lol

 

[spikeithard]

I attending an epic beach cottage party this past sat night. about 60-70 there with a huge bon fire on the shore. Got the boat out for a bit. White caps near the beach but after that pretty decent.
Lake huron up a little north is really clear and nice

 

[atomiktoaster]

Rented some kayaks on the Chicago River Saturday. 3.5 mile paddle in the dark to watch the fireworks at Navy Pier, and then paddled all the way back. Definitely the smelliest water I've ever been in, but it was a unique experience.

 

[spikeithard]

Got a new boat. Ordered it yesterday and should be here from Vancouver mid next week.
advanced elements top model the airfusion elite. The expedition I have now is good but just not want I want for peformance.
The Airfusion elite that I am getting is much thinner at 28 inches wide (still 13 feet long) but it performs much more like a hard shell and looks a lot nicer overall.

folds down to...

 

[detroitdad]

I'm not a canoe'r. Apparently we're going canoeing today.

 

[Trihonda]

I'm not a canoe'r. Apparently we're going canoeing today.

Person in the back steers. .

Also, don't try to steer purely by paddling back and forth from different sides. Steer by holding/angling your paddle in the water after you paddle. Everytime you you paddle on one side, it'll cause the canoe to turn the opposite way. If you hold the paddle in the water slightly after each paddle, it will counteract the turn. Only switch sides when you need to for fatigue, etc. play around with this until you can keep the canoe tracking straight. Have fun!

 

[T_Chan]

I've got a pair of beginner kayaks for me and my wife. We take them out a couple times a year. Trying to get another trip in before summer starts to fade.

Some photos from last year. The views around here are okay I guess.