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I'm moving to the Isles of Scilly for a year (job) and am resigning myself to the lack of biking opportunities. Ive dabbled in (river) kayaking in the past but never really got into it - I couldn't afford to ride bikes at the same time. A few years back I did some sea kayaking in New Zealand and loved the sense of adventure!
Anyone here paddle the sea? What boat do you use and any advice? I shall be hiring a kayak in the Scillies with a view to getting the skillz before buying a plastic boat once I know its for me!
[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/sea-kayaking-in-north-devon ]i asked a similar question, a little bt further up the coast but may help a bit.[/url]
Thanks, I'll take a look.
I did Sea Kayaking in New Zealand once. I nearly died of actual death the first day in a storm. 2nd day was flat calm, and...boring.
As well as my first sight of death, I also saw a baby penguin, but it didn't make up for the nearly dying bits or the boring bits.
Also, you would need to change your name, and that's a real hassle.
haha! Good story though!
You could look at ukriversguidebook as they have a sea section with guides and a forum that is very good.
I've done plenty of sea kayaking* (and river/surf as well). It's good but I never got the same thrill. It was more like going for a long XC ride where as river boating was a bit like hitting the local downhill run.
I've used a mixture of plastic and glass boats. Glass were nicer but in some places I prefered the damage resistance of plastic.
There's got to be a club that you could have a go with. They'll lend you a boat and all have opinions on what you should buy.
*Wales
England
Croatia
New Zealand (multi day and single day)
West coast of Canada (5 weeks!)
some other day trips on holidays.
Sea paddling is great, but you need to be careful and don't overstretch your ability. I don't think there are too many active paddlers in the scillies year round but it's popular enough as a destination.
You can get a reasonable beginners plastic sea boat for £350-400, you'll need paddle and a Bouyancy Aid which should add another £100 ish. If you wanted you can probably sell for what you payed for it. Getting the kit over isn't the easiest mind you. Don't go for anything too narrow unless you are confident in a boat.
I paddle a Rockpool Alaw, a composite roughwater boat.
Sea paddling is great, but you need to be careful and don't overstretch your ability.
^this
I love sea paddling, and if I lived in the right place I would do more. Do get some good coaching.
Sit-on-top? Just bought a single (have a tandem which is rarely used since having kids) whilst in Dorset (biking was non-existent where we were), great fun. Couple of hairy moments getting past the surf on one day but otherwise great fun. Non of the worry about capsizing etc. I'd love to learn to kayak in a normal boat again but don't have the time to keep it up. Most dealers do will do deals on the kit. Bought ours from a place in Exeter but our local shop will do a better deal.
There are significant advantages to performance boats over sit on tops. The efficiency, control, lack of windage etc etc is so much superior to sit on tops that are designed to a budget and simplicity. I doubt a SoT would keep up with a sea kayak, even at a cruising speed with minimal effort.
I did a two week sea kayaking expedition in Patagonia a few years ago and fricking loved it, but we were miles and miles from anywhere, carrying all our kit, and camping on beaches. Not sure a quick spin out during lunch would have the same appeal. We were in a mix of boats (singles and doubles) but my favorite was a Current Designs Storm GT, these all had lots of stowing space which I'm assuming you won't need.
Sort out your VHF radio license if you are going solo, actually it's useful even if in a group. I have a sit on top and full sea kayak, wouldn't do big trips in the sit-on-top as it's too knackering and doesn't cut through swell/rips as well.
You can start cheapish, I got going on a Necky Manitou which is fine for day trips. All the other kit adds up though, a decent spraydeck, cagoule, dry bags etc...
+1 matt. You'll get a lot more control and leverage in a proper boat where you adjust the footplates and wedge your knees in.
If you think sea kayaking is boring, then you're not doing the right sort of sea kayaking - I've scared myself silly on the sea in a way I never have on a river.
Sort out your VHF radio license if you are going solo
Or just buy a VHF and don't worry about the licence - naughty I know, but I figure the only reason I'll need to use it is in an emergency, in which case nobody gets stressed about whether or not you have a licence (though I have a licence for the radio). Different if in a group, in which case comms between different parts of the group can be handy - though anecdotally I've been told that if you have decent radio procedure you'll never get challenged.
Yup, same as aracer, scared witless off the Hebrides in a storm, that said I'm scared witless on a lot of rivers these days as well. Never bothered with a VHF license, never had to use it, but would take the rap if I had to and got caught out. Sea kayaking is awesome, though.
Good thinking about the VHF. was thinking about PLB's and EPRIBs but reckon VHF's will do all that I want them too.
Some of my favourite days out have been in a sea kayak, though my legs get a bit jumpy if they're cooped up too long. For me, it gives similar thrills to mountain biking - a bit of fear and adrenalin, great scenery, the sense of getting off the beaten track and the ability to be as social or solitary as I like. Actually, a bit more fear and adrenalin as I'm terrified of deep water. I'm sure Scilly is as good as anywhere to give it a go.