Ottakee Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 I bought an 8 foot kayak off Craig's list for my self for Christmas and then last week bought an 11 foot one for myself from a friend so that the kids can use the smaller one if we go out together. First time we tried it we stuck to the neighbor's pond just to make sure that the kayaks didn't leak and that the kids could get the hang of paddling, etc. Today we took them to a local recreational area and went on a huge pond/small lake Everyone did well. My 3 big questions: How should the foot pegs be adjusted? I am not sure I have my legs in the correct position. If you have any links to pictures, etc. that would help. I don't know if my knees should be straighter, pushing on the sides, the top, etc. My other question is how do you get OUT of the kayak somewhat gracefully? I am a short and stout plus sized mom who can't just "hop" in and out. I also have a bad ankle and had a torn meniscus in my knee so that leg is a bit weaker. Today I turned around backwards and was on my knees on the seat and then could easily get out but it didnt' look pretty I am sure. How do you figure out the spotting stuff when you launch at one place and then get out 2 hours down the river (which might be 10 driving miles)? I carry my kayaks in my horse trailer unless it would be just 1 and then I can fit the smaller one IN my mini van. My friend has a truck so we can put several in the bed of her truck. We just need to know the best way to do this so we aren't driving back and forth all over..........unless we try to paddle upstream and float back which might be an option at some places but too time consuming for others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 Foot pegs: whatever you feel is comfortable. Legs straight and flat are not, nor is having the feet off the foot rests. You will want your legs bent and be able to exert pressure against the foot rests with your feet. Getting out: I've never turned around and kneeled. I kind of get up on one foot and set the other foot out of the kayak in the water. I shall have to pay better attention next time, since i can't really describe. Shuttling: two cars. Car 1 that is equipped to carry the boats goes to the put-in, unloads the boats and one person, and drives to the takeout to park. Car 2 that is not equipped for loading boats drives straight to the takeout, picks up the driver of car 1, and drives to the put-in to be parked there. After the run, boats are piled on car 1 at takeout, car 1 drives to put-in and deposits driver/party of car 2. It's always a bit like the riddle with the cabbage, goat and wolf whom you have to ferry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 I don't know how to post the link, but my son's friend just posted on for snoayking. fresh powder into water. (they wore dry suits) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xixstar Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 I agree on foot rest positions, whatever is most comfortable for you. I put a fair amount of pressure on mine and prefer to have my knees bent comfortably. There is a lot of abdominal plus leg work going on, so having it at a comfortable distance is important. But I also have knee issues and typically will readjust while I am out 1x when I get tired of the current position. Graceful in and out -- lol. I've found that depends on where I exit -- is it a bank that I have to saddle up parallel or is it a sloping shore that I just have to steer into. The smooth, gradual shore is a bit easier, I have learned to get up as much speed as possible so that I am in as far as possible. The it's just a matter of putting a leg over and then usually I'm bottomed out and a leg on the ground and one in the kayak is stable enough to stand. Now, the parallel banks I am far less gracious and haven't learned the art there. I'd search youtube for ideas -- my first class my instructor showed how to get out utilizing the paddle and the second trip I went on with another instructor that yelled at anyone doing it that way because it was wrong and would just break the paddle. I've yet to learn a better way and thus have only had to navigate shallow shores or have also used kayak launch pads that were really designed for handicap access but it was helpful and the dryest method in and out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted July 4, 2015 Author Share Posted July 4, 2015 Shuttling: two cars. Car 1 that is equipped to carry the boats goes to the put-in, unloads the boats and one person, and drives to the takeout to park. Car 2 that is not equipped for loading boats drives straight to the takeout, picks up the driver of car 1, and drives to the put-in to be parked there. After the run, boats are piled on car 1 at takeout, car 1 drives to put-in and deposits driver/party of car 2. It's always a bit like the riddle with the cabbage, goat and wolf whom you have to ferry. So if there are 2 of you do you leave the kayaks unattended while you pick up the other person? That could be 30+ minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 So if there are 2 of you do you leave the kayaks unattended while you pick up the other person? That could be 30+ minutes. I've only ever gone with more people. A friend of ours owns the kayaks; he and his wife like to ask friends along so there are two cars and more than two people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datgh Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 If you figure out how to get out of one of those things gracefully, you will be my hero!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 A gracious exist can be a problem for many, just not this guy :D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsDUQpUfRzg Bill 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 For cars... All cars and people drive to end spot. Leave empty pick up car (car 2). Driver 2 gets into car 1. Drive Car 1 (now full of people and boats and gear) to launch. Unload gear and people. Leave car 1. Launch. Don't forget keys to car 2 in car 1. Don't get smart and store them there for safety... Kayak and end up at car 2. Load all gear and people. Drive to car 1 and drop driver 1. Go home. Drop gear. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 I am a gazelle departing my boat... Like a gangly-legged, funny-to-watch newborn gazelle with no grace or balance. I recommend as much leverage as possible and as much beach under you as possible. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted July 5, 2015 Author Share Posted July 5, 2015 I am a gazelle departing my boat... Like a gangly-legged, funny-to-watch newborn gazelle with no grace or balance. I recommend as much leverage as possible and as much beach under you as possible. Good luck! I am more of the hippo type myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 We've kayaked the past 3 days, and I thought of this thread when I climbed in and out today. 😄 (For the record, I assumed ungainliess was par for the course when climbing in or out...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 Assume truck can carry boats and car cannot. Leave car at takeout point. Take truck and boats upriver to put in. Enjoy kayaking. Remember to get out at the right spot. After, one person drives car to truck, swaps vehicles, and comes to takeout with truck to get ppl and boats. Drive truck back to put in, get car, go home. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 I prefer to exit my kayak away from the view of others! Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 I'm not sure there IS a graceful way to get out. I just had a gigantic bruise heal up on my buttock from my last not-so-graceful exit. (those things are slippery!) I prefer knees slightly bent, it is easier on my back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 Assume truck can carry boats and car cannot. Leave car at takeout point. Take truck and boats upriver to put in. Enjoy kayaking. Remember to get out at the right spot. After, one person drives car to truck, swaps vehicles, and comes to takeout with truck to get ppl and boats. Drive truck back to put in, get car, go home. This is what we do too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 Assume truck can carry boats and car cannot. Leave car at takeout point. Take truck and boats upriver to put in. Enjoy kayaking. Remember to get out at the right spot. After, one person drives car to truck, swaps vehicles, and comes to takeout with truck to get ppl and boats. Drive truck back to put in, get car, go home. "Remember to get out at the right spot." LOL!!! A nice long piece of "our color(s)" trail marking tape is helpful if you have something good to tie it to at the takeout point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted July 31, 2015 Author Share Posted July 31, 2015 If you figure out how to get out of one of those things gracefully, you will be my hero!!! Well, today a friend and I went out on our first real adventure. We went out on a large spring fed bayou and it was windy so we have some tiny whitecaps a few times. It was a lot of fun and a good workout. The current was such that at times when we just let ourselves drift we ended up going in circles. The exit though was NOT graceful at all. Good thing I had on my swim shorts and brought along dry clothes............and we were there early enough in the day that no one else was out on the water or at the beach where we put in and got out. I need to work on that exiting thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimomma Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 I just have to be OK not looking good getting out of the kayak. I have done the backwards knee thing too. Another alternative if you only have one car is to drop a bike off where you will get out and pedal back to car to go back and get boats. You can lock the bike up to a tree or whatever. It is a pretty common practice around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted July 31, 2015 Author Share Posted July 31, 2015 I just have to be OK not looking good getting out of the kayak. I have done the backwards knee thing too. Another alternative if you only have one car is to drop a bike off where you will get out and pedal back to car to go back and get boats. You can lock the bike up to a tree or whatever. It is a pretty common practice around here. The bike thing might be hard for many places around here due to distance and super busy roads. We have to figure that part out yet but for today we just put in and got out at the same place and kayaked for just over an hour in the bayou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 A gracious exist can be a problem for many, just not this guy :D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsDUQpUfRzg Bill Well I've been looking for things to add to my bucket list. I didn't have anything badass enough for the before you're 50 thread. NOW I DO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted August 19, 2015 Author Share Posted August 19, 2015 I am LOVING kayaking. I am getting out a few mornings a week. Today we tried one of those rolling kayak launches for the first time. That was fun. We are also getting to see a lot of wildlife as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 If you're flirting with sunset, or even thing you'll be out an hour before, tie a glow stick at the takeout point juuuuuuust in case. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Here's a short how-to video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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