Launching your kayak does not have to be difficult as long as you know what you’re doing.
When it comes to launching your kayak, there are a few important decisions that you must make. The first thing you should decide is whether or not you want to launch your kayak from the land, or on the water. You can even launch your kayak from a dock, though that is usually a bit harder to do than launching the boat from the beach, or on dry land.
The two main methods of launching your kayak from the land consist of the regular launch, and of “wet-footing” it. Wet footing means that you load up your kayak in the water so that the bottom will not rub against the sand or rocks that might be on the beach. You should definitely use this method to launch your kayak if you are going to be launching from a rocky beach, or any other situation where there might be objects that can harm your kayak in the sand.
After all, while most kayaks are generally designed to be fairly sturdy, it is always possible that they could be damaged. This is especially the case if they are loaded up on land, and then dragged over rocks. When launching your kayak from the water, you should make sure that you are able to put everything into your kayak that you want to use. You should probably load the lighter objects into your kayak when you are still on land, as well, since they won’t cause any extra harm to your kayak, and it will make getting in a lot easier once you are in the water. If you decide to try launching your kayak this way, make sure that you practice a little bit first. That way you’ll be able to get into your kayak quickly and easily, and you won’t fall.
If you think that this method sounds too complicated, some people find that it is easier to get into their kayak on dry land. However, you should only use the dry land launch if you are on a sandy beach where there are no major obstacles between yourself and the water. Then, pull your kayak out so that the bow is actually floating. This is so that you will not have to drag your kayak over too much sand before you get into the water.
Keep in mind that launching your kayak can get a lot more dangerous and difficult if you are launching in an area where there is a lot of surf. While it is always possible to launch a kayak in high surf, you’re probably better off avoiding this. Therefore, you should try to find a beach that is sheltered for launching your kayak.
About the Author Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.kayakhelp.com. Please visit his complete kayaking guide for all skills and ages.
Written by: Jakob Jelling
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