Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Anatomy of the Kayaking Gear

For a beginner, it pays to know as much about kayaking equipment as you can before you actually start jumping into the water with your boat. The essential equipment you need to familiarise yourself with range from basic paddling gear to safety components. Here are a few more things you need to know:

The Kayak
The kayak itself is made of durable material, and designed to sit just one or two persons (one for each cockpit). It also comes with a couple of flotation bags up front and in the rear of the vessel for efficient buoyancy.
The Paddle
Kayak paddles come in different shapes and sizes, each one contributing to the ease or difficulty of manoeuvring through rough waters. Wider blades for one have more surface area to touch water with, allowing for improved acceleration at the price of heavier resistance, thus making them the choice for people with excellent upper body strength.
PFD and Safety

When it comes to ensuring your safety, your PFD or personal flotation device is key. This is usually a life jacket or life preserver that each kayaker must don before hitting the waters. Another important safety gear is the helmet, which should come in handy against rocks on the water, seeing as kayaks are rather low vessels.

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