Recommended Books on Kayaking

[Grassi21]

Thanks to thetrailboss I have resurrected the dream of pulling the trigger on a kayak. I'm going to take a look at a demo boat tomorrow that is selling for what seems like a great price. anyway, can anyone recommend some books that might come in handy for a noob?

 

[loafer89]

What are you looking to paddle in? whitewater or ponds/lakes.

 

[Grassi21]

Ponds, lakes, the bay up at the Cape. I will be taking a look at the Perception Avatar tomorrow.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Surf Kayak Baby!

http://cobrakayaks.com/strike.html

 

[cbcbd]

I have read a couple books and liked this one when I was starting out:
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book...566027?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180970150&sr=8-11

Later got this book - lots of info, but may be a bit more overwhelming at first:
http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Kayaking-...8566027?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180970150&sr=8-8


But, depending on how serious you want to get I'd take a lesson first to get a good base and then go from there.

 

[Grassi21]

I have read a couple books and liked this one when I was starting out:
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book...566027?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180970150&sr=8-11

But, depending on how serious you want to get I'd take a lesson.

I'm very serious. Between the lakes and ponds around Southbury and the Cape, I'm hoping to use paddling as one of my main forms of exercise. I do want to take lessons so any suggestions on where to take lessons would be great.

cbcbd - How does a sticker price of $650 for a demo Avatar sound? I know you are pretty deep into the sport.

 

[cbcbd]

I'm very serious. Between the lakes and ponds around Southbury and the Cape, I'm hoping to use paddling as one of my main forms of exercise. I do want to take lessons so any suggestions on where to take lessons would be great.

cbcbd - How does a sticker price of $650 for a demo Avatar sound? I know you are pretty deep into the sport.

Sweet, welcome to another wallet opening sport!!

For a $1K+ retail kayak that sounds pretty standard for a demo... and a good deal. IMO, kayaks, especially plastic ones are hard to really beat up - they will get scratched up and might get a little faded, but kayaks are usually low maintenance and keep pretty well - I think demo/rentals/a couple year old kayaks are great deals for what you get. Plus, you will be spending money on other accessories anyways (paddle, pfd, paddle float, bilge pump, sponge, whistle, sprayskirt, car rack... at least), so it's nice to save a few hundred on the boat.

I took my first kayak lessons from the EMS kayak school (emskayak.com). I got exactly what I needed/wanted out of the class - proper paddling strokes, some semi-advanced drills, wet exiting, some rescue practice (T-rescue).

Beware, it might get addictive. After 1 1/2 seasons on my Perception Carolina I bought another kayak, a Wilderness Systems Arctic Hawk (18' fiberglass Greenland style)... and after I take some white water lessons this year I just might get a white water kayak. All kayaks are so different and fun in different ways, you can't have just one (my old boss had 12!)

 

[Hawkshot99]

Surf Kayak Baby!

http://cobrakayaks.com/strike.html

That thing looks sweet!

This is one of mine. Also have 2 Sam's Club specials for lakes and ponds.

 

[thetrailboss]

That thing looks sweet!

This is one of mine. Also have 2 Sam's Club specials for lakes and ponds.

I have used one of these...lots of fun, hard to flip, and indestructable.

Grassi--good luck. I hope you find the right boat.

On topic: just picked up an AMC guide to flatwater paddling in NH/VT at a used bookstore for a whopping $3.99. Have enjoyed it...

 

[Grassi21]

Grassi--good luck. I hope you find the right boat.

On topic: just picked up an AMC guide to flatwater paddling in NH/VT at a used bookstore for a whopping $3.99. Have enjoyed it...

Besides instructional stuff, those are the types of books I'm looking for. I picked up one for CT. All of the locations are located along the sound. I don't think I will be paddling those areas until I get some experience under my belt. I need to find a local flatwater guide like you. I also picked up an instructional book that the saleperson recommended. I will write up a quick review after I plow through it. I can't remember the title at the moment.

Trigger pulled. The Avatar is probably more boat than a noob needs, but the price sounded right. I think it will also come in handy if I get comfortable enough to venture further and further from the shore of the bay in Cape Cod. I will be picking up the boat on Wednesday. I hope to have it in the water before the end of the week. Time to start looking for some lessons....

 

[thetrailboss]

Glad you got the boat, Grassi! :beer:

I have thoroughly enjoyed mine....need to file another TR from yesterday :wink:

 

[Grassi21]

Glad you got the boat, Grassi! :beer:

I have thoroughly enjoyed mine....need to file another TR from yesterday :wink:

I hope to have my first TR up by the end of the week. We may need start a new spot for paddling TRs in the forums. ;-) Actually, paddling.net does TRs broken out by state.

 

[ctenidae]

Books don't float, silly. Use a boat.

 

[Grassi21]

Books don't float, silly. Use a boat.

Hope Floats....

 

[thetrailboss]

I hope to have my first TR up by the end of the week. We may need start a new spot for paddling TRs in the forums. ;-) Actually, paddling.net does TRs broken out by state.

Tell me about it....

You also won't believe what I found today...in a box labelled, "FREE BOOKS," a 1977 "Digest Book of Canoes, Kayaks, and Rafts." It is now on my desk here at work!!!

 

[Grassi21]

Tell me about it....

You also won't believe what I found today...in a box labelled, "FREE BOOKS," a 1977 "Digest Book of Canoes, Kayaks, and Rafts." It is now on my desk here at work!!!

Nice find.

I'll put a TR up this evening. I paddled a wee bit this morning but plan on trying another spot after work. First impressions are good.

 

[bigbog]

Boats....

Sounds great Grassi21! Ahhhh, nothin' like shelling out $$$ for the Spring/Summer/Fall addiction..;-)

*Even though I have purchased a few of the "How To" books from time to time....one book, written by William Nealy(sp?) ...I think titled "Kayaking" is a good book. Written in a more leisurely manner, it IS more of a whitewater book, however it's a book that has been written from experience, focusing on the various types of water one can encounter...in many waters.

Steve

 

[AHM]

Here's a few you might find useful.................

1. AMC's Sea Kayaking Coastal MA
2. Kayaking the ME coast
3. Guide to Sea Kayaking in ME
4. Sea Kayaker's guide to Mt Desert Island (Acadia)
5. Adirondack flatwater paddling map

For the lakes and ponds approach, try the St Regis Wilderness Canoe area in the adirondacks starting from Fish Creek Ponds campground. There are quite a few good paddles here.

For ME, all of the guides were quite useful and the ME coast has so many options.

You might consider getting in touch with or joining the Boston Chapter of the AMC's paddling group, they run regular day trips.

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

Ok reading these posts is a bad thing, i dont know a damn thing about paddling nor did i ever think i would , but now with TB's and Grassi's trip reports and great pictures, here i am in dicks sports today looking at these damn things, this website is bad news for those of us trying to save money.

 

[bigbog]

Boat prices are not cheap these days.....

...But there are some pretty good prices up here in the boonies in Maine, and compared to most other shops....Mountainman Outdoors (in NY's Adirondacks...Old Forge and Inlet shops) has some pretty decent prices on many kayaks/canoes(both flatwater and ww).

$.01