Kayaking the Grand River
Over the past few years kayaking has become an ever increasingly popular sport. Due to the demand for kayaks many manufacturers have improved kayak designs. Now there are many different makes and models on the market. There are many different types of kayaks each having a particular purpose.
There are kayaks designed for white water and doing free style tricks. Play and creek boats fall into this category. If you just want to paddle a local lake or river there’s kayaks for that too. Recreational kayaks are designed for paddling small lakes and rivers with no rapids to speak of. If you are looking to paddle larger bodies of water such as Long Point World Biosphere Reserve or Georgian Bay then you would want to get a longer touring kayak. Touring kayaks are made for covering long distances and have front and rear storage compartments and many have a rudder system operated by your feet. The rudder helps in maintaining a straight course in waves and windy conditions. If you are ever planning on kayaking out into a large body of water make sure that you have learned and practiced self-rescue techniques and never kayak alone. Always check current weather and water conditions. Also if you are paddling large open bodies of water take a compass. If conditions and visibility suddenly get bad you’ll need to know where the closest shore is. You may say “I have a great sense of direction” but as one arm (as with our legs) is more powerful than the other, you will find you would just paddle in a circle if you could not see where you are going. As a fun exercise the next time you are paddling with your friends on flat water try paddling blind folded for a few minutes and you will see exactly what I mean.
If you have always wanted to try kayaking but have been a little nervous you should make sure your first attempt is on a small body of water where the shore is close by or even in a pool. Many people feel that as you sit inside most kayaks you would be trapped if you rolled over. However many new kayak designs have larger cockpits so you won’t feel so confined. Sit-on-top kayaks are great but you are limited to using them when water temperature is warm as you tend to sit in a bit of a puddle. If your kayak has a small cockpit make sure you can exit it freely in case of capsizing. This is called a “wet exit” and should be practised in advance of your trip and only when you have people around to assist. The “Eskimo roll” is a technique of being able to right your kayak while remaining seated inside it. The roll does take practise but is the best self-rescue technique for righting yourself. Never try to roll alone and always practise in the company of people who are able to assist you. Kayak outfitters like Heritage River Canoe & Kayak Company offer indoor pool sessions for those wanting to learn these techniques.
Kayaks are made of many different materials such as wood, fibreglass and polyethylene. Kayaks can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. The greatest majority of kayaks sold are made from polyethylene which is a form of plastic. Polyethylene kayaks are relatively inexpensive and are extremely durable. When purchasing a polyethylene make sure the hull is as smooth as possible as some can be quite rough which causes friction with the water when paddling which means you will have to work harder to get to your destination and expend more energy than necessary.
A great place to develop kayak paddling skills is the Grand River located just 100 km’s west of Toronto, Ontario. The Grand River is known as a great learning river and is a great place to learn kayaking skills before taking a trip out on open water like the Lake Erie, Long Point World Biosphere Reserve. Outfitter companies like Heritage River Canoe & Kayak Company offer a number of different kayaks to try out from recreational to touring kayaks. So if you want to test paddle a kayak before purchasing one this is a great place as well. You can even rent kayaks by the hour at Brant Conservation area located right on the Grand River. (Check the Heritage River website for concession hours).
Give kayaking a try and have a new world of paddling opportunities open up for you.
Have a truly grand Eco adventure paddling in the great outdoors.