The Kayak Accessory - Do Not Leave Home Without It
Your top two accessories will be your paddle and your life vest. Put adequate care into selecting both and, whatever you do, don’t buy them used! I suggest doing an Internet search for both of them. Pelican and Stearns are well-respected brands year in and year out. Don’t be forced into buying the “latest” (and generally most expensive) kayak accessory—just go with basic and something that comes with a guarantee.
The Need For The Kayak Accessory
Kayaking is a simple sport. It is all about a person, a basic boat and a paddle. The paddle is a matter of choice. The European paddle can increase speed while the Greenland paddle helps maintain stability. The kayak can be chosen to fit the type of water that will be traveled and the kind of sport that will be played. Whether sight-seeing or competitive whitewater racing, there is a kayak specifically made to fit. But a kayak and paddle alone is not enough. Rough water means waterproof gear. A tight kayak means special foot gear. Safety calls for helmets and flotation devices. Unless you live on the shore of a lake, river or ocean, you will need a way to get your kayak to water.
Getting Started
Start with clothing. Water sports demand a special type of clothing. It must be waterproof but not trap perspiration against the skin. The original kayak accessory was a suit made of the same type of animal skin as the covering of the kayak which was sewn to the kayak for a completely waterproof outfit. Today’s fabrics don’t need to be sewn to the kayak to provide waterproof protection. Remember to wear synthetics, not cotton, to find clothing that will allow freedom of movement and be durable. Dress in layers. Feet confined in narrow kayaks need waterproof sandals or booties rather than clunky boots. They should be flexible but have protective soles for use on land. Gloves are the kayak accessory that will protect the hands from cold, water and blisters. There are even gloves available that attach to the paddle.
A kayaker has more contact with the water than most boaters do. A kayak rides low in the water and can turn over. On top of that, there isn’t much water displacement in the thin silhouette. That means that taking on water can mean trouble. The kayak accessory designed to avoid that trouble is the sprayskirt. It fits over the paddler with suspenders and covers the chest down over the opening of the kayak. A simple sprayskirt can keep the paddle splash off your lap or the rapids out of the boat. With the danger of water in the boat, you will need all of your gear to be waterproof. Each kayak accessory should be made of water resistant material – like a vinyl food cooler that floats – or be stowed in a vinyl gear bag shaped to fit in the confined space of a kayak. A good kayak accessory is a flotation device for the paddle. Bright colors make it easier to find in rough water, too. Whatever kayak accessory you need, you will find that the sports outfitters are way ahead of you.
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