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hax

External


Since: Apr 14, 2004
Posts: 2



(Msg. 1) Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 6:51 pm
Post subject: Kayak - beginner fears
Archived from groups: rec>boats>paddle (more info?)
Hello all..

Just started looking into kayaking.. I've gone a number of time so far
(maybe 4-5x last year) it's been fun.. but I heard a story where a
friend flipped over and he was entangled in weeds.. A couple of times
I was kayaking in a lake that had patches of very weedy bottom.. now
I remember my paddle almost getting tangled in them and causing the
kayak to be unstable - good thing I didn't tip over..

The thought of falling in weedy water and getting tangled in them is
making me nervous about getting back in a kayak.. Ontario has an
abundance of lakes and without knowing if the water is weedy or not..
may discourage me from going out there..

A part of me is very excited about kayaking.. but then there's the
other part of me that's scared of tipping in weedy waters and getting
tangled.. I have no fear of tipping (i've done it unexpectedly the
first and second time I went out) over - it's the getting tangled in
weeds part that scares me.

The one time I found myself surrounded by weeds my paddle almost got
tangled but then I just tried paddling lightly and not digging deep in
the water and I was able to get out of it fine.. I can do this but the
thought of falling in and getting tangled under water is really making
me nervous.

Is there any reason for me to be concerned?

I'm sure this all sounds silly.. any thoughts would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks.

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Alex McGruer

External


Since: Jul 07, 2003
Posts: 43



(Msg. 2) Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 1:28 am
Post subject: Re: Kayak - beginner fears [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
hax3 DeleteThis @yahoo.com (hax) wrote in message news:<2abfdb07.0404141451.18ab0a42 DeleteThis @posting.google.com>...
 > Hello all..
 >
 > Just started looking into kayaking.. I've gone a number of time so far
 > (maybe 4-5x last year) it's been fun.. but I heard a story where a
 > friend flipped over and he was entangled in weeds.. A couple of times
 > I was kayaking in a lake that had patches of very weedy bottom.. now
 > I remember my paddle almost getting tangled in them and causing the
 > kayak to be unstable - good thing I didn't tip over..
 >
 > The thought of falling in weedy water and getting tangled in them is
 > making me nervous about getting back in a kayak.. Ontario has an
 > abundance of lakes and without knowing if the water is weedy or not..
 > may discourage me from going out there..
 >
 > A part of me is very excited about kayaking.. but then there's the
 > other part of me that's scared of tipping in weedy waters and getting
 > tangled.. I have no fear of tipping (i've done it unexpectedly the
 > first and second time I went out) over - it's the getting tangled in
 > weeds part that scares me.
 >
 > The one time I found myself surrounded by weeds my paddle almost got
 > tangled but then I just tried paddling lightly and not digging deep in
 > the water and I was able to get out of it fine.. I can do this but the
 > thought of falling in and getting tangled under water is really making
 > me nervous.
 >
 > Is there any reason for me to be concerned?
 >
 > I'm sure this all sounds silly.. any thoughts would be greatly
 > appreciated.
 >
 > Thanks.

If it scares you its not silly.

I tried to roll in weeds ( on purpose ) some years ago. I had a 100
Meter swim towing a boat.
The other side of weeds that can be handy is they calm waves giving
you a nice exit from a turbulant sea. Sea weed bleeds energy from a
swell allowing you a normal landing. Most of the sea weed here is
edible.

If you wear a PFD and you are not tentative with he paddle you should
have no problems.

This is a fun sport. Have a ball. If you want someone to scare the
bejeebers out of you come here. We have places with big scary waves
but they are harmless. Of course we have the other king too.

Oh ... I don't swim... My web site is
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://pages.ivillage.com/mcgruer" target="_blank">http://pages.ivillage.com/mcgruer</a> I was a parachutist with the
Airborne as well. I may manage to swim 10 feet, I am sure I can't fly
10 feet.
Wear a PFD and you will be fine.
Alex<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->

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Brian Nystrom

External


Since: Jun 26, 2003
Posts: 289



(Msg. 3) Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 2:53 am
Post subject: Re: Kayak - beginner fears [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Michael Daly1

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Since: Mar 09, 2004
Posts: 25



(Msg. 4) Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 3:51 am
Post subject: Re: Kayak - beginner fears [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
On 14-Apr-2004, hax3 DeleteThis @yahoo.com (hax) wrote:

 > The one time I found myself surrounded by weeds my paddle almost got
 > tangled but then I just tried paddling lightly and not digging deep in
 > the water and I was able to get out of it fine.. I can do this but the
 > thought of falling in and getting tangled under water is really making
 > me nervous.

There are few significant currents in the Great Lakes, so if you're
paddling there, the weeds will not stir - if you fall in, all the
tangling is due to your motions. In areas where there are significant
currents, weeds don't grow. In the intermediate areas (mouths of
rivers etc), be careful.

The weeds aren't that strong - nothing like some ocean seaweed - so
you can break free. If you're still concerned, attach a diver's
or paddler's knife to your PFD and you can cut your way out.

Make sure you're up to date on wet exit and reentry skills. Practice
bracing and don't worry. If you're tipping over a lot, you've got
a problem - kayaks are pretty stable.

Mike<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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BREWERPAUL

External


Since: Apr 03, 2004
Posts: 30



(Msg. 5) Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:06 am
Post subject: Re: Kayak - beginner fears [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Get a good PFD (personal flotation device aka life jacket) and wear it. No
worries.

******************************
Got wood?
Check out my exotic hardwood pennywhistles at fair
prices...http://www.Busmanwhistles.com
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SB

External


Since: Apr 15, 2004
Posts: 1



(Msg. 6) Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:14 am
Post subject: Re: Kayak - beginner fears [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Panic is about your only concern (that's why it's called panic!! haha).
Know what you have to do when you flip and be sure to practice in a safe
area if you're not comfortable with being upside down and wet.

Where are you based out of?
I'm in Ontario (just moved back from Vancouver) and have an inkling to get
back in to kayaking ('tis the land o'lakes here!).

sb
"hax" <hax3.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:2abfdb07.0404141451.18ab0a42@posting.google.com...
 > Hello all..
 >
 > Just started looking into kayaking.. I've gone a number of time so far
 > (maybe 4-5x last year) it's been fun.. but I heard a story where a
 > friend flipped over and he was entangled in weeds.. A couple of times
 > I was kayaking in a lake that had patches of very weedy bottom.. now
 > I remember my paddle almost getting tangled in them and causing the
 > kayak to be unstable - good thing I didn't tip over..
 >
 > The thought of falling in weedy water and getting tangled in them is
 > making me nervous about getting back in a kayak.. Ontario has an
 > abundance of lakes and without knowing if the water is weedy or not..
 > may discourage me from going out there..
 >
 > A part of me is very excited about kayaking.. but then there's the
 > other part of me that's scared of tipping in weedy waters and getting
 > tangled.. I have no fear of tipping (i've done it unexpectedly the
 > first and second time I went out) over - it's the getting tangled in
 > weeds part that scares me.
 >
 > The one time I found myself surrounded by weeds my paddle almost got
 > tangled but then I just tried paddling lightly and not digging deep in
 > the water and I was able to get out of it fine.. I can do this but the
 > thought of falling in and getting tangled under water is really making
 > me nervous.
 >
 > Is there any reason for me to be concerned?
 >
 > I'm sure this all sounds silly.. any thoughts would be greatly
 > appreciated.
 >
 > Thanks.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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hax

External


Since: Apr 14, 2004
Posts: 2



(Msg. 7) Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 9:22 am
Post subject: Re: Kayak - beginner fears [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Thank you all for your help.. I guess the only way to conquer this
fear is to face it. When the weather gets warmer I'll definitely try
going out and maybe try walking/swimming around (not too deep of
course) where there are weeds to see how "react" to my movements in
the water.. hopefully that would ease my mind.. many Ontario Parks
opens Mid-May.. I'm looking at maybe heading to Balsam Lake, Bass
lake, Emily, Mara, McRae Point, and/or Sibbald Point Park - where
apparently there are clean sandy beaches.. all should be within 2hr
drive from TO. Or another option is Cherry Beach close to Downtown
but last year when I went there (not to kayak) the beach wasn't very
clean.. though I did see a handful of people windsurfing/kayaking..
guess the further you go out to the water the cleaner it gets (?)..

Anyway hope this summer I can build my confidence.. looking forward
to practicing my pool-learned wet exit/re-entry in 'real' water soon..
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Rick3

External


Since: Feb 26, 2004
Posts: 9



(Msg. 8) Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 4:25 pm
Post subject: Re: Kayak - beginner fears [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
....stuff deleted

When in and around weeds, move slowly. Quick movements cause currents and
motion, creating potential entanglement. I have swum through weeds in lakes
and can verify that the faster you move, the more likely you'll become
entangled.

Someone mentioned how kelp is considerably stronger than weeds. While true,
it is also brittle. Lacking a knife, you can bite through kelp with ease.
This is what we teach divers out here in Monterey and it works like a charm.
You can also bend kelp to the breaking point, but that takes two hands and
more finesse. Grasses are much more difficult to get loose once you are
tangled.

Rick
 >
 > Just started looking into kayaking.. I've gone a number of time so far
 > (maybe 4-5x last year) it's been fun.. but I heard a story where a
 > friend flipped over and he was entangled in weeds.. A couple of times
 > I was kayaking in a lake that had patches of very weedy bottom.. now
 > I remember my paddle almost getting tangled in them and causing the
 > kayak to be unstable - good thing I didn't tip over..
 >
 > The thought of falling in weedy water and getting tangled in them is
 > making me nervous about getting back in a kayak.. Ontario has an
 > abundance of lakes and without knowing if the water is weedy or not..
 > may discourage me from going out there..
 >
....stuff deleted<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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Michael Daly1

External


Since: Mar 09, 2004
Posts: 25



(Msg. 9) Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 5:46 pm
Post subject: Re: Kayak - beginner fears [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
On 15-Apr-2004, hax3.DeleteThis@yahoo.com (hax) wrote:

 > many Ontario Parks
 > opens Mid-May..

You won't see many weeds at that time. They only start growing big
after a long period of warmth.

 > Or another option is Cherry Beach close to Downtown
 > but last year when I went there (not to kayak) the beach wasn't very
 > clean.. though I did see a handful of people windsurfing/kayaking..
 > guess the further you go out to the water the cleaner it gets (?)..

While Cherry Beach (and all waterfront near Toronto) isn't clean, it
isn't the stuff you see that will get to you. The serious nasties
(chemical or biological) are invisible.

If you paddle out from Cherry Beach, you won't see much weed until
you get to Leslie Spit or the Toronto Islands. In those places,
the weeds are not noticable until July and won't reach the surface
until well into August. There are pockets that are the exception
(such as a few parts of the canals thru the Islands), but for the
most part you've got weed-free paddling for quite a while.

There are many areas to paddle from Cherry Beach that are quite deep,
so no weeds will be visible. A bigger threat paddling in that area
are motor boat operators who are drunk and/or inattentive (paddle
near the nude beach if you want to see boat operators that are
clearly not paying attention to vehicle operation).

Mike<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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