Canoes and Kayaks

matthewriches

matthewriches

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www.matthewriches.co.uk
Since moving onto the river Blyth last year, the tranquil setting has made me look to a Kayak as a small pastime and escape for the longer evenings ahead. I spent 3 years cycling and have legs like trees and I'm fed up of crap roads! So thought about doing some waterborne activity that I can do on my own without any real preparation.

Anyone else got one?
 
We have done some kayaking (inflatables these days) on the Stour in its lowest reaches and in the Bures/Nayland area, and found it very pleasant. I don’t know about the Blyth and canoe access - this site http://access.canoedaysout.com/ describes it as ‘disputed rights’ over a 7km stretch (http://access.canoedaysout.com/map/showonly/1256) but you should be able to find out more locally – e.g. by contacting a club (list linked at http://www.bcusuffolk.org.uk/), which if you are beginning is perhaps a good idea anyway.
 
I used to do quite a lot of sea kayaking, and also a little inland Canadian canoe paddling.

Haven't done any for ages, though still have the kit in the garage. Strangely, I was thinking earlier this week of trying to get out today, but that didn't happen for various reasons.

Always fancied a trip up the Blyth, so if you're interested in a try out sometime soon, PM me.

Your strong legs will stand you in good stead: in a kayak you're effectively pushing the boat along with them.
 
Going to the shop to look at a few this morning on a rare day off so will let you know the outcome!

LittleSister said:
I used to do quite a lot of sea kayaking, and also a little inland Canadian canoe paddling.

Haven't done any for ages, though still have the kit in the garage. Strangely, I was thinking earlier this week of trying to get out today, but that didn't happen for various reasons.

Always fancied a trip up the Blyth, so if you're interested in a try out sometime soon, PM me.

Your strong legs will stand you in good stead: in a kayak you're effectively pushing the boat along with them.
Click to expand...
 
We have an inflatable Sevelor two-man one which came with us for a few cruises. It is quite fun, but a bit wide when inflated so not all that pleasant to paddle for far - however, it is good to take kids out in because it is very stable. If you go that way, there are some nice looking alternatives, though I must compliment Sevelor on the toughness of theirs.
We also have, at home, some wooden ones we made ourselves. They are made of very thin ply (1.5mm) so are very light (9kg for a 4.5m kayak) but have to be handled carefully on stony beaches etc. We take them out frequently locally (Maldon) to paddle on the Blackwater, and Gordon has had one in the sea in Wales and Ireland and the tidal Thames - so they stand up to calm seas, but not white water! They are pretty stable.
Consider making yourself one, with your practical skills. The latest of ours took about 5 weeks and cost maybe £200 in materials. A heavier one made of 4mm ply would be cheaper and quicker.
The Blyth would be a lovely area to kayak.
 
We got a couple of these https://www.advancedelementskayaks.co.uk/product.php/542/advanced-elements-firefly for sheltered waters as they are toughly built, quick to assemble, light and easily stored on the boat (or in the car). They do not track too badly, although of course a rigid is better to paddle - and these inflatables, though larger, heavier and more complex are better in that respect https://www.advancedelementskayaks.co.uk/product.php/611/advancedframe-kayak.

We recently sold our three rigid kayaks, but if you go the rigid route the type of roofrack which slides across and down the side of the vehicle to load seems very convenient for a single person to use.
 
Was going to get a moulded one. Initially will keep it on the flybridge of the boat or in the aft crew cabin if it'll fit. When I want to go on another river I can sling it in the back of the transit.

Hydrozoan said:
We recently sold our three rigid kayaks, but if you go the rigid route the type of roofrack which slides across and down the side of the vehicle to load seems very convenient for a single person to use.
Click to expand...
 
Was going to get a moulded one. Initially will keep it on the flybridge of the boat or in the aft crew cabin if it'll fit. When I want to go on another river I can sling it in the back of the transit.

Hydrozoan said:
We recently sold our three rigid kayaks, but if you go the rigid route the type of roofrack which slides across and down the side of the vehicle to load seems very convenient for a single person to use.
Click to expand...
 
We had a Sevylor Madison from Go Outdoors for a while. They have double skins - an inner bladder and a tough outer shell. Well built, but it was a bit slow for what I wanted (keeping up with the rigid one). The other downsides were that it took a long time to dry out, and the seating position was quite low. We bought a couple of inflatable camping pillows to act as booster seats.
The single skin gumotex palavas are much better in both of these respects but not cheap.
Whatever you do, have fun and be careful in the wind.
 
matthewriches said:
Was going to get a moulded one. Initially will keep it on the flybridge of the boat or in the aft crew cabin if it'll fit. When I want to go on another river I can sling it in the back of the transit.
Click to expand...

Moulded is very strong of course – though our rotomoulded version of our old GRP Ottersports tourer was very heavy in comparison. Not that it will matter with tree legs and a transit! :) Have fun.
 
Done white water and touring with both kayak and open canoes for years. You need to think what your main use is going to be as they both have pro's and con's.

You can get good advice on UKRGB (kayaks) or Song of the Paddle (open canoe)
 
All sorted. The sales bloke spent a long time going though everything. Got a single sit in rotomould (what a funny word) with spray deck, storage, paddle (and a spare) along with a pile of other stuff..... iPhone holder, another dry bag, etc....... Now where do I install the AIS transponder and radar arch??? :p

Andibs said:
Done white water and touring with both kayak and open canoes for years. You need to think what your main use is going to be as they both have pro's and con's.

You can get good advice on UKRGB (kayaks) or Song of the Paddle (open canoe)
Click to expand...
 
I have developed an allergy to kayaks. It started with a fusspot woman who had already tried our patience after a week on board when she took it upon herself to point out that there were some kayaks ahead in the channel approaching Copenhagen. After being thanked once, she continued to warn me repeatedly about these distant craft, while I held my course eventually implying that I would rather run them down than yield my ground. The kayaks merely drifted out of my way as I knew they would.
 
Kayaks are fine - you can at least see them - its swimmers that really scare me. In dutch canals, then you can usually see them before running them over, but when a couple of swimmers in the entrance to a harbour (Johnalison will know Rønne) suddenly decided to swim in front of our bows as we were coming in from the (not very calm) sea, we had a very nasty emergency stop when we saw them at the last moment.

Enjoy the kayak, Matt. I'm just back from a lovely quiet couple of hours kayaking upstream from Maldon. I would love to have a huge area like the Blyth to explore.
 
Ali-alshira said:
Kayaks are fine - you can at least see them - its swimmers that really scare me. In dutch canals, then you can usually see them before running them over, but when a couple of swimmers in the entrance to a harbour (Johnalison will know Rønne) suddenly decided to swim in front of our bows as we were coming in from the (not very calm) sea, we had a very nasty emergency stop when we saw them at the last moment..
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Allinge, Tjorn, Gudhjem and Svaneke yes, but I've never been to Ronne!
Friends of ours had a nasty do in Ramsgate a couple of years ago. Just as they turned into the alley a swimmer, Dutch, appeared ahead and they were forced to crash stop, sustaining some minor damage when blown against another boat. The swimmer got a rocket from the HM.
Actually, I also admire kayaks, and the way such a simple technology has opened a lot of waters to the intrepid or just curious.
 
Went and picked it up this morning as the bloke needed to build it for me. Currently sat in the saloon on the boat ready for some nice weather. Nearly died today (to the tune of a not functioning starboard gearbox) moving the boat up the river so things can only go uphill here from there.

You'll have to come and be my confederate anytime Friday afternoon onwards. Going to take the dinghy out first to eyeball a route.

Ali-alshira said:
Enjoy the kayak, Matt. I'm just back from a lovely quiet couple of hours kayaking upstream from Maldon. I would love to have a huge area like the Blyth to explore.
Click to expand...
 
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