How to Carry a Loaded Sea Kayak to the Water

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Tips & Warnings

• Sea kayaking can be a very fun and relaxing sport. However, as with any sport dealing with open water, it has many inherent dangers. When learning how to sea kayak, it is a good idea to seek out professional instruction.

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on 8/8/2006 Steps:

1. Grab another strong person. Better yet, grab three (or even five) for double kayaks. Loaded kayaks can be very heavy, and you'll need the help. Extra people can grab onto the cockpit. The more the merrier.

2. Everybody puts a hand on the kayak on the ground. Make sure you use a safe lifting technique by bending your knees and straightening your back so it's straight up and down. Don't bend over, because you don't want to blow out your back on the first day (or hour) of your kayak trip.

3. On three, everybody lifts. The two people at the ends grab them with both hands. The person in front steers everybody else around rocks, logs, jellyfish, etc. The trick here is to communicate. Everybody should know if there's a drop-off coming, or if you're close to the water. If the whole bunch starts moving too fast, holler "Slowly."

4. Gently lower the kayak to the water, making sure it's floating in water, not grounded. Rocks underneath the hull of a loaded boat can scratch the gelcoat, or even poke holes. Everybody but the paddler of the kayak and a helper goes to move another boat down. Never walk off and leave a kayak in the surf zone if there is even a slight possibility of a wave or boat's wake coming and hitting the kayak while near shore.

Note: Of course, plastic boats and perfect sandy beaches make this a little easier. If you treat your plastic boat like a fiberglass or fabric boat, it will last a bit longer, and remain easy to paddle.