Unloading & Carrying a Kayak

Series Summary

Kayaks have been used for thousands of years - the oldest kayaks dating back 4,000 years. Inuit Indians, who invented and named the kayak, have always used them as an effective means for hunting sea animals such as sea lions. Today the majority of kayaks are used for recreation. From sea kayaks to white water kayaks, these amazingly versatile boats are employed and enjoyed all around the world. Learning how to use a kayak is not exactly intuitive and getting instruction from a professional instructor is paramount for beginners. If you would like to learn kayaking basics before getting in the water, learn for free from one of our experts.

In this free online video series, learn kayaking basics from expert kayaking instructor Jean Totz. Jean will teach you important kayaking tips on kayak maintenance, how to safely carry a kayak, how to load a kayak onto your car and how to be safe before you even get into the water. She will demonstrate basic kayaking techniques such as how to get out of the kayak and stay dry, how to paddle a kayak and not fall out, how to turn a kayak, and how to transport kayaks.

Video Transcript

"Hello I'm Jean Totz with Sweetwater Kayaks in St. Pete, Florida. I'm here to show you how to sea kayak. First we are going to start with unloading a kayak. It is one of the most frequently asked questions I get, as a woman, on how to manage your boat off of your car. First we are going to untie it. I have a foam block in the front of my boat. What really makes it easy for me is I have a slider in the back. It's just a V shaped cradle that lets me slide my boat off. It can easily be done with just one person. Now to carry it I simply use balance. I am going to grab it right here and place it on my shoulder, bending my knees, lift right on top of my shoulder and stand up. Off I go."