NRS Kayak Hanger

A kayak hanger is a neat idea. I don’t use one myself as I usually just store my inflatable kayak away in its bag.

However I think if you have the space this kayak hanger would actually be really handy.

Below are two reasons that even for an inflatable kayak this kayak hanger could be put to good use.

1. You could use it to dry your inflatable kayak out. You want to make sure your inflatable is completely dry before you store it away so that you don’t get any mold. If you had this hanger you could hoist your kayak up maybe in the sun and let it dry out before you pack it away.
2. Also if you are using your inflatable kayak often you may not want to be always deflating it. If you have a garage or a storage area you could simply hang your kayak up ready for its next use.

If you have a hard-shell kayak the NRS kayak hanger would be extremely convenient to use. Even for an inflatable kayak though it may work well for some people. It also will hold up your kayak paddle as well.

The NRS kayak hanger consists of:

• Strong, adjustable nylon straps that can suspend from a wall or ceiling.
• Steel J-hooks that easily attach the straps to existing structures.
• An integrated loop on each strap to keep your paddle up.
• A second set of loops that allow you to attach another set of hangers underneath if you have more then one kayak.
• Bolts and instructions

Find more information on the NRS Kayak Hanger.

Keeping Our Waters a Paddling Paradise – Part 2

If you missed the first part of this article you can catch up by reading Keeping Our Waters a Paddling Paradise – Part 1.

The pollution running into our streams, lakes and oceans is a direct result of our poor habits. It is not too late to be proactive and to follow some simple guidelines that can make a massive difference in keeping  pollution out of the water.

This will will help protect all aquatic life as well as swimmers, and as an added benefit it will also help keep the water beautiful for kayaking.

In the first part of this article we discussed simple proactive steps that can be done at home. In this article we will look at car care as well as shopping habits and disposal.

How Proper Car Care can Protect our Waters

We all know that vehicles are a major source of pollution. I believe more and more people are making an effort to use their car less frequently, car pool, use public transport and ride their bike.

However the fact is that most of us are simply not willing to give them up completely. If you have a vehicle, learning proper car care can really help to protect our waters.

Below are some simple guidelines to follow.

• Oil is one of the biggest polluters of waterways. Use recycled motor oil. Production of recycled motor oil only requires 2.4% of the oil as well as only 50% of the energy of new production.

• If you do spill or leak any oil, clean it up otherwise rain will wash it into the storm drains. Try to avoid spills by using a drip pan when changing your cars fluids.

• Keep your car maintained regularly.

• When you wash your car use a bucket of water as opposed to running a hose and use a biodegradable soap. Also remove any black dust from your hubcaps with a damp paper towel and dispose of it in the trash. The dust can contain copper and zinc.

• If you take your car to a car wash try and find one that recycles and reuses its water.

• Of course if you can limit the use of your car this will be a very big help to the quality of the water as well as the air. Try and plan so that all of your errands can be done in one shot. Also look into carpooling and ridesharing… many communities have something like this set up.

Change your Shopping Habits to Keep Pollutants out of the Water

Shopping for groceries and household products can become a very habitual event. We tend to buy what we know and have already used. By changing a few key things in your shopping habits you can help keep pollution from making its way to the rivers, lakes or oceans in your area.

• Learn what is toxic and harmful. Start reading labels and watch for “warnings”. Warning labels should be avoided as these are usually very toxic and dangerous. When you clean your house with toxic products they are not only being breathed by you and your family but they are also being absorbed into your skin as well as washed into your drains.

• Look for alternatives. Once you have become an expert at reading labels you can then start searching for safer alternatives. Get into the habit of knowing where the all natural products are at your grocery store. Sometimes they have a separate section and sometimes they are mixed in with all of the rest of the products. Avoid harsh chemicals, aerosol products, bleach, dye’s, ammonia, and other toxic ingredients. There is always a safe alternative that can be used instead.

• When you are shopping be careful not to overbuy. If you absolutely feel you need to buy a toxic product, only purchase what you need.

• If you have any hazardous waste products in your home be sure you dispose of it properly. It is illegal to dispose of these items in the drains or trash. Your community will have a local hazardous waste hotline that you can call to find out exactly where you can safely dispose of these items.

It is possible for every single person to make a very big difference in keeping our water clean. If you can implement many of these guidelines into your daily life then you will not only be helping to keep pollution out of the water but you will also inspire others to do the same.

There is no reason for our waters to be as polluted as they are and it is simply a matter of changing a few habits and being conscious and aware. We are so fortunate to have such amazing waterways in this world to explore and to kayak on and it is extremely important that we keep them as clean and safe as possible.

If you have any other suggestions or guidelines that we could all implement into our daily lives to help keep pollution out of the water please leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

Find other informative paddling tips & advice.

Keeping Our Waters a Paddling Paradise – Part 1

I have often noticed when I have been kayaking that the waters have not always been crystal clear. In fact many times there has been enough pollution in the water to make me very uncomfortable.

I am well aware of the fact that to keep our waters a paddling paradise there is much work that needs to be done. The responsibility of keeping our waters clean does not come down to one person, one group or one source.

The responsibility falls on all of us and as kayakers we tend to have a particular interest in the water being free of toxic pollution.

Facts about Water Pollution

One of the major contaminants of water is oil. One quart of oil is able to contaminate 250,000 gallons of water. To put that into perspective cars are responsible for dispersing fifty million gallons of oil each year from burned exhaust, oil dripping on roadways, as well as illegal dumping. A lot of that oil ends up as run-off pollution into the water.

Other major sources of water pollution are:

• Yard waste
• Dirt
• Pesticides

When we have heavy rainfalls or storms the excess water carries these pollutants down the drains and into our lakes, streams and oceans.

It is very easy not to think about these things as we go about our daily lives until suddenly, one day,  it smacks you in the face when you are kayaking and the smell of the water or the murkiness makes you feel semi-guilty and a little bit sick. It is the kind of thing where once you have seen it and experienced it you simply can’t ignore it. However, not to worry, there is lots that can be done to help.

Guidelines for Keeping Our Waters Clean

The first place we can start is at home. Below are some easy tips that everyone can follow:

• Only water your yard or garden when absolutely necessary. Excessive watering is actually one of the main activities that can lead to storm water pollution.

• Eliminate toxic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers in your garden and on your yard. Yes they do help in killing annoying insects and weeds, but they can also kill birds, fish, and make the water very polluted. You or your child may be swimming in the water where those chemicals end up and they can make you very sick. There are lots of nontoxic alternatives that can be researched online or at your local nursery.

• If you absolutely have to use some type of chemical on your yard or in your garden do not use it before a rain storm. The storm will wash the chemicals into the drains and then into your waterways poisoning every living thing along its way.

• Compost your yard trimmings as they can clog up storm drains.  Once the waste reaches the ocean it decays and absorbs oxygen which the fish need to survive. Check with your community as usually there is some type of program that will pick up at certain times yard waste for composting.

• Clean up after your pets. I actually didn’t realize this before but animal feces that get washed into storm drains are responsible for a very high level of harmful bacteria in the water. Again this is something that is easy to not think about but is really important to not ignore.

Over the next day or two we will continue to look at the issue of keeping our water clean and simple things that we can all do to be more conscious, aware and proactive. In the next article we’ll look at car care, shopping and disposal.

Update: Part 2 of this article is now finished and can be viewed here: Keeping Our Waters a Paddling Paradise – Part 2

Find other great kayaking tips & advice.

NRS Kayak Tow Line

I had never thought about bringing a kayak tow line with me on a kayaking trip before until I actually came across one and realized how handy it would be to have along for the ride.

It doesn’t appeal to me to have to tow somebody as I would imagine it would take a fair amount of physical effort on my part.

However if someone needed the help it would be nice to have the right equipment with me to be able to help them.   Also what if I needed help?

Advantages of a Tow Line

The advantage of having a kayak tow line with you is that if your paddling partner is having any kind of trouble, i.e. fatigue, illness, or boat trouble, you can tow them along until they are able to resume paddling themselves or until you reach the shore.

For anyone kayaking with kids a tow line would almost be a safety necessity to have with you. If your paddling companions are inexperienced they may need a little help to stay on track or to reach your destination.

The tow line I came across is the NRS kayak tow line. It seems like a really good one, here are the stats below:

• Tow line is stored in a durable 500-denier Cordura bag that has two pockets for additional storage, reflective tape for added visibility, and a mesh bottom for quick drainage.

• It includes 50’ of 3/16” floating polypropyle rope with a foam float and heavy duty plastic clip for easy attachment.

• Rope is attached to the 24” bungee cord with a stainless metal ring to ease towing over high seas.

• Bungee is secured to the waist band with stainless metal ring and heavy duty nylon webbing.

• Sturdy nylon belt with quick release buckle.

• This kayak tow line is not intended for use in whitewater rivers.

Find more information on the NRS kayak tow line.

Advantages to Fishing with a Kayak

If you enjoy the sport of fishing you may want to consider using a kayak for your fishing expeditions. I will not pretend that I am a fishing expert… I don’t fish so it is hard for me to give out fishing advice.

However I do have some very good friends who love to go fishing and often use a kayak on their outings. I have learned a few things from them on why they choose to use a fishing kayak and in some of their cases an inflatable fishing kayak.

Advantage # 1

A kayak is very quiet. There is no motor or loud noise. Even I know that fish get spooked by noise and paddling a kayak allows you to find the fish before they have a chance to disappear. Also it helps to create a very calm and serene atmosphere.

Advantage # 2

You will have more access. A kayak can get in and out of places that a motor boat may not have access to. To be able to get into remote areas on lakes, ponds or in the river seems to be a huge advantage.

Advantage # 3

The kayak is quicker. This seemed a bit unreal to me but I am told that when actually fishing the kayak can go much quicker than a trolling motor boat.

Advantage # 4

A kayak is hugely economical. If you ask any kayak fishermen / fisherwomen, they will tell you this is a huge benefit to fishing with a kayak. There is no gas to pay for, next to no upkeep, no storage fees, no repairs, no boat registration, no insurance, no oil, etc.. A kayak is basically a one time fee and with a little care will hardly ever cost you another cent. It is a very economical way to travel in the water and is a no brainer with cost comparison.

Advantage # 5

A kayak can cover great distance A kayak can go a very long way with very little effort. It paddles much more efficiently then a canoe and can tackle all sorts of situations like winds, waves and weather changes.

Advantage # 6

A kayak is totally convenient. A kayak can be easily stored away… especially if you have an inflatable kayak as they can be dried out, deflated and stored away in a closet. Also an inflatable kayak can be transferred to and from the water in the trunk of a car or even taken on an airplane. A hard-shell kayak can be tied up on roof racks within minutes, which is also much easier than transporting a motor boat. The kayak is the ultimate in convenience.

There are lots of kayaks that are very suitable for fishing as well as lots of fishing accessories that can always be added to the kayak.

If you are interested in paddling with an inflatable please check out our inflatable fishing kayak reviews.

Safety Information for Ocean Kayaking

For those of you who love the experience of ocean kayaking there are a few things that need to be considered before starting your trip.

The ocean surf and the weather can be very unpredictable and if you are planning a kayaking trip of any length or distance you will want to check navigation charts, tides and currents, the marine forecast and weather as well as the surf forecast.

To be honest this is not my forte. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I do not possess many navigational skills on land let alone on the water. However, if you follow the right advice you will be just fine. The links I have included below will hopefully help with providing all of the correct information you might need.

Useful Ocean Kayaking Links

Charts for Navigation
Whether you are at home or traveling afar, if you are planning a major ocean kayaking trip you will likely need charts for navigation. There are charts for every area possible so it should be easy to find the information you are looking for. Also be sure to bring a compass along on your trip.

Tides & Currents
Tides and water levels can change quickly whether on the ocean or even while kayaking on a lake. For any longer trips know what to expect so you can make smart decisions.

Marine Forecast & Weather
For obvious reasons checking the weather before you start a kayaking trip is extremely important. I know for myself I have no desire to kayak in high winds or storms and by checking ahead of time I know exactly what to expect and how to plan.

Surf Forecast
Not just for surfers, kayakers need to know the surf forecast as well. If you are kayaking in ocean surf it is critical you check the surf forecast beforehand as waves can turn from fun to scary in the blink of an eye.

Each of the links listed above should help you to be knowledgeable and prepared for any situation. Do the research and be safe… especially on ocean expeditions.

Thinking about doing some ocean kayaking? Check out our inflatable sea kayak reviews for the best in ocean paddling.

Inflatable Kayak Pros & Cons

It seems that people either love inflatable kayaks or they hate them. I have been kayaking for many years, most often in a hard shell kayak. The last few years however have been almost exclusively in an inflatable kayak and I can honestly say that I love it.

When I speak to other kayaking friends… particularly those who have only ever paddled in a traditional hard-shell kayak… I am met with a fair amount of negativity towards the inflatable kayak.

I would love to say that those folks are simply ignorant to the wonderful conveniences and benefits of owning an inflatable kayak but the truth is there are pros and cons to both paddling in an inflatable as well as in a hard-shell kayak. Which one works best for you is a matter of personal choice but let’s get the facts straight and go through the pros and cons of using an inflatable kayak.

Pro Inflatable Kayak

• Easily stores in small spaces – Unlike hard-shell kayaks, an inflatable can be deflated and packed into its storage bag and stored in a closet. For any of us who live in a condo or a small space we can easily store our kayak away with absolutely no problems.

• Very easy to transport – I have spent many years roping down a hard-shell kayak onto the roof of the car. I never enjoyed doing it and was always looking for help. With an inflatable I can put it in the trunk of my car or possibly even carry it in a backpack if it is light enough (as some are). I can also take an inflatable kayak on an airplane and enjoy using it while on vacation. That is an awesome convenience and thrill if you love to explore foreign waterways. Many people also love to take their inflatable kayak in their RV for this same reason.

• Extremely rugged construction – Against popular belief there are many inflatable kayak manufacturers today that make high quality, rugged kayaks that can take a real beating and last a very long time. They are no longer the pool toys of yesterday, they are real boats that can withstand a lot of abuse… including dog paws.

• Inexpensive – On average an inflatable kayak will cost less than a hard-shell kayak. Especially for those only wanting a kayak for recreational use the cost of an inflatable can be ideal.

• Good Performance – Performance can vary depending on the quality of inflatable kayak you have purchased. However most will give a decent performance, track well and some are even able to reach some high speeds. The performance of these boats are improving every year and some can give a hard-shell a run for its money.

• Lightweight – The great thing about an inflatable kayak is that it typically doesn’t way a lot but can hold a fair amount of weight. A solo inflatable kayak can usually be easily carried by one person and is much easier to get to the water than a hard-shell

• They are a lot of fun! – There are inflatable kayaks for all types of water and above all else they offer a lot of fun. No matter what your age, an inflatable kayak can be paddled by everyone. They are stable and safe as well as great for families, dogs and fishing. Everyone I know who has tried an inflatable kayak has greatly enjoyed the experience.

Against Inflatable Kayaks

• Speed – The first complaint most people come up with is the fact that inflatable kayaks can rarely reach the speed of a really good hard-shell kayak. That may be true but sometimes it is not always important to be the fastest boat in the water and I know for myself I have been in a lot of hard-shell kayaks that weren’t going to get me anywhere too fast.

• Possibility of Popping – Though there is the possibility of “popping” your inflatable kayak if you hit a very sharp object, it is unlikely. In any event if it should occur all inflatable boats come with a repair kit so you can easily patch it up and continue on. Overall the maintenance to an inflatable as compared to a hard-shell is very little.

• Width – One valid complaint about inflatable kayaks is they tend to be wider then a regular kayak. The width will allow for more stability but will also take away from the speed. I personally don’t mind as I have no desire to be dunked under water but I know some avid kayakers love their long sleek paddling machines.

As you can see overall there are more positives than negatives. I think if more people would give the inflatable kayak a chance they may learn to love it as well and cherish it for its many wonderful conveniences.

What is your opinion on the inflatable kayak?… love it or hate it?

Trying to figure out which kayak is right for you? Check out our comprehensive inflatable kayak reviews.

8 Big Reasons to Kayak

I have always loved outdoor sports and activities… hiking, walking, running, kayaking… they are all a big part of my life. I couldn’t imagine not being able to enjoy these outdoor recreational sports. They are a priority in my life now and I know always will be in the future.

When I think about kayaking I feel a mix of calmness, excitement and anticipation.  Kayaking can be a different experience for everyone and there are lots of reasons to take up paddling.  Below are eight big reasons that come to mind for me.

Why Kayak?

1. Exercise – Kayaking offers an unbelievable core workout. Besides working the arms, shoulders and back it also directly works the core muscles that often get neglected. It is a fantastic aerobic activity.
2. Relaxation – Have you ever experienced just sitting in your kayak as it laps slowly with the calm waves and watched a sunset or perhaps a sunrise. It provides a feeling of utter calmness that cannot be matched and complete relaxation that is so often lacking in our daily lives.
3. Friends – Fellow kayakers have a bond of their own and whether you are sharing your paddling experience with friends, family or your dog, it is an incredible way to bond, share and laugh with those that you love.
4. Adventure – We often think of whitewater kayaking as the most adventurous type of paddling but the truth is that all kayaking can be a huge adventure. Whether you are racing the rapids, exploring new areas or watching wildlife, when you go on a kayak trip there is no doubt there will be some kind of adventure.
5. Keep Cool – During the summer months when it is sweltering hot, it can often be difficult to do any type of outdoor activity for too long without working up an incredible sweat and possibly a sun burn. Kayaking offers a cool alternative. Usually there is a nice breeze on the water and if you get hot you simply have to splash some water on yourself. Just make sure you are fully sun protected!
6. Nature – To go out kayaking offers a chance at being close with nature, watching the birds, the fish and the wildlife. Whether kayaking in an ocean, a lake or in the river you can bet you will be completely surrounded and connected with the living presence of nature. There is nothing more beautiful than that.
7. All Ages – Any person of any age can enjoy the kayaking experience. Even if you have reached an age where you just don’t think you have it in you there is always an option. A tandem kayak can allow an older person to enjoy the ride and contribute when they feel like it. How wonderful it is that multi-generations can enjoy this sport together.
8. FUN – Above all else what is the biggest reason to kayak? Kayaking is absolutely a fun and enjoyable experience. It is pretty hard to be anything but happy when paddling in the water. There is no better reason to try an outdoor activity then to simply have fun and put a smile on your face.

These are the eight biggest reasons for me to get out and enjoy the sport of kayaking. How about you? What are your reasons for kayaking?

Need more reasons? How about travel?… Check out our top one day kayaking trips in the U.S.

History of the Kayak

I began researching the history of the kayak more for my own interest and thought I would share my findings with everyone. Here is a brief explanation of what I found out…

There is evidence that kayaks are at least 4000 years old. They were originally made from stitched animal skins such as seals. The skins would be stretched over a wooden frame that was made from driftwood collected from the area. They were used originally to hunt on lakes, rivers and coastal waters by indigenous people living in the Arctic regions. Read more

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