Choosing your kayak

Instruction at Blue Waters is given in a 15-foot plastic boat, which is midway in size between the recreational boat and touring boat. The kind of water you are going to paddle in determines the type of boat you need. However, you’ll want the experience of getting out on the water before you make that decision. There are many models to choose from, ranging from a few hundred dollars for a plastic recreational boat to a couple thousand dollars or more for a state-of-the-art glass touring boat made of Kevlar or graphite.

You might choose to build your own as Mulyca did. Mulyca wanted a project that would keep him from spending all his time working, so he purchased a fiberglass-covered wood kit from Pygmy Boats in Port Townsend, Wash. (see The Experts sidebar for links and contact information). The kayak, which he christened “Whisper,” was finished in about three months and was launched on the Hudson River.

When it comes to kayaking, however, preferences differ. In fact, "different strokes for different folks" is good advice for any would-be kayaker. For example, 59-year-old Lt. Col. John Goody, USMC-Ret., uses a surf ski kayak, a slender, long, and light kayak made for surfing down open ocean waves.

“My experience is predominantly in Hawaii where competitive paddlers use surf ski kayaks,” says Goody. “The pleasure is found in exercising those skills offshore, surrounded by birds, sea life, and the open ocean, linking rides down capping waves, one after another.”

Sea touring kayaks also are excellent for calm waters, according to Connolly. They have a long waterline and track well, though they are a little less stable than a shorter, wider boat. The touring kayak has hatches to carry gear, which are used during daylong or overnight expeditions. If you are going to fish or take pictures, however, a more easily maneuverable small boat may be better. 

Check out the equipment

All sports require equipment, and kayaking is no exception. Your paddle and personal floatation device (PFD) are the two most important pieces of equipment you'll choose, besides your kayak. 

You'll need to get a decent paddle that isn’t too heavy, which will cost approximately $100. More expensive paddles are carbon fiber and are very lightweight. 

Getting a good PFD also is important. You can get an adequate PFD for less than $50. When shopping, be sure to look for a short PFD, which is made for sitting in a kayak, rather than a long PFD, which will hike up around your neck. 

If you are going out on the ocean, a spray skirt is a must. One wave can swamp your kayak. Put the skirt on before your PFD, and fit it around the lip of your boat to create a watertight seal.

Kayaking adventures

Once you are outfitted, it’s time to go. Goody and two friends were kayaking around the southern tip of Baranof Island, Alaska, and became stormbound in the tiny, abandoned town of Port Alexander, population one. Several fishing vessels taking refuge in the port took in the kayakers.

“We ate fresh fish in tiny but snug boat cabins, buffeted outside by wind and rain, and were regaled with tales from a life spent on the stormy Alaskan seas until finally the storm blew over,” says Goody.

Tom Mulyca finds adventures just around the next bend in the Hudson River. 

“My greatest joy around here is exploring along the edge of the river, marshes, and streams where wildlife abounds," he says. "The kayak is silent as a whisper, allowing me to drift right up to blue herons on the shore and eagles on their favorite branches above the waterline.”

For a few hundred dollars, you can get out on the water - away from cell phones, e-mail, and traffic. For a few hundred more, you’ve got your ticket to a whole new world of discovery. When you venture out in a kayak at sunrise, or paddle out into the sunset, you may just feel like you own the earth.