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Kayaking gives you a feeling of liberation that only a few escapades on land can ever match. You float across the open ocean, or paddle down rivers by day, and sit around a campfire at night. Kayaking gives you access to remote spots that you can’t reach with large boats, or on foot.

If you are a multi-day paddler, you can easily pack your boat for several days on the waters. However, packing for more than one day’s trip, for the first time, can be extremely stressful.

If you are searching for the perfect kayaks, check out our reviews here:

• Killer Kayak’s Oru Bay Origami Kayak Review
• Killer Kayak’s Bali 10 SS Review

When packing for a long kayaking adventure, you should address safety, make sure that you keep your items dry, and carry sufficient gear to keep you comfortable, without over-packing. The following are some of the things you should pack for your next kayaking trip.

Safety Equipment

To have a safe paddling adventure, ensure that you carry safety gear. A personal flotation device, a safety whistle, spray skirt, bilge pump, paddle float, and an additional paddle will ensure your safety in the waters.

Additionally, make sure that you take a first aid kit, in case of any accidents, as well as sunscreen to shield your skin from the sun. For any other emergencies, carry a cell phone, a headlamp, a small knife, and a map of the seashore you will be kayaking nearby.

Food

One of the benefits of long kayaking trips (that may also involve camping) is that you can pack large drinks and food items, unlike hiking, for example. Most kayakers love bringing several bottles of wine to enjoy around the campfire, but a hiker can never consider carrying such heavy items.

When you are selecting the type of foods to bring during your trip, take more food than you anticipate using. That’s because many paddling hours may lead to high appetites, and it’s also crucial to plan for any unforeseen delays, due to any unusual weather conditions.

If you are rowing on salty waters, carry an extra filtration system, or bottles of purified water. When kayaking in hot weather, carry salty foods to make up for the salt that you will lose, through sweating, in the sunlight.

Gear

If you are going for an overnight stay during your kayaking trip, you will require a tent and a sleeping bag for the night. However, if rain is improbable, then you don’t have to bring the tent. Carry a pair or two of comfortable shoes, and a set of dry clothing for camping, as well as a warm jacket for the cold evenings.

Also, remember to pack a lighter to start a fire with, in the event of cold weather. One of the best things about kayak camping is that you can bring bulky gear in the kayak, which will make your camping experience extremely luxurious and comfortable.

However, it can be quite exhausting if you have to go through all your items to locate the things you need at any single time. Make sure to put your most needed items together in a certain place, so that you can find them easily.

Dry Bags

Once you get the safety equipment together, dry bags are next. They are one of the most significant things to pack when going for a kayaking adventure. A dry bag of high-quality will keep your camera, sleeping gear, food, and clothing dry, even if your kayak gets flooded by a wave, or in the event of a rollover.

Try to find bags that have sealed seams and rolled enclosures, and more importantly, ones that put into consideration the size of your exterior. Some kayaks come with a sealed partition with a tiny opening; if you have this kind of a boat, you will require some smaller dry bags.

Most of the sporting products shops offer dry bags, and you can even buy them online. For your smaller items, carry canisters or dry boxes to hold and secure your keys, cameras, and cell phones.

Conclusion

Packing is an incredible exercise in planning and organization. To make things easier for you, it is much better to pack many little items, instead of a single item that’s too big. Also, if there are items that should not ever get wet, you had better pack them in a dry bag.

You can also use bags of various colors to pack different things, or label your bags to help you locate the things you need easily. When packing the boat, ensure that you distribute the weight evenly between your stern and bow, and try to center the weight in your boat as much as possible.

Kayaking is fairly easy to learn, but whitewater kayaking is definitely a more challenging activity. Paddling a kayak on a whitewater river can be dangerous, and occasionally deadly, which is why it’s important to be prepared and have the appropriate training.

Even fairly experienced kayakers should consider taking a class or lessons before heading out on the water. A good class or training program will teach you some of the basic moves, like the ones below.

White Water Kayaking Moves You Should Learn Before Heading Out On The Water:

 

1. Paddle Strokes

 

Learning how to maneuver a kayak through the water is incredibly important. There are a variety of strokes to master and these will be taught in a white water rafting class. The primary stroke is, of course, the forward stroke. This is the basic stroke that propels the kayak forward through the water.

White water kayaking involves specific strokes, which include low and high brace. The low brace is a slight variation of the typical ready position in kayaking and helps to prevent it from flipping in whitewaters. The high brace is used when a paddler is about to flip over so they can help to right the kayak.

The forward and back sweeps are also important kayaking paddle strokes. The forward streak is a paddle stroke that will allow the kayaker to turn the boat rapidly. Mastering this move is important, as maneuvering rapidly will keep the kayak from being flipped or caught in a hole. Similarly, the back sweet is the reverse of this move and also used to turn the boat.

 

2. Rolling Prevention And Aftermath

Any class in whitewater kayaking will cover rolling, which is an essential skill. The class will teach a person who has flipped the kayak to regain the upright position. There are a variety of styles for rolling, and an instructor will cover which one works best for each scenario. A class on whitewater kayaking may even allow you to practice rolls in still water, like a swimming pool.

 

Finally, a kayaker who is unable to roll the boat successfully will have to exit the kayak and swim. While this is not ideal, a class will help by teaching you when it would be a good idea to continue with the roll, and when to exit the kayak.

While white water kayaking can be a safe and enjoyable hobby, it is dangerous for untrained individuals. This part of the instruction is incredibly important to know before setting out.

 

3. Boofing

This unusual word is unique to whitewater kayaking. It refers to raising the front or bow of the kayak during a freefall. This can happen when going down a waterfall or ducking behind a boulder.

The technique is used to prevent the front of the kayak from being submerged in the water and instead, making it land flat when reaching the bottom of the waterfall. Instruction on this technique may also cover a rock boof, which is a move that uses an impact with a rock at the top of a ledge to create a firm landing and prevent a head-first fall.

 

4. Additional Instructions

The type and length of the class may change how much detail is provided, although basic information should always be a part of the class. The information above should be included in a beginning whitewater kayaking class.

Instructors will also usually discuss the types of white water kayaks available and which ones are best for beginning and experienced kayakers.

 

The class will also cover the equipment needed. Of course, the kayak and paddles are the essentials. Paddles for whitewater kayaking vary and a class will teach the differences in paddle types and may provide the opportunity to try out a few paddle options.

Other equipment covered will include a life jacket, helmet, and spray deck or sprayskirt.There may be additional equipment recommended, but these are the basics needed to start whitewater kayaking. In a class, an instructor will cover why these items are important, as well as their use.

 

White Water Kayaking Basic Moves Conclusion

Whitewater kayaking is a fun and enjoyable activity, but it’s incredibly important to be prepared before setting out alone. A short class is a good idea and will provide some of the basic skills needed for kayak safely. Classes vary from a few hours to a few days. Choose one that covers these topics and make sure to learn the basics with confidence.

Another creation from Ocean Kayak, the Prowler 13 sit-on-top kayak is a boat whose design allows the user to comfortably sit on top of it for different kayaking activities, but mainly for fishing. It makes use of the latest technology on the market to ensure that the user will enjoy attributes such as good performance, stability, speed, and movement.

You can use the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler for other applications as well, other than fishing. The design of the kayak is also compact and lightweight, meaning both amateurs and professionals can use it.

Let’s learn more about it in this Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 review:

Check out the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler on Amazon!

 

Is The Frame of The Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler Durable?

The Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler is made from polyethylene and measures 13’4″ in length and 28″ in width. It weighs 56 pounds, while its seat type is sitting on top. It has a weight capacity of 300-400 pounds and only one paddler can use it at a time.

The foot braces on this Ocean Kayak Prowler Angler will help to secure your feet in the molds. The best attribute of these foot braces is that they are adjustable, so you can adjust your sitting position easily.

 

When most people go fishing, they will mostly complain about the deck space. If it is not big enough for your movements, you will surely have a difficult time. The makers of the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler sit-on-top kayak took this into consideration. They have provided enough deck space that you can use it for storing a tackle box or to fit a cooler in the back.

 

The inside of the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler deck is well contoured, which helps to keep the water from making a pool on the inside of your boat. All you have to do is plug up the scupper holes to keep the water out, and when you’re back on land, you can unplug them to drain any water out that may have gotten in. This is one less thing to worry about as you go about your favorite hobby on the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler.

Check out the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler on Amazon!

The Prowler’s compartments will ensure that nothing will fly out as you paddle. By lifting the hatch lid, you will get an opening that goes from the front to the back, a perfect fit for any rods you wish to take with you. If the Ocean Kayak Prowler Angler flips, you will not lose everything you had stored on the kayak. There is also a storage console you can add to the center of the kayak. Some people leave it empty so they can cut bait or unhook fish in the middle.

The kayak also entails cup holders that are molded into the equipment to hold refreshments as you paddle away, as this Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 review will boast about more than once.

 

Features

The comfortable seat is among the most impressive features of the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler sit-on-top kayak. However, some people find it doesn’t have enough padding on the bottom, so if you’ll be out all day, you should get an additional pad for it. If the back is tightly held upright, it will be a comfortable ride for people with back issues.

 

There are also rod holders behind the seat, which are basically two mounted holders that are used to fit the rods in their place securely. The molded mount on the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler is a very helpful feature, as it provides the best place to store equipment and your fish after you have done your best to catch some.

Check out the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler on Amazon!

The Transducer Compatible Scupper is another important feature of the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler sit-on-top kayak. It is designed to let the beam from your transducer fish finder penetrate the hull, thus enabling you to find fish that are deep down.

A fish finder is quite easy to install, just stick it in a small cubby and run the wire through your Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler kayak. After reading this Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 review, you will know that you can also add a GPS and/or lights for night fishing.

 

Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler Storage Space Issues

Storage is very important for a person using a kayak, and this is especially true for people who use it to go fishing on the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler. You will find two string bungee straps on the kayak, which will be very helpful whenever you need to secure your things inside the cooler. You will also find two flush mount rod holders that ensure that the rods are steady.

The Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler has a storage compartment with a lid in front of the seat, but it is not waterproof, so you can’t put anything of value in there. There is a bungee cord on each side of the kayak to hold the paddles. You can add on a cooler in the back from Ocean Kayak that will hold drinks, as well as any fish you’ve caught.

 

Pros

• The Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler’s deck layout is quite exceptional and has room for customization
• Its speed is unmatched, as compared to the other kayaks
• Quite stable and comfortable
• Tracks well because of its V-shaped keel
• The Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler is quite affordable without add ons
• The kayak comes with numerous features that enhance its functionality

Cons

• The Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler does not come with a rudder, but one can be added
• Hatches are not fully waterproof
• Its molded foot wells can become quite frustrating for the user
• There are 4 colors to choose from: Camo, Lime Camo, Blue Camo, and Urban Camo

 

Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Review Conclusion

If you are a kayak fishing first-timer, the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler will be a worthy investment. You will be impressed by its features and its compact design will certainly make things easier for you. Whether it is a car, motor bike or any other kind of machine, most people will be looking for one that will serve them well.

The same applies to kayaking, and the Ocean kayak Prowler 13 Angler will give you the best performance, due to its exceptional features. Once you add certain things to this boat, you will have a very solid, long lasting fishing kayak.

Aside from having everything you need, once you add on to it, the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler will also be stable in most conditions, and this is music to the ears of people who would like to go kayaking in various conditions.

Check out the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler on Amazon!

Whether you are in the surf or on a large lake, you should definitely buy an Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 Angler sit-on-top kayak. The fact that it is quite pocket-friendly will be pleasing to most fishermen and current/future paddlers.

With some bodies of water, you might find that there are no good spots to launch your kayak, and paddling into waves can be exhausting before you even start! Sometimes you must do a ‘seal launch‘, which is sitting in your kayak and sliding off of a rock, cliff, or embankment into the water.

If it’s from a higher height, you can have a friend push you in, or you can just edge yourself off and take a nosedive to the water:

 

If you don’t know the area very well, or it’s not known as a seal launching spot, you have to make sure the landing area is clear of anything that might hurt you. The biggest dangers would be rocks that are just under the water or the water not being deep enough. It’s best to be safe and find a popular launching spot or ask who knows of one.

There are a few ways to gain entry into the water if all you see are cliffs or rocks. The first is the hardest one, which is to climb down to get as close to the water as you can and jump on top of your kayak as you throw it into the water. If it’s on the ocean and there are a lot of waves, you could be without a kayak mighty quick or take much longer to get in. That should only be an option if the rocks are too jagged or high.

The next choice is to slide off of a huge rock formation, one that is preferably smooth so as not to scratch the bottom of your kayak. If there’s an area of algae covering the rocks, that’s even better. Sit in the kayak and try to push yourself off of the rock, slightly leaning toward the back of the kayak.

When you perform your seal launch, don’t lean forward too much, as this may result in the kayak flipping upside down and you will land on your head in the water. In that case, you will have to do a rollover and put yourself upright. Also be careful where you put your paddle as you’re falling to avoid any unnecessary injury. Over your head is the safest place to hold it.

The final way to enter the water (this is for the ocean) is to take your kayak close to the water, lay it down on a rock and get in. The wave that washes over the rock will lift you up and you can paddle off the rock. If it doesn’t fully sweep you off the rock, just steady yourself and wait for the next wave.

You may want to have your spray skirt on in either situation, especially where there’s waves. The same tactic can be done to get back onto the rock after you’re done kayaking.

 

Some people will just throw in their kayaks and jump into the water right beside them, if they can enter the cockpit from the water. This would more easily work on a lake or river, rather than the ocean, which is constantly moving and possibly turbulent.

Looking for your first kayak?  Take a look at other types of kayaks .

Perform a seal launch however and wherever is easiest and safest for you so you can avoid injuries that will prevent you from doing more kayaking!