Navigating the unfamiliar waters of kayaks
One of the first items on my retirement “To Do” list was to immerse myself in the waters of kayaking. Consider that box checked as of last week. I have undergone my kayaking baptism without upsetting the ship.
Now, I have been in a kayak numerous times, but they were never mine, always a loaner from a friend or an agency to which I was attached. I have done a little fishing and some lighter rough water stuff, but I had no real initiation into the sport until recently. Frankly, I never really enjoyed kayaking much. It hurt my back and those pains seem to come more often these days and I certainly don’t need to encourage the discomfort. I always considered myself a canoeist. It just seemed a little more aesthetically correct.
I began my search for the kayak of my dreams a few weeks ago following my retirement party. Armed with a fistful of Cabela’s/Bass Pro gift cards from my friends and family, I set out in search of the ultimate platform for fishing, hunting, exploring and general putzing around. I plan to paddle some local river water. I’d like to navigate Ten Mile Creek a bit more since the days of my youth there have long since passed. There are a number of smaller tributaries around the area that just seem inviting to explore. Duck hunting this winter has been a foray I’ve longed to take but my canoe was just a bit cumbersome for hunting duties by myself. I’d also like to get out to the Washington and Fayette County waterways of which I am largely unfamiliar. Recommendations for great paddling spots are always welcome and most appreciated.
My initial marine inquest led me to a couple of big box stores in the area. You know the places with the long lines of kayaks stacked outside, meant to draw out your inner outdoorsman? I kicked the tires of a few different models, trying to envision myself paddling through the early morning autumn fog onto a distant shore covered in falling leaves. I had just worked myself partly through a fantasy shore breakfast complete with campfire when that romantic notion was interrupted. It was about that time when it occurred to me, I know next to nothing about kayaks in general. After pestering a couple of sales folks who were deeply engaged in locating chicken feed for urban poultry enthusiasts or selecting tractor batteries for the lawn care tribe, I realized I might not be in the correct place. Any questions I asked seemed to be bothersome and the one or two folks that I cornered soon admitted that they weren’t kayakers and couldn’t provide much solid guidance. “I usually work in the X,Y,Z department …” was their response.
About this time I pointed the truck south to Bass Pro in a last-ditch effort. Now, I have to admit that it was never my intention to do a piece on a large retailer but for once, my experience was so pleasurable that I have to share it. After introducing myself as a juvenile delinquent outdoor writer in search of my first kayak, the store manager introduced me to “Taylor – The Kayak Guy.” Leaving us together would prove both dangerous as well as expensive.
Taylor asked a few cursory questions and began to school me in all things kayak. Big or small? Sit in or sit on top? What color? What kind of paddling do you plan on? Mobility vs. stability? What kind of seat? He pulled kayaks off the shelf and had me hoist them off the ground to make sure I could handle their weight on shore. Taylor placed kayaks on the showroom floor and insisted that I sit inside to get the feel. We mounted and dismounted. We practiced paddling. We dragged kayaks to and fro. After an hour or so, Taylor made his recommendation that a 10-foot sit-on-top craft would probably best suit my particular needs. I did what any outdoors writer worth his salt would do and disregarded half his suggestion,opting for a 12-footer, going with the bigger is better school of thought.
The best piece of advice that Taylor shared was that choosing the right seat makes all the difference. Boy was Taylor spot on. I chose a mesh, lawn chair style flip-up seat that has proven uber comfortable. After spending more than an hour with me and giving up his lunch to educate the newbie, Taylor walked me down to the sales desk, processed my transaction with the aid of a young lady at the register and proceeded to meet me out back of the store and assist in securing my kayak to my truck (of course I forgot to bring my hitch extender) for the ride home.
What did I come up with for this week’s nugget of outdoor insight? When making a purchase of such magnitude, consult with the experts. Farm stores and department stores are fine for mower blades and chicken feed but I was spending a lot more than chicken feed. Truth be told, I got the standard Cabela’s Club Card discount and a bit more off. Nothing as dramatic as 50percent off, end of season, scratch and dent, etc.
If you’re buying a kayak, go see Taylor. Thanks to Jason Crabtree, store manager, for making things so simple. Most importantly, thanks Taylor.
Dave Bates writes a weekly outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at alphaomegashootingsolutions@gmail.com