Paddling - Getting Started
(under construction)
This section will help you match the type of water you want to paddle with the proper equipment or match the equipment you have with the type of water suitable.
Select type of water and learn about suitable equipment
Shallow flat water, non-moving: Shallow protected areas of lakes, bays, coves and feeder creeks. Little Arkansas River in Oak and Riverside parks. Paddler can stand up and walk out or swim to shore with only a few strokes. Since the water is not moving, strainers are not an issue.
Shallow flat water, moving slowly: Slow moving rivers. Arkansas or Kansas rivers at normal summertime levels. Strainers are easily avoided and escape from a strainer is likely to be easy but still requires caution.
Shallow flat water, moving swiftly: Faster moving rivers and creeks. Arkansas and Kansas rivers at higher than normal levels.
Shallow flat water, moving swiftly with a Rocks, Riffles, Eddies and Lots of Strainers: Most Missouri rivers, Fall River in some places and levels, Grouse Creek at certain levels.
Deep flat water, calm or waves with long periods: Local reservoir on a calm day. Many ocean settings when the tide is neither coming in or going out and therefore the surf is missing.
Deep flat water, whitecaps, waves with short periods: All local reservoir in Kansas on most days.
Deep flat water, big waves suitable for surfing with a surfboard: Most ocean costal settings.
Whitewater all types: Swift water running downhill with obstacles such as rocks, boulders, rock ledges and strainers generating rapids, waves and eddies. Sometimes whitewater exists because of manmade structures in normally flat rivers. There are many levels of whitewater requiring matching skill levels.
Select equipment and learn about suitable water
Longer sea/touring kayaks: 15-20 foot boats with sealed hatches at both ends, Neoprene spray skirt and suitable attach points for performing a paddle float rescue. May have rudder or skeg.
Shorter sea/touring kayaks: 13-15 foot boats with sealed hatches at both ends, Neoprene spray skirt and suitable attach points for performing a paddle float rescue. May have rudder or skeg.
Recreational Kayaks: 9-15 foot boats typically defined by a larger than standard cockpit, one or no sealed hatches, absent thigh braces, absent center bracing and/or absent attach points for performing a paddle float rescue. May have skeg. A few have rudders.
Whitewater Kayaks: Generally under 9 foot in length and have almost no directional stability. Standard sized cockpits facilitate Neoprene spray skirts. Tight fit to boater and thigh braces permit rolling. Center bracing resists boat folding when broached. Generally built with thicker more rugged material.
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