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Preparing For Kayak Camping
By Dave Goodge | Kayakudos.com March 2, 2018Go To Original Have you ever read something like Into The Wild and thought "I wish I could do that"? Well, without the tragedy, obviously. But I mean just ditching everything and heading out into nature for a few days, just you and your thoughts. Or maybe you've been relaxing in your kayak, gently floating down a languid river, thinking "I wish I didn't have to go away from this". Well, you don't have to. Not for a while at least. Have you ever been camping in your kayak? It's a great thing to do once in a while. What I love about backpacking is that you can stay somewhere new every night, seeing amazing places every day. You feel so free. Apart from that ruddy great pack. Kayak camping is very much like backpacking in some respects, but you can take more of your creature comforts without compromising your trip. And you feel much more self-reliant than touring in a camper van. If you're thinking of giving it a go, there are a few things you might like to consider before you go. I also have a camping checklist at the end of this article, which would have been super useful for me on my first time (how can you forget toilet paper, Dave!?). Pack Clever When you're packing your kayak for a long trip, be it camping or a day-long float, you need to pack sensibly. I'm not just talking about the contents of your packing, but the method. If you're taking drinking water and food, perhaps even a stove, and indeed anything heavy, you should think about the distribution of weight in your kayak. You may find that poor planning leads to an unpleasant paddle, with your boat riding low in the water, or pitching forward or backwards, even capsizing. The ideal placement of your equipment is to have the heavier items towards the middle of the kayak, immediately behind the rear bulkhead if possible. Keep your centre of gravity low, so heavy things first, at the bottom. It's also best to keep things off of the deck - this can catch the wind, and it brings your centre of gravity up, which might end up sending you down. The rear and forward hatches should be used for lighter stuff like a sleeping bag, clothes, dry provisions and so on, but try to keep it evenly weighted between front and back. If you're camping in a sit-on-top kayak, you may have less choice as to where to pack stuff. Try to load the kayak evenly. Longer, narrow items (like a small tent, tightly rolled sleeping bag... more likely, a bottle of wine) might fit snugly in the ends of the kayak. Make sure that things are accessible at the end of your day's paddle - if you are stuffing things right down to the end of a compartment, make sure the strap or draw-string on the bag is facing back towards the hatch so you can grab it when needed. Have A System - Stick To It It's a really good idea to have a packing system, and stick to it every time you pack your yak - this includes before the trip, and during the trip when you're re-packing after a night at camp. It really speeds up your mornings if you know exactly where everything is to go, rather than trying to stuff everything in SOMEHOW. There's always one person on a trip who will be struggling to fit those last few items in. Usually, you have to wait for them to unpack everything and try again. Bah! Here's how to pack your kayak: 1 - practice your system BEFORE your trip. Do it on dry land - do it in your living room, even. To do this, all you need to do is imagine the shape of your kayak. Use a piece of rope, toilet paper, chalk, breadcrumbs. Whatever. Just draw the outline of your yak somehow - I admit, if you're doing this in your living room, it will be a bit of a squeeze if you have a 15-foot sea kayak. But I digress. 2 - the basic rules are heavy things towards the bottom, small items towards fore and aft, bulky items towards the middle, and things you will need during your trip (while on the water) easily accessible from the day hatch. Things you need during the trip may include water (although you may have room behind your seat or in your pockets; you could even wear a CamelBak), snacks, safety gear like flares, radio, warm clothing. 3 - use all the space available, but stay safe. As I mentioned, there may be space behind your seat for something. You may feel you have room in the cockpit, near your feet. I'd advise being cautious with packing things into the cockpit, in case you need to make a wet exit - anything that could jam you in place is to be avoided. You can keep things in there with you, but be sure you can still get out. 4 - now lay everything out on your imaginary kayak. Be aware that your imaginary kayak doesn't have hatches because it's just a shape on the floor. So keep the hatch size in mind. 5 - you can pack in layers - big, bulky items going in first, then smaller things packed in around them. Then the next larger item, and smaller items around it. Do you see what I mean? Doing the above will allow you to easily decide whether you have extra space for more things or whether you are overpacked and what you may need to forgo. Dry Bags I know, your hatches are waterproof - of course. Wrong! They're not waterproof. No way am I going to take that risk, are you? Everything goes in a dry bag - somethings might even be double bagged. Do you want to sleep in a wet or even a moist sleeping bag? No. The other thing about putting everything in bags is that it keeps it all bundled and organised. If you just pour in all your food and clothes and water bottle and matches and stove, it will all rattle around, and you'll have to take everything out to find what you need. If you have multiple dry bags, you can make your life easier and rest assured that your stuff will be slightly damp at worst. Multiple small dry bags ensures that everyone will individually fit through the hatches. If you're smart, you can colour code them too - say yellow for clothes, red for food and provisions, blue for safety gear. It also helps to clearly label everything - this helps not only with identifying things when you need them but also with re-packing. Because you know where everything goes, don't you? The rubbery vinyl dry bags can be a bit of a pain though, so I prefer polyester with a rubberised inner lining. The reason for this is that everything is packed in so tightly and the vinyl ones seem to offer more friction, meaning that if you pull one thing out, everything else seems to come with it. As well as dry bags, I suggest you have a few plastic tote bags to put everything in - unpack from the kayak, into the tote bags, then haul those over to your campsite. Plastic packs smaller than canvas.Repackage food and drinks at home to eliminate bulky packaging and glass bottles. This will save on space and weight. You can super-secure your dry nights by putting your sleeping bag in a trash bag before putting it into the stuff-sack. Then you can put it in a dry bag because I like dry sleeping bags. Okay, not everything needs to be in a dry bag. You can deconstruct your tent to potentially save space, having the poles loose. Also, things like canned food and other stuff that doesn't mind getting wet might be easier to pack in as an afterthought once your dry gear has been stowed. If you're working hard, i.e. paddling, count on drinking a gallon or more of water a day. If you will be able to replenish your drinking water supply en route, all the better. You can use a filtration system or sterilisation tablets. Have a dry run at packing in the days preceding your trip. Not just with the imaginary boat, but for real. Kayak Camping Packing Tips Repackage food and drinks at home to eliminate bulky packaging and glass bottles. This will save on space and weight. You can super-secure your dry nights by putting your sleeping bag in a trash bag before putting it into the stuff-sack. Then you can put it in a dry bag because I like dry sleeping bags. Okay, not everything needs to be in a dry bag. You can deconstruct your tent to potentially save space, having the poles loose. Also, things like canned food and other stuff that doesn't mind getting wet might be easier to pack in as an afterthought once your dry gear has been stowed. If you're working hard, i.e. paddling, count on drinking a gallon or more of water a day. If you will be able to replenish your drinking water supply en route, all the better. You can use a filtration system or sterilisation tablets. Have a dry run at packing in the days preceding your trip. Not just with the imaginary boat, but for real. Here You Go: Thanks and happy paddling
Learn moreKayak Adventure
Kayaking the Upper Iowa River The Upper Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi, running nearly parallel to the Iowa-Minnesota border. It's one of the most beautiful places in Iowa to kayak or canoe. The river varies from from an open prairie setting to a narrow, winding stream with 400 foot tall limestone bluffs. There are no dangerous rapids, though occasional fallen trees can cause tipping if you're not paying attention. For much of its course the river bottom is private property and some landowners may install fences across your path. Be on the lookout for those and navigate with care and respect. Navigating becomes more difficult during low water periods such as late summer. Yak Fishing Fishing is excellent. You'll find small mouth bass, rock bass, & trout throughout the river with channel catfish, walleye, sauger & northern pike in the lower river. You'll have the most success in the lower part of the river. Be sure to bring your Roll Catch Cooler to keep your catch fresh! One or Two Day Paddle? Many begin in or below Kendallville but more experienced paddlers start in Lime Springs or Florenceville. From Lime Springs to Florenceville you'll find a typical prairie stream with low cut banks. The current picks up around Kendallville. If you only have time for a one day paddle, put in at Kendallville and paddle to Decorah. Whether you're going for one hour to two days, don't forget your Comfy Kayak seat! This is a great trip for adding a lumbar pad to your kayak seat for a little extra lower back support. There are several excellent campgrounds along the route. You can even rent a kayak in Bluffton or Cresco and put in at Chimney Rock Park. Upper Iowa Sites Sites to see off the river: Chimney Rock near Cresco Malanaphy & Dunning Springs are within walking distance of the river Decorah has many great restaurants, several museums, Luther College, a fish hatchery, Seed Savers, and Nordic Fest in July celebrates everything Scandinavia.
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Kayak Exploration Around the World: Ten Best Kayak-Only Destinations
Dip your paddle into some of the most beautiful waters around the world. Here are ten locations with excellent views of wildlife and nature which are best accessed by kayak. Soca River – Slovenia The Soca River is an 86 mile long river located near the Trenta Valley in Slovenia. This isn’t your typical kayaking ride. Many paddlers have said it is one of the most exciting whitewater paddling they have found. Some things to expect on this journey are tight spaces that you may need to squeeze through between canyons formed around the river as well as fast rapids that may carry you faster than you can paddle. This is not only a great place for kayaking. If you love to hike there are many places along the shore to stop and get out to hike these beautiful colored canyons and rock. Image Source: Picsabay Credit: Niksy Florida Everglades - USA If you’re looking for a chance to see wildlife up close and be immersed in nature, the Florida Everglades are your place to kayak. Among the Everglades, there are many cave-like tunnels that can only be accessed by a kayak as most other boats would be too big. Just remember to bring a flashlight as some of these tunnels can get dark in some areas! The wilderness and scenery is well worth this adventure. Antarctica While Antarctica isn’t everyone’s dream destination, the passages left by ice and animals make kayaking down south the perfect way to cool your summer. This viewpoint is unlike any other in the world, as it is one of the only uninhabited places on earth, while being one of the largest! Not only is it cool in Antarctica, but you can explore wildlife in their natural habitat that you may have never seen before except for in a zoo. You can float out past penguins, whales, and all kinds of seals. If you are lucky, you may get close enough to almost touch them! Milos Island - Greece Looking for great water to swim and kayak in? Milos Island in Greece offers bright blue water that is perfect for both! If you're looking to kayak in cooler weather there are hot springs near by that you can warm up in and enjoy the natural beauty and coastal arches nearby. The beaches are beautiful and have soft sand. Blue River - Greenland Greenland may not have any big city's to offer, but is great for some incredible sights only seen on kayak. Kayaking is a fundamental part of Greenland’s history and the tradition lives on. The Blue River nests between glaciers, and is actually melting run-off from the surrounding ice sculpture beauty. The river got its name from its color: a royal shining blue that shimmers in the sun. The only way to immerse yourself in this glacier field is to nest yourself amongst the river in a warm and comfy kayak. Nā Pali Coast, Hawaii - USA While there may be other ways to view the 4,000 foot tall cliffs on the Nā Pali Coast, kayaking is by far the cheapest and best way to view the ocean and the cliffs. Nā Pali Coast involves a couple of parks on its grounds too so there is plenty to see. Besides seeing some of Hawaii's most beautiful features and scenery, you will also enjoy marine life such as dolphins and sea turtles. Since these animals are used to tourists you can be sure to get a great view of them up close! Image Source: Picsabay Credit: Kdvandeventer Pictured Rocks, Lake Superior - Canada Lined with multi-colored sandstone cliffs, the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore gives you a taste of Canadian wilderness. The clear waters of Lake Superior create an atmosphere of crystal peacefulness. This is much more than just a lake. Enjoy rock caves, cliffs up to 200 feet high, and the beauty created by these naturally made picture perfect rocks. Lake McLaren – New Zealand Worms may not be the most desirable creature, but glow worms are a sight you won’t want to miss! Plan a kayak trip to set off at dusk and sail the caves of Lake McLaren in New Zealand. During the day they may seem like any cave, but they come to life at night with glowing light crawling the walls of the caves. Not only do the glow worms light up your journey, but an extraordinary views of the moon and stars is sure to guide your dim night ride. Ba Bể Lakes - Vietnam If you're a lover of ancient landmarks, then the Ba Bể Lakes in Vietnam are the perfect place for you to book your next kayaking trip. Although there are many lakes, they all combine into one actual body of water separated by canals and rivers. The highest lake in the country sits atop the Ba Bể National park. The view from this 500 feet above sea level body of water is impeccable letting you see mountains and forest from miles away. Not only does this park offer plenty of water to kayak on, but also allows for you to explore caves and waterfalls. If you're looking for a variety of things to see, Vietnam has a lot to offer you. Image Source: Wikimedia Credit: Rolf Müller Turnip Rock, Lake Huron, Michigan - USA Turnip Rock on Lake Huron is truly a kayak accessible only sight. All of the nearby land is private property so to see the rock and its years of water erosion you must kayak or boat on the lake to get close enough. It's an amazing sculpture of rock created by the lake's natural erosion patterns. It's not something you see every day and definitely not something you can see on land!
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Sixteen Reasons Why Kayaks are Better than Canoes
Anyone up for a debate? While many people may enjoy both kayaks and canoes, everyone has at least some preference about which one they like more. If you're having trouble deciding whether to purchase a kayak or a canoe, here are sixteen reasons why a kayak is better than a canoe. Maybe these reasons are not all based on outright fact, but everyone is entitled to an opinion, right? 1. Kayaks look cooler than canoes (or at least more modern). 2. Kayaks generally have a lower purchase price than canoes. 3. If you’re a beginner, it is easier to learn how to paddle a kayak than a canoe, which requires coordination and communication with your partner. 4. Prefer riding solo? Kayaks are easier for single paddlers. 5. Kayaks are lighter and easier to transport. 6. In a hurry or have a lot of ground to cover? Kayaks are faster! 7. Most kayaks have rudders or rudder lines to help compensate for wind and currents. 8. Sit-Inside Kayaks are less susceptible to tipping over due to wind gusts. 9. Why wouldn’t you want to experience nature on a more personal level? You are closer to the water in a kayak. 10. Kayaks generally have more comfortable seats and backrests than canoes. What canoe seat has 2” of molded foam padding like the GTS Expedition or the GTS Pro? How many canoe seats come equipped with lumbar pads like the Deluxe Big Back Seat or the Comfort Back Seat? 11. Kayaks provide more protection to your lower body. 12. Kayaks are more maneuverable than canoes. 13. If you are bringing supplies with you that need to stay dry, a kayak is the way to go. Most kayaks have holds which seal water-tight. If your canoe tips over, all your gear ends up floating in the water (if it floats).What’s the best way to keep your gear dry? We would recommend investing in a waterproof backpack, such as the Mariner Waterproof Backback, the Mariner Duffel Backpack or the Aquaknot Backpack. 14.Tired of switching from side to side when paddling in a canoe? Two blades are better than one! Looking for a good starter paddle? For kayaking, we recommend the sturdy and durable S2S Kayak Paddle. For canoeing, we recommend the 8 Straight Recreational Canoe Paddle. 15. Kayaks do a better job of tracking a straight line. In a canoe, you need two people paddling on either side just to minimize the back and forth sway. 16. Far more products and accessories are available for kayaking than for canoeing and many new innovations are coming out for kayaks every year. To our canoe-loving friends, this is all meant in a light-hearted way. In all seriousness, we have no bias against canoes, stand up paddle boards, and any other means of water transportation. Deciding which is superior is your choice. We hope you choose right! ***PS: Unfortunately, we do not have a message board on our blog. But if you leave us a message on Facebook telling us why you love canoes, canyaks, SUP boards or other watercraft better than kayaks, and we like your post, we will add it to this blog post.
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Celebrate the Centennial of the National Park Service: Four Suggestions
Kick off the Centennial celebration of the National Park Service by visiting some of North America's greatest National Parks! Don't forget to bring your kayak. Plenty of parks have great waters for kayaking including rivers and lakes. With 407 national parks to choose from, you're bound to find one that's the perfect fit for you this summer. If you would like more information on finding a park that's great for you check out FindYourPark.com or #FindYourPark on social media. Below are several suggestions which we hope will spark your curiosity. Check out the Grand Canyon rafting voyage with a whitewater kayak for a more personal experience. The Grand Canyon has been around way longer than 100 years, but this is its 100th year as an official national park. Go celebrate its legend on the fast waters it offers. Glacier National ParkPhoto Credit: Amanda Stout Kayaking in Glacier National Park is one of the most popular ways to explore Glacier Bay. A daily boat tour is available to transport kayakers to their destination for your convenience. Kayaking is the perfect way to see the beauty of Montana's landscape. Night kayaking is also popular here because the night sky and moon are vibrant in the vast hills of Montana. If you are looking for a park on the east coast, Acadia National Park offers a natural coastline that allows you to soak up the beautiful scenery from the ocean. Mount Desert Island is just off the coast and is a great place for ocean kayaking. There are plenty of opportunities for kayak tours and group kayak journeys in this area too that are helpful if you are a beginner or unfamiliar with the area. There is not only ocean kayaking at Acadia, but the park offers lakes and ponds that are great for a soothing kayak ride Lake Louise at Banff National ParkPhoto Credit: Amanda Stout Making a trip to Canada? Check out Banff National Park. They have many activities to make the trip worth it such as horseback riding, gondola rides, bike tours, canoeing, and of course kayaking. Lake Louise offers almost 10 million square feet tranquil body of water perfect for family kayaking. No matter what National Park you choose to visit, you'll have a great time. Just remember to bring your kayak!
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Maquoketa: Iowa's Premier Autumn River
Driving across much of Iowa, one can easily get the impression that this land is flat. But Iowa is also known for its rolling hills, as celebrated in the paintings of Grant Wood and the final scene (with credits rolling) of the Bridges of Madison County, as Clint Eastwood's car disappears and reappears over each successive hill (Meryl Streep looking on). Paddlers from all over Iowa tend to head for the Driftless Zone, a region which Iowa shares with Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois which escaped the glaciers during the last ice age, known for its winding rivers winding through canyons with bluffs as high as 1700 feet. Most popular is the Upper Iowa River, winding along the Minnesota border in the northeast corner of the state. But other parts of Iowa offer gems for paddlers to discover. In 2010-2011, my best friend Jeff and I discovered the Middle River, an exciting river by Iowa standards. When it has enough water it has riffles or short rapids every tenth of a mile over most of a 30 mile flowing through Pammel Park, south of Winterset, and indeed, under a covered bridge. But a fall favorite is the Maquoketa river, flowing for 150 miles on its southwestward course across east central Iowa along the southern rim of the Driftless Zone. While the Maquoketa has little to offer in terms of whitewater or even riffles, it's the scenery that captures you, and which, at times, feels wholly un-Iowan. The primo stretch lies between the Man-Moq dam just outside Monticello and Highway 136. Here the river gently course and winds its way through deep, canyon-like valleys with high, tree-covered bluffs with frequent rock outcroppings and palisades often obscured by trees. In the late afternoon hours of autumn, cloud silhouettes move softly across the fireburst tree cover as eagles circle about. Shadows Playing on the Bluffs The highlight is Pictured Rocks. Here you can stop for lunch on sandbar and admire the limestone rock face soaring overhead. Meditating on Pictured Rocks A long loop southward passes one of the nicest boat ramps you will ever see, hewed out of the limestone from the surrounding rock bluffs. Nearby are rock faces where climbers take on the sheer cliffs.This is also the site of Camp Courageous, a summer camp for children with disabilities, strategically located in one of Iowa's most stunning landscapes. Hiking in this valley also features spectacular views. My first return in decade conjured up old memories of dream-like quality from when I hiked these paths as a child. One can end the trip at Indian Bluffs, but if you continue on to Highway 136, you will pass through an eagles' den, where you will quickly lose count of the number of eagles you see. A pair of Bald Eagles perched on a dead tree The Maquoketa is largely spring fed, so the water tends to be transparent and you can see that sandy bottom, a major contrast from Iowa's mostly muddy rivers. The occasional truck-sized boulder that once tumbled from the top of a rocky bluff only to land alongside or even in mid-stream must be navigated. The surface of the water is deceptively calm, even glassy, but the water has real force and moves one right along at speeds above 3 mph. When covered by golden leaves, the leaves travel alongside your boat as if they are on the same life-journey as you, uncertain where their journey might come to its conclusion. Moments like these encourage meditation, even satori. In 2016, friend Eddy and I were able to revisit the primo stretch and returned a week later for a first run at the stretch from Pioneer Road to Monticello. It did not disappoint. Loads of eagles, bluffs with rock faces and beautiful river bends with sandbars and a few eccentric homes. The river splits at Hopkinton, where both legs course rocky whitewater falls which a paddler with a seasoned paddler wearing a helmet might find exciting (we chose to portage, unsure of the degree of danger involved). Eagles accompanied us all along the way. But all along the Maquoketa you will also see deer and on occasional red fox. Aside from eagles, there are plenty of red-tailed hawks, turkey buzzards, great blue herons, kingfishers and an assortment of other less common birds, such as cedar waxwings. Hawk, reflections in the water, Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Red Fox, Coot, Kingfisher The ideal time to spot wildlife, of course, is at sunrise, but the animals also tend to come out for a last drink of water before sundown. The small river village of Canton marks a kind of arbitrary mid-way point at mile 53. Great scenery follows at Buzzard Ridge, but by Morehead access you may find yourself thinking you are heading out to the all-too typical Iowa scenery of pasture and farmland. Not so. Along the stretch approaching Lakehurst Dam just west of the town of Maquoketa, the scenery again becomes mesmerizing with varying and unusual topography, a riot of colors and stunning reflections on the flat surface of the water to be captured by photographers. The portage over the 25' high Lakehurst Dam is relatively easy (portage left), if you don't mind carrying your boat down a modestly steep, grassy incline. The river soon skirts around the north side of Maquoketa town before joining up with the 96-mile-long North Fork Maquoketa River (another gem, about which we will blog more later). Our expectations were that we had left the rocks and high bluffs behind, but while they are fewer and farther between, one still gets a thrill from occasional stretches of tree-lined bluffs with large rock outcroppings. For whitewater paddlers, we can refer you to the Little Maquoketa, about which we know little, except that it is an entirely distinct and shorter river (30 miles long) in Iowa's Driftless Zone. But for the paddler who is looking for trees, rocks, animals and birds, the main Maquoketa is hard to beat. And autumn is the time to catch it. == Our future plans include finishing the last twelve miles from Spragueville out to the Mississippi and on down to Sabula, Iowa's island town. We also plan to explore the earlyt stretches through Backbone State Park and the remains of Lake Delhi (where a dam burst in 2010 while we were out, luckily, paddling a different river). We will keep you posted. All photos by Mike Zmolek © 2016
Learn more2019 Brings Five New Suppliers with Five New Product Lines to Comfykayak.com
New Suppliers at Comfykayak.com in 2019 2019 has been a year of expanding our product line here at Comfykayak.com. So far, we have welcomed five new suppliers. Here is a quick introduction to some of our new friends in the paddling world and the products of theirs which we carry. YakGear YakGear is a Texas-based company which makes high quality paddling gear such as top-of-the-line carrying carts like the C-Tug Kayak and Canoe Cart to high-end fishing rod holders like the Rod Holder II with StarPort HD Base. Need help with your catch? The Fish Grip is YakGear's ingenious tool for handling your catch without harming its mouth. C-Tug Kayak & Canoe Cart Rod Holder II with StarPort Fish Grip CreekKooler CreekKooler out of Arkansas makes towable, insulated coolers to help you keep your food and beverages cold whilst freeing up space in your boat. The standard 30 quart CreekKooler can handle 30 12-ounce cans and 20 lbs of ice, while the 15 quart CreekKooler Pup can handle half as much. Perfect for day-long group outings on the lake or the river. CreekKooler 30 Qt CreekKooler Pup 15 Qt Paddle Buddy Paddle Buddy is a Wisconsin-based company making products to help you manage your paddle or your fishing pole on board. The Paddle Buddy is a suction-cup mounted paddle holder which allows you to easily go hands-free for periods on the water when you need your hands for other things. The Fishing Rod Holder allows Stand Up Paddlers to have hands-free periods when fishing off your board. Paddle Buddy Fishing Rod Holder Spring Creek Spring Creek out of Minnesota uses anodized aluminum to build canoe seating, stabilizers racks for transporting and storing your boats. The Drop-In Canoe Seat offers the fastest and easiest way to add a seat to your canoe. For children, the elderly and anglers in need of greater boat stability, we carry Spring Creek's Canoe Stabilizer Float Package and their Kayak Stabilizer Float Package. Drop-In Canoe Seat Canoe Stabilizer Float Package Kayak Stabilizer Float Package Trailtopia Trailtopia is another Minnesota-based company, makes nutritious out-of-the-bag meals for outdoor adventurers. Comfykayak.com will begin listing Trailtopia meal packages under Accessories > Meals in July 2019. Welcome to all our new suppliers! We hope you will explore these and other new products on our site and find some useful items to add to your paddling gear collection. #canoeing #coolers #kayakfishing #kayaking #kayakpaddles #summerdeals
Learn moreAn Update on Our Suppliers' Status During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Will it Affect Your Order?
NOTICE: Since publishing the blog notice below on April 21st, most of our suppliers have returned to a state of relative normalcy, but several are experiencing disruptions: Sea Eagle is having supply chain issues and has suspended many boats and a few other items until August at the earliest. Accent Paddles and Cannon Paddles are facing an aluminium shortage. Aluminum shaft paddles will, for the most part, not be available until August. Watersports Warehouse is short-staffed. For made-to-order items, you can expect longer than usual wait times. Uncertain about what to do? Call us at 800-568-0727 to check on the availability of the product you wish to buy. We can let you know right away or check and get back to you in 1-2 days or less. The Covid-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic has affected business everywhere. That includes us and our suppliers. Below we present an update on our suppliers and their status. Comfykayak.com remains open for business and we continue to ship products we have in stock. We also drop ship a good number of products and availability of those products we drop ship will depend on the status of our suppliers. Please note that it is our policy to wait until we know that we can ship the product you ordered before running the charge on your card or debiting your Paypal account. Once we know we can get the product to you and on time, only then, in most cases, do we charge you. Hats Off Masks On Before proceeding, we want to express our support and admiration for two of our suppliers: Accent / Cannon Paddles in Minnesota Surf to Summit in California for halting production in order to produce PPE (personal protective equipment) for medical personnel during this health emergency. Please note that both of these suppliers do continue to fulfill orders based if they have the products or the parts to assemble them in stock, but for the time being their production is geared toward PPE. Supplier Round-Up As you will read, by and large we continue to be able to fulfill orders as under normal conditions. Accent Paddles / Cannon Paddles As noted above, Accent Paddles and Cannon Paddles have halted normal production in order to produce PPE for the pandemic crisis, but continue to ship orders based on what they have in stock or if they have the parts available to assemble the product(s) ordered. So far, this has not meant that we have had to cancel any orders. Boardworks Surf Co Boardworks appears to be operating normally. We await more information. Danuu Paddle Gear Danuu Paddle Gear is continuing with normal operations. Immersion Research Immersion Research continues normal operations but reports shipping can be delayed by up to an additional two days. Ocean Kayak We stock Ocean Kayak products through a third party dealer and are well-stocked at this time. Paddle Buddy Paddle Buddy continues to operate normally. We are also well stocked in their products. Sea Eagle Sea Eagle reports halting operations when the crisis broke out, only to learn that the government considered their products 'essential'. Thus normal operations have resumed. Seattle Sports Company Seattle Sports Company reports that their warehouse is closed. We stock a majority of their products and will inform you before charging if we are not able to fulfill your order. Skwoosh Skwoosh reports continuing normal operations. Spring Creek Manufacturing Spring Creek has halted production, but continues to fulfill orders, which means we should have no problem fulfilling your order for any Spring Creek products. We plan to expand our offering of Spring Creek products in the weeks ahead. Surf to Summit Surf to Summit is making PPE and has halted production. Orders are still being fulfilled, but we are experiencing delays. oferty Trailtopia Trailtopia continues to operate normally and we stock all the meals listed on this site. Watershed Dry Bags Watershed reports facing delays but is working with dealers to continue fulfilling orders as normally as possible. Watersports Warehouse Watersports Warehouse reports being short-staffed and this may affect your order of any made-to-order Watersports Warehouse product. We will endeavor to notify you in advance of the time-to-shipment period. YakGear / Backwater Paddles YakGear continues to operate normally. Backwater Paddles is now run by YakGear. CreekKooler CreekKooler appears to have gone out of business, and, for the time being at least, we have categorized their products on our site as 'discontinued'. #covid19 #supplychain #comfykayak #paddlesports #kayakgear
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Is it Safe to go Paddling during the Covid-19 Pandemic?
It's that time of year and paddlers are praying for rain as the water beckons. But is it safe to go out paddling? For the most part, the same rules of social distancing apply to paddling as they do to other social activities. Covid-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets from infected persons when they sneeze, cough, talk or breathe and those droplets are breathed in by another person. Recent reporting suggests that as many as 40% of infections are transmitted by infected persons who are asymptomatic. This means Covid-19 is a stealth virus and therefore very dangerous. In any gathering, you should operate under the assumption that you or any of the other members in your party could be infected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lays out some Basic guidelines which we shall briefly summarize as follows: The larger the gathering, the greater the risk of infection; therefore, the smaller the group for any social activity, the better. Avoid crowded areas as much as possible. Excepting people who have been sharing the same living space, you should maintain a distance of at least six feet apart. Wear facial coverings (masks) to prevent spreading or inhaling the virus (children under the age of 2 should NOT wear masks, for obvious safety reasons). Always cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. Do not share or touch the same objects. Do not share food or beverages. Regularly and thoroughly wash hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol for at least 20 seconds. Using sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, keep bathroom areas disinefected, if possible.To this list, we would add the following: When choosing where to go paddling, avoid crowded areas where the risk of infection would be highest. Paddle on waters you feel most comfortable and safest with. By paddling on waters which pose higher risks, you increase the chance of having an accident or become stranede, this could potentially draw emergency personnel away from responding to pandemic-related emergencies. Furthermore, medical personnel are more likely to have been exposed to the virus, so the risk to you would increase. Carry hand sanitizer on your person for cases where you inadvertently touch objects in common or each other. Here are some additional things to think about: On the Water It is advisable to paddle single file, maintaining a healthy distance. This will make conversation more difficult, to be sure. On wider rivers, lakes or oceans, you could paddle side-by-side so you can talk, but maintain a distance of well more than six feet. Why well more than six feet? Because on the water you can be pushed around by currents and waves, so if you are only six feet a part, that can quickly and unintentionally become three feet or less. In Vehicles The best way to avoid transmitting the virus in vehicles is for persons not sharing the same household living space to drive separately. This could be quite challenging, however. River paddling requires dropping a car at the put-out and carpooling back to the put-in. This may be inadvisable, however, wearing masks, rubber gloves and maintaining as much spacing in the car would be advisable, as would keeping windows at least partially open. Loading and Unloading Boats This is tricky because two people not from the same household living space might be touching the same boat. Masks and rubber gloves would add a barrier and a layer of protection. The best solution is for persons from the same household to load and unload their boats to avoid close interaction between persons from different households. In the Campground Depending upon the state, parks and campgrounds may be closed and not maintained, which means authorities are discouraging you from using them. Why? Camping is a rather intimate activity that can involve a lot of human contact. The safest decision is to simply engage in day activities and return home at night. Should you find yourself in a campground, regardless, here are some suggestions: Any two persons not sharing the same household living space should maintain six feet or more of separation and should not sleep in the same tent. Arranging your campfire with camp chairs a health ten or more feet apart might be a good way to be able to enjoy a campfire, but remember that winds can carry particles so keeping masks on is advised. Again, do not share or touch the same food or beverages.World-wide, hundreds of thousands have perished from this deadly virus. It is no joke and continues to pose a mortal threat to public health. Sheltering in place is the safest approach you can take, which means no paddling. But if you go out paddling, carefully following safety procedures can protect you and your loved ones and that can enable you to better relax as you enjoy your time in the great outdoors. ##paddlingsafety #kayaking #canoeing #standuppaddling #staysafe #kayak2020 #kayaksafely #canoesafely
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