The Complete Sea Kayaker's Handbook

Wherever you want your kayak to take you, The Complete Sea Kayaker's Handbook will get you there.

What makes this book good is its comprehensiveness, what makes it great is Shelley Johnsons passion for the sport and her ability to share that passion, honed by twelve years of guiding trips and teacing courses throughout the United States and Canada. Shelley's practical advice and clear explanations ring true because she knows they work--she and her students have tested them all for you. Now you can benefit from her hard-won and time-tested experiences, and learn everything from basic paddling strokes and rolling techniques to advanced navigation and trip logistics.

"Shelley's approach to sea kayaking is thorough and erudite. It provides an excellent introduction for neophytes as well as abundant reminders for experienced paddlers."--John Dowd, author, Sea Kayaking: A Manual for Long-Distance Touring

"Shelley's straghtforward book will be one of your most important items of kayaking gear."--Lee Moyer, founder and designer, Pacific Water Sports, author, Sea Kayak Navigation Simplified

"Everything you need to know to get started in sea kayaking is here in Shelley Johnson's new book, from choosing a boat to developing the paddling skills you need, to making field repairs and planning your dream trip, all told in Shelley's knowledgeable and conversational style."--Robin Stanton, managing editor, CanoeandKayak

This handbook offers a complete, authoritative, and thorough treatment of the sea kayaking spectrum. Everything a kayaker needs is here - gear, equipment, and technique: from basic paddle strokes to the Eskimo Roll, from making your first tentative paddle to an extended boat tour.

The Complete Sea Kayakers Handbook is a comprehensive guide to the full sea kayaking spectrum, bringing a fresh approach and a dynamic voice to the subject. Author of the critically acclaimed Sea Kayaking: A Womans Guide, Shelley Johnson covers all the bases for beginning to advanced sea kayakers. Its all here, from selecting the right kayak and gear to preparing and making an extended tour, mastering the strokes, rolls, and exit techniques; navigating; and much more.

Shelley Johnson is a contributing editor to Canoe and Kayak, an American Canoe Association - certified instructor, a member of the Maine Association of Sea Kayak Guides and Instructors, and a Registered Maine Guide. She is a frequent contributor to Atlantic Coastal Kayaker and Kayak Touring and the author of Sea Kayaking: A Woman's Guide and Sea Kayaker's Pocket Guide.

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Getting Ready

Making a Decision amid a Sea of Options / Instruction / Guided Tours / Fitness and Stretching / Common Questions / The Dangers of Going to Sea

2. Kayaks

Making Choices / Naming the Parts / Kayak Design / The Stuff They're Made Of / Design Features / A Primer for Buying a Sea Kayak

3. Accessories and Clothing

Paddles / Essential Safety Gear / Clothing as Safety Gear / Navigational Gear / Other Useful Stuff

4. Getting to Know Your Kayak

Seating and Foot Brace Adjustment / Customizing Your Kayak / Getting Your Kayak to and from the Water / Cartopping Your Kayak / Getting Into and Out of the Kayak

5. Controlling Your Kayak

Balance and the Art of Staying Upright / Your Paddle Grip / Forward Stroke / Back Stroke / Turning (Sweep) Strokes / Support Strokes (Braces) / Draw Strokes / Stern (Ruddering) Strokes / Putting It All Together / Adaptive Paddling

6. Getting Into and Out of the Water

The Wet Exit / The Solo Reentry / The Assisted Reentry / A Final Word on Rescues / Rolling

7. Real-Life Paddling

Staying on Course / Wind: Don't Let It Push You Around / Wind and Topography / Waves: What to Expect and Why / The Surf Zone / Tides and Tidal Currents / Weather

8. Finding Your Way: Kayak Navigation

Charts and Tools / Latitude and Longitude / Aids to Navigation / Plotting Your Course / Lines of Position (LOPs) / Ranges / Things That Can Throw You Off / Speed of Travel / Vectors / The Effects of Wind / Dead Reckoning / Distance Off / Rules of the Road

9. Trip Logistics

Playing the "What-If" Game / Packing Strategies / Meal Planning and Cooking

10. Group Safety

Communication / Traveling in a Group / Towing / Family Paddling / Staying Healthy

11. Kayak Camping

Choosing and Setting Up a Campsite / Beware! / Useful Knots for Camping / Low-Impact Techniques

12. Planning Your Dream Trip

Making a Choice / Gathering Information / Laying Out the Trip

13. Taking Care of Your Stuff

Gear Storage and Maintenance / Repairs: At Home and in the Field

Resources

Books / Magazines / Videos / Paddling Clubs / Organizations and Associations / World Wide Web Sources / Build-Your-Own Schools / Paddling Events / Water Trails

Index