Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Part Kayaking part Backcountry camping
This is really a 3/4 kayak 1/4 comping book.Covers the basics of kayaking, navigation and then topics like guns, predators, scavenging, etc. As a long-time camper I found the second half redundant.The part on kayaking was probably redundant with other kayaking books but it was useful to me.I like in depth coverage though and, at home, I never by TV/VCR combo.This book is the TV/VCR.An advanced user will probably want TV and a VCR.

If you are new to both backcountry living and kayaking and want a glimpse of what to expect on a kayak expedition that goes well beyond the surface, then this is a good book for you.If you are seriously considering an expedition, you'll probably want something more in depth.

Lots of useful information in this book without good organization or structure.Chapters are good on their own but are just kinda thrown together like in a second hand clothes store.There were too many "I hear" and "people tell me" arguments in the book.To me, if you write a book on a topic then either research things you want to write about or just admit ignorance and encourage the user to search elsewhere.

Overall, despite serious shortcomings this is a useful book--just not a complete reference by any means.Will need other books on all topics introduced here: trip planning, boat selection, kayaking technique, clothing, navigation, campsite selection and camping. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A good book for the first time kayaker
The Coastal Kayaker's Manual has some excellent information for thebeginning kayaker.The book stresses safety, as it should, as well asbasic technique.Some additional information on kayak brands andoutfitters would be nice, however. ... Read more

Product Description

It would be hard to design waters more suited to sea kayaking than those of Georgian Bay. For expert kayakers, there are the large waves and deep water off the Bruce Peninsula. For kayakers of more modest skills, there are the sheltered waters of the 30,000 Islands. This book contains over 25 individual kayaking routes divided into four areas: the North Shore, the Eastern Shore, the Southern Bay and the Bruce. Jonathon Reynolds and Heather Smith's adventure company, Nomadic Adventures, offers tours in the Canadian wilderness and abroad.

Customer Reviews (3)

interesting but inaccurate
This book has some nice descriptions of the area and gives you a starting point. But it is full of internal contradictions (e.g., 2 day trip in the description but 4 day trip in the summary) and outright errors (e.g., the phone number for White Squall is wrong throughout the book) and the information is getting outdated faster than you would think (e.g., the fellow who welcomed kayakers to tea out on the Mink Islands has moved and some marinas have new names and phone numbers). The black and white photos are disapointing, being colour originals not well reproduced in grey scale. At best, this book is less useful than talking to a local resident or outfitter. More up-to-date(and verified) information can be found on the Internet. If you know nothing about the area, this book will give you a sense of what to expect and ideas on where to go. Just double-check any facts before you go. -- They're writing another guide? Here's hoping they get a better editor this time.

Looking Forward to the Next book
This is wonderfully written by experts.It is a book for amateurs, intermediates, and advanced alike!I am looking forward to Reynolds' next book about the waters around Cape Cod.

A "must have" if you want to paddle Georgian Bay
If you want to paddle in Georgian Bay, then this book is a good investment.The author provides practical information for numerous routes around the bay, and the required experience level for each.He also includes trip lengths, camp sites, fees, access points, and possibleextension routes.This book is sure to enhance your Georgian Bayexperience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Kayaking in the San Juans?This book is a must.
Relied on this book to plan an eight day kayaking/camping trip through the San Juans.While the book does not lay out extended trips (other thanshort overnighters), it was very simple to use a chart in conjunction withthis book to plan our extremely successful trip.If you are going topaddle the San Juans on your own (i.e. not as part of an organized group),they buying and referring to this book is a must! ... Read more

Product Description
The first comprehensive sea kayaking guide to Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland. This valuable "where to" resource provides details on 92 launch sites on the area's rivers, lakes, and tidal tributaries. Paddlers of all ages and abilities will enjoy in-depth accounts of 25 of the region's best paddling destinations, plus descriptions of and directions to 67 additional launch sites. Each chapter is filled with a mix of important logistical facts and fascinating details on local wildlife, history, and folklore.This guide contains over 50 original photographs, county maps, and a listing of regional paddling resources including outfitters, guided trips, clubs, and associations. ... Read more

Product Description
500+ easy-to-digest tips for making sea kayaking safer and more enjoyable

Drawn in part from the popular "Tips" column appearing in Sea Kayaker magazine, SEA KAYAKER'S SAVVY PADDLER arms novice and expert paddlers alike with helpful, tested-and-refined-in-the-field advice. The tips and techniques are inventive, yet head-smackingly simple: for example, convert an old CD into a signal mirror; use a drinking straw to suck the air from bread bags to add days of freshness. These great ideas are complemented by practical discussions of such things as how to pack a kayak for a multi-day trip, lists of essential touring items, advice on choosing the best paddling boat or partner, recipes for quick meals on the water or in camp, and much more. Tips are organized into sections for ease of access:

* Major purchases
* Outfitting
* Navigation and safety
* Food, clothing and shelter
* Health and fitness ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Review of Savy Kayaker
This is a must have book of idea for paddlers who want to know more.
It's filled with worth while ideas ranging from safety to clothing. the ideas come in handy and give you insight as to how you can better yourself, your kayak and increase your fun.
Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Essential Reference for Seakayakers
As a kayak instructor, I highly recommend you purchase this book and keep it handy to read and review on a regular basis.It is not only great for beginners but also seasoned paddlers.One of the most overwhelming aspects of this sport is figuring out what gear you really need - especially when you see the price tags in all the "gucci" paddling stores these days.Doug Alderson brings kayaking back to basics by giving you hints on how you can enhance your kayaking kit with things from around the house or the dollar store.His tips are usually so simple they're ingenious.(Did you know that when Doug isn't paddling he's a high school industrial arts teacher?).Moreover, his advice on how to plan a trip, stay safe, and have a hassle free camping experience are by far the best I've seen, a testament to Doug's vast seakaying experience.I use this book as one of my main instructing references since students often ask me questions that are well covered in this book.The more I read it, the more I appreciate how much thought went into each paragraph and illustration.

random observations about kayaking
This is a collection of suggestions rather than a systematic discussion, not worth the money or time.

confidence and knowledge for even the newest paddlers
I started paddling just 2 months ago and bought this book before my first venture on the water. After reading it I felt like I had a basic idea of the kinds of things that could happen to me and what I could do about them. It contains advice from many experienced paddlers who want to help you avoid their mistakes and have a great time paddling. Being new to the sport I didn't even know what questions to ask - this book covers topics I hadn't even thought about. It gives advice on the best fabric choices in clothes for the weather, what to pack on the boat, what to have waiting for you at the end of your trip (hot cocoa among other things), how to tie some basic knots, how to scare bears away, how to pee without leaving the kayak (valuable information for women - like me). It's interesting, fun to read and not at all didactic. It includes many tips for more experienced paddlers and I will reread it often as I advance in the sport. The tips are offered by paddlers who obviously love their sport and want to share their great time with everyone else.

Author review
Seakayaker's Savvy Paddler condenses many years of sea kayak paddling into a concise manual of how to make your paddling, easier, safer, cheaper and more enjoyable. You can read it from the inside out or from cover to cover. Either way, you will find succinct advice and short-snappy TIPS ready to put to good use in a brief paddle around the lake or an extended trip along the open coast. This book will help you do more with less and extend your enjoyment, safety and adventure while exploring in your seakayak. ... Read more

Product Description
Throughout history, the bold, the desperate, and the foolhardy have dared the wide oceans in the tiniest of boats

The unique and wonderful A Speck on the Sea looks back half a millennium to chronicle the greatest ocean voyages attempted in the littlest boats--rowboats, canoes, tiny sailboats, even a pair of wooden floats strapped to one adventurer's feet.

Driven by desperation, a spirit of adventure, or irrepressible exuberance, these amazing feats include:

• Diego Mendez's voyage to rescue Columbus
• William Okeley's 1639 escape from slavery in a folding rowboat
• Hugo Vihlen's 1968 ocean crossing in the six-foot sailboat April Fool
• Ernest Shackleton and William Bligh's death-cheating journeys
• The tragic story of Peter Bird's attempt to row across the Pacific
• And many more

Never have sailors dared the sea in frailer boats. This fascinating history will appeal to sailors and landlubbers alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Monohulls only, the shorter and sillier the better
I got this book as a birthday present.Thanks, Honey!It was on my wish list.I'm a small boat sailor, it looked interesting.

So, I've read it, and thought about it a bit, and read parts again, and listed below is what I think.Before I tell you what I think, though, I should confess that I'm a multihull sailor.I like small multihulls, I built one, I sail it, little multis are my sort of boat.So, I'm not pretending to lack any bias here, I like what I like.

Mr. Longyard likes what he likes, too, and it's his book, so he gets to write about it.What he likes is small boats going a long way, "small" apparently meaning "short waterline", and apparently the shorter the better.I'm not sure about that.I'll come back to it.

So, the book starts with some history, has a good bit on the Rob Roy and McGregor, a good bit on Fenger and Yakaboo, and in general is very enjoyable when it deals with this sort of kayak like boat.I suppose my interests and his intersect there; the boats are monohulls, so he thinks they're ok, and they sail well, so I like them.

He also gives a short history of the West Wight Potter, which was nice, since I always wondered who thought that was a good idea.Apparently an early model was being delivered by sea, was unable to claw off a lee shore, was washed up on shore, then trucked around the difficult bit and finished the trip.This rather mixed achievement was enough to launch the model to success, somehow.The cheery tone taken in this section, which was when stripped of the superlatives about a boat that was well out of its comfort zone and ended wrecked on the beach, was a little surprising to me.

Later, in a section on the rather stupid "shortest "sailboat" to cross the Atlantic" record, the cheery and admiring tone continues.It's pretty clear that these little four and five foot waterline boats can't sail to windward to any effect, but apparently that's ok.At one point two of the four foot something 'boats' are described as "windbound" and unable to launch; unusual word, that."Windbound".Sort of a passive voice way of saying they had a headwind and they couldn't sail to windward, which I guess gets to be a serious problem in these things.

Both of these sections bugged me.Treating dangerous, bad boats as cute or stubborn or something else complementary only encourages people to try them.And it's not like Mr. Longyard can't be critical, or even scathing; the section on California artist Bas Jan Ader, who was lost at sea in a Guppy 13, left me in little doubt what Mr. Longyard thought of that attempt, or of Mr. Ader's artwork.But apparently it's a good idea to try to cross the Atlantic in a four foot boat.Ok.

Multihulls are almost completely ignored.A Prindle sailing through the Caribbean gets about a paragraph, the British Newman brothers who sailed an outrigger called "The Spirit of Cleveland" across the Atlantic get a page; I'd love to know more about that boat.In both cases capsize was mentioned as a terrible menace, which perhaps shows some of the author's feelings on the subject.Francis Brenton's story is apparently too good to leave out.His boat (two canoes lashed together) is briefly admitted to being a catamaran, but is thereafter called a 'raft' or a 'dugout canoe'.

Wharram crossing oceans in a 23' cat for the first time in the '50s gets not a line.Nothing on Nicol, nothing on Piver, nothing on Brown.Nothing on that more recent guy with the nomad lifestyle thing and the Microship trimaran, nothing on that other guy who sailed a Tiki 21 all over the place and back down under.Nothing about any of the guys who have sailed the Fulmar tris all over, or Ida Little and Michael Walsh who sailed a beachcat all over the Caribbean, or any of the people who have tried or managed to sail a small cat across the Atlantic.This really does bug me; the book gives unstinting praise to oddball boats which are frankly bad sailors, and to dangerous record chasers in things that are barely sailboats at all, and ignores real sailboats making real passages.A 'sailboat' of under four feet LOA gets pages of fulsome praise, and Wharram sailing from England across oceans with two young girls as crew and starting a revolution is left out.What are we doing here?

Oh well.Aside from this rather glaring omission, it's an interesting book.The writing is brisk, there's enough on each story to set you off to find more if it's to your taste.I could wish for more pictures, but in the day of the internet I suppose you can all do what I do, and google up each boat as it appears in the book for a better look.I do wish I could find something, anything, on that dratted "Spirit of Cleveland".

There's a nice bibliography at the end of the book, and a section on "Other notable voyages".I enjoyed seeing Verlen Kruger make the cut, I camped out next to him at the first Watertribe challenge in Florida a few years before he passed away.

So, I don't intend to appear unkind about this.The book is for the most part fine in what it covers.I do wish we could stop paying attention to silly freakshows like 4' boats sailing across the Atlantic, it only encourages them, but I suppose if I want a book that says what I think I should write it myself.If you like boats you'll like this book, I think, and you'll certainly run into some stories you hadn't heard before.

Astounding stories well told.
Astounding stories well told. Stories of delusional, niave, and competent sailors taking small (very small) craft to sea. Covers mostly those who survive these undertakings.

Smooth Sailing
I was tickled to discover a couple of weeks ago that our 1980's voyage from Miami to Australia with 18' "Pere Peinard" made mention in Longyard's excellent compendium. I was suprised and grateful for the "1/15th second of fame" since it's mainly remarkable for being unremarkable! Nothing broke at all except the wallet and a world record (26 days, under 25' LOA) for the Galapagos-Marquesas crossing in 26 days, 1983. Is this still standing? (Ok, after 6 great years, the marriage broke up too, but hey. Not the friendship! No regrets!) We made every intended destination (except Sydney, had to settle for Brisbane. At 3 knots bare-pole:) Our 5 yrs under sail were remarkably easy and beautiful, thanks to a really solid boat, careful work, and the grace of god/dess. In oceanic terms, even the Titanic is but a Speck on the Sea. So, I very much appreciate the respect Longyard has conveyed towards the WHOLE spectrum of small boat sailors! Isn't that what we all are, really? On this planet? In this universe?

Boats, Floats and Bars of Soap on the High Seas
Okay, so there are no stories of trans-oceanic voyages on soap bars in this book; just needed a catchy rhyme for the title. But this fascinating seaman's yarn covers just about every other buoyant contrivance that went to sea, at least those twenty feet long or less. This limitation is my only slight quibble about the book. Although in the beginning some boats are covered which exceed the twenty-foot benchmark established by the author, it does seem a bit arbitrary. Why not include Josh Slocum's marvelous circumnavigation in a 37-footer that was
already a century old when he obtained her? It should be noted that solo circumnavigations are covered by the 1974 book by Tod Holms (unfortunately long out of print and hard to obtain). That said, Longyard has provided a delightful compendium of
seamanship in Lillipution craft. Many might be written off as
publicity stunts and gimmicks, which they were. None could be duplicated by anyone other than the most intrepid and hardy sailor. Even then, the voyager turned up half dead, if he survived at all.

This is not a dry technical manual on small boat seamanship, although there are a lot of nuggets for the sailor in the tales. Human interest predominates. There are tales of cruelty and chicanery as in the story of Voss's seagoing canoe, and those invoking great sympathy as in how Andrews enticed an advernturesome young New Jersey farm girl to join him in a transatlantic stunt which ended in the disappearance of both somewhere beneath the tempestuous waves. All in all, brisk and
delightful reading cover to cover.

Well written, fun, inspiring, frightening - A great read
A great collection of tales of amazing small boat adventures and adventurers.I bought this book thinking I would be able to read a story at a time ad set the book aside inbetween - but it was too good to set aside.From way back in history and white slave escapes - to modern record setters.This book constantly made my jaw drop in awe and amazement. ... Read more

Product Description
The lush and green Pacific Northwest is a sea kayaker's Eden: the geography between the Cascades uplift and the ocean shoreline is diverse, wild, and magnificent. Traversing it is the Interstate 5, a major artery of industrial-urban growth. This book explores how these watershed and urban ecologies interface along the rivers, lakes, and estuaries as they course into the Puget Sound and into the Pacific Ocean. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great original writing and photos of the US Northwest
While reading this book I kept thinking: Fast forward 300 years - will someone have to navigate a cityscape using this book as a reference to what was here today? At the rate our world population is increasing - probably yes. Which leads me to appreciate all the more Dan Baharav's chronicles of his kayaking expeditions in the Northwest. The stories are broken down to chapters, each one representing a different expedition in Western Washington. They are weaved with science and opinion about the nature of watershed habitats and the flora and fauna that inhabit them. Great read and makes for an entertaining coffee table book due to the diverse and colorful photos. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the DVD version of the video TTU219. Launching & landing in surf while remaining upright is of great concern to sea kayakers, and since waves occur on just about every body of water, knowing how to deal with surf should be a skill for all seakayakers. Kayaking instructor and former member of the US Surf Kayaking Team, Wayne Horodowich, shows how to do it. Topics covered in the video include: oceanography, ocean effects on the kayak, flat water training drills, equipment & safety concerns,launchings, landings, group protocols, basic surfing techniques & a lot more. The primary focus of the video is to help the kayaker get through the surf zone successfully ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wayne H provides you with surf instruction extraordinaire.
Wayne Horodowichis a wonderful instructor, and although I live in the Midwest, I have watched this video many times and it enhances anyones paddling proficiency, even if not paddling in the surf zone.This was the instructional video of the year in 2005 Sea Kayaker Magazine, which is saying a ton for it's value. Motor boat wakes, windy conditions, group paddles, et cetera are applicable skilss to everyday paddling.I enjoy that Wayne, by nature, is highly analytical, and has refined to the mostefficient techniquesfor each of the dozens of skills on this DVD, such as surf launches, the order of launching a group, how to launch paddlers based on particular strengths, and such.Wayne boils it down to a nice long (think great economy of price) DVD chock full of information. Literally each time I watch this disc, I learn several new concepts or ideas that I can practically incorporate into my paddling. I cannot think of any intermediate or advanced paddler that would wish to pass up this great DVD for their collection.

Special thanks to the other paddlers on this disc that, literally, grind their faces into the beach just to demonstrate what NOT to do with surf landings and launches. Ouch. Thank you.

Essential Kayak Instruction
As a student of Wayne's and a professional instructor, I can attest to the thoroughness of instruction he provides. This is a tremendous introduction to a subject that promotes fear in most beginning and intermediate sea kayakers. Wayne uses his professional teaching skills to provide a detailed, step-by-step method of safe and fun surf zone kayaking. The surf zone is one of the least understood and most potentially rewarding areas of sea kayaking, and Wayne Horodowich always keeps this in focus. Training drills are presented that encourage kayakers to work with competent others to help improve their skills gradually, gaining confidence as they practice. Participants in the video are a real cross-section of a surf class, representing a wide variety of experience, apprehension, and aptitude. This makes it easier for viewers to see themselves in their place, a great learning tool.
The videography, writing, and editing are all of the highest quality. The DVD itself is thoroughly partitioned and labeled for quick reference. Derek Hutchinson, one of the world's most well-known expedition kayakers and teachers, has endorsed Wayne and his approach in the best possible way: he makes appearances in nearly all of Wayne's videos, lending his own wry humor and knowledge to the proceedings.
When a video appeals to and benefits seasoned professional instructors as well as beginning kayakers, it's a real accomplishment. This video provides instructors with excellent exemplars of effective teaching methods, while it serves as a solid foundation and reference for those beginning to venture through the surf zone. Horodowich and the University of Sea Kayaking stress, as any true professional organization would, that the video is not a substitute for guided, professional instruction. However, it's a way for any new student to prepare for the surf experience, and for an instructor to compare lesson notes prior to teaching an effective, interesting class. If you don't have this and you kayak, you need it! An essential part of a kayaker's library. ... Read more

Product Description
By Derek C. Hutchhinson ... Read more