Starting Out - What you need to get/do.

183 wrote: »

Looking to get two Bouyncy aids/ personal floatation devices (whichever the proper term is Idk)..Doing an adventure race this week and need to have one as part of essential kit.. Anyone know where I'd get a cheap or secondhand pair in Dublin. I wont be using it very often..Any help appreciated. Thanks.

You could do worse than this at 27€

http://www.i-canoe.com/en/Rescue_Safety_Buoyancy_Aids_PFDs.79/Beginner___Centre.81/Typhoon.85/TYP-DART-PFD/Typhoon_50N_Dart_Buoyancy_Aid.3072.html

Canal kayaking can be very pleasant and relaxing, if not exactly inspired in the scenery department

Agreed. Once you get down beyond Athy and heading towards Carlow and St. Mullins, (I assume that's the neck of the woods you took that picture, iwillhtfu) it can be very scenic.

No so much heading back the opposite direction towards Monasterevin and Robertsown.

This is all only based around the Barrow Line of course

yeah it seems to be fairly quiet alright.

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Yup slap bang in the middle

One day I plan to set out from Dublin to check it all out. I wonder how long it would take to get down to St.Mullins

It's an interesting proposition. I presume camping as you go. I had figured on doing Rathangan to Athy to begin with. Just because I live in Rathangan and have a very good friend with direct access to the canal in Athy.

Would you be looking at 5 days, maybe?

Did some planning of that last spring with a view to doing it in the summer. Never came to pass but there's always this summer. Idea was to start upriver of Portarlington going to at least St Mullins. Possibly Hook Head depending on how salty I was feeling.

cletus wrote: »

So Barrow, as opposed to the Barrow way?

Yeah.

pullandbang wrote: »

We did the Barrow from Athy to St. Mullins in 2019.
Left Athy Friday at midday and reached St. Mullins at midday on the Monday.

I'd love to hear a bit more about that. How many of ye, what sort of pace, camping etc

That looks great. Myself and a mate were looking for an overnighter, or maybe a 2 or 3 day trip. He lives in Athy, so that looks ideal.

What did you do for getting back home once you hit St. Mullins?

phildub wrote: »

Hi all!

I'm thinking of buying an inflatable kayak, interested to hear people's thoughts and opinions?!

I wrote this about inflatables a few months ago.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=113697291&postcount=20

pullandbang wrote: »

The two relevant bodies have lots of stories regarding inflatable kayaks.
Admittedly most of the incidents took place at sea with people getting caught out by offshore winds. I'm sure they're fine on a canal or quiet backwater but keep away from the big lakes and the coast.
Think of a plastic bottle being blown across the surface of the water by the wind. That's essentially what an inflatable is.

I think you're assuming these inflatable kayaks are all Lidl level, they have come on a bit since the lilo level they used to be. I still probably wouldn't recommend one but you can certainly buy ones that would be more than sufficient for canals and calm rivers.

Phildub, out of curiosity, what's the reasoning for buying an inflatable kayak? Is it a space issue?

https://www.rackattack.com/car-rack-installations/volkswagen/beetle/

You can get roof racks for pretty much any car

Lads before taking kids out on water learn to how use a kayak yourselves, I'd suggest gong along to a few organised trips with your local clubs. The cost of inexperience can sometimes come at the greatest expense.

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

I took a kayak lesson last week and gon on fine. Rented a kayak today and nearly died from exhaustion on the water. The pain in my thighs and hips was terrible and I constantly had to stop. I could not get a comfortable sitting position and my back was also in agony, I felt that if I was seated higher it would have been much easier. Is this just beginners issues from bad posture and form? Would a boat with a seat suit me better? I am in my late 40's so maybe my body is not up for it any more. Would stand up paddleboarding be easier on the body?

I'm far from an expert, but I've a couple of questions that might steer you in the right direction.

What's your overall fitness like? I'm in my early 40's (so we're not that far removed), and I spent 4 hours on the water last week, with no ill effects.

What type of kayak were you in? I have a sit on top, which allows for more movement and adjustment over time, stretching you legs and the like.

You ask if you should have a boat with a seat, I take this to mean the kayak you rented didn't have a seat? A seat makes a huge difference. They allow for adjustment of the seated position, as well as offering some padding.

cletus wrote: »

I'm far from an expert, but I've a couple of questions that might steer you in the right direction.

What's your overall fitness like? I'm in my early 40's (so we're not that far removed), and I spent 4 hours on the water last week, with no ill effects.

What type of kayak were you in? I have a sit on top, which allows for more movement and adjustment over time, stretching you legs and the like.

You ask if you should have a boat with a seat, I take this to mean the kayak you rented didn't have a seat? A seat makes a huge difference. They allow for adjustment of the seated position, as well as offering some padding.

Overall fitness is not terrible but not running any 5k's either. Probably been a while since I done any deent training but do a good 10k walk every Saturday monring and usually a shorter walk on Sunday morning.
The kayak I rented was a Mambo sit on top, just some moulded plastic for seat and foot positioning. I see kayaks advertised online and they have a proper seat with a back. As I was paddling in extreme discomfort all I could think about was how much easier it would be if I were seated higher. My bum felt lower than my heels so my back was arched at all times.

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

I took a kayak lesson last week and gon on fine. Rented a kayak today and nearly died from exhaustion on the water. The pain in my thighs and hips was terrible and I constantly had to stop. I could not get a comfortable sitting position and my back was also in agony, I felt that if I was seated higher it would have been much easier. Is this just beginners issues from bad posture and form? Would a boat with a seat suit me better? I am in my late 40's so maybe my body is not up for it any more. Would stand up paddleboarding be easier on the body?

1. Kayaking is low impact so don't worry about age.

2. You connect at feet, thighs, hips, bum. All 4 contacts (assuming not sit on top) need to be solid and comfortable.

The pain could be from any number of things but I'd look at these 2 culprits.
A) Hips too tight or hip pinching nerve.
Back rest too harsh. This can be a killer and whilst being uncomfortable will also push on nerves to everything below the waist leading to pins and needles and pain....

As regards posture and longevity on the water. Your biceps are small muscles your back and abs are big. So paddle strokes should have as straight an arm as possible.

Straight back like a string is pulling up on your head. Reach out as far as you can with that straight back. Pull through the water by swinging your torso and pretty straight elbow. Get the blade out when level with hip (not behind you). Like cycling and running you're looking for a quicker cadance with handier strokes rather than pulling hard. Pulling hard slows you down, makes harder to go straight abd tires you out a lot quicker

The one thing that jumps out to me is that you're using a sit on top with no seat.

I would definitely get a seat the next time. Difference is night and day.

You can adjust the seat so that once you sit down, you are in an upright supported position (as suggested by a poster above), as opposed to sliding around and leaning back against the moulded body of the kayak