Full Description
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 Johnson's passion for the sport and her ability to share that passion, honed by twelve years of guiding trips and teaching 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 straightforward 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, "Canoe & Kayak".
Contents
AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Getting ReadyMaking a Decision amid a Sea of Options / Instruction / Guided Tours / Fitness and Stretching / Common Questions / The Dangers of Going to Sea2. KayaksMaking Choices / Naming the Parts / Kayak Design / The Stuff They're Made Of / Design Features / A Primer for Buying a Sea Kayak3. Accessories and ClothingPaddles / Essential Safety Gear / Clothing as Safety Gear / Navigational Gear / Other Useful Stuff4. Getting to Know Your KayakSeating and Foot Brace Adjustment / Customizing Your Kayak / Getting Your Kayak to and from the Water / Cartopping Your Kayak / Getting Into and Out of the Kayak5. Controlling Your KayakBalance 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 Paddling6. Getting Into and Out of the WaterThe Wet Exit / The Solo Reentry / The Assisted Reentry / A Final Word on Rescues / Rolling7. Real-Life PaddlingStaying 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 / Weather8. Finding Your Way: Kayak NavigationCharts 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 Road9. Trip LogisticsPlaying the "What-If" Game / Packing Strategies / Meal Planning and Cooking10. Group SafetyCommunication / Traveling in a Group / Towing / Family Paddling / Staying Healthy11. Kayak CampingChoosing and Setting Up a Campsite / Beware! / Useful Knots for Camping / Low-Impact Techniques12. Planning Your Dream TripMaking a Choice / Gathering Information / Laying Out the Trip13. Taking Care of Your StuffGear Storage and Maintenance / Repairs: At Home and in the FieldResourcesBooks / Magazines / Videos / Paddling Clubs / Organizations and Associations / World Wide Web Sources / Build-Your-Own Schools / Paddling Events / Water TrailsIndexNER(01): WOW
