Home / Equipment / Transporting the kayak & on the landing stage with the kayak

TRANSPORTING THE KAYAK & ON THE LANDING STAGE WITH THE KAYAK

​The paddle

The paddle should be just long enough to reach your wrist when you raise your arm overhead.The back face of the blade is designed for pushing, and the power face the other for pulling.

​How to hold a paddle.
Can you read what it says on the blades of your paddle? Then you’re holding it correctly.

​Transporting the kayak

There are several ways to carry a kayak. Here are two that work well, even if it’s windy.

On the landing stage with the kayak

1. The rudder is the most vulnerable part of a ka​yak, as it can easily become bent or damaged. The kayak should never rest on the rudder. On a landing stage, you should set the kayak down with the stern sticking out over the edge.

​2. Place your dry bag in the hatch. If your kayak doesn’t have a bulkhead, place it behind the seat, where it can be tied fast.

​Adjusting the foot braces

1. When you are in the kayak, your feet will rest on the footplate. You will need to adjust the distance between the seat and the footplate so that it’s right for you.
Rule of thumb #1: When you push against a footplate, you should be able to straighten your leg without overextending it.
Rule of thumb #2: When your knuckles are resting on the cockpit rim, they should be at the same height as your knees.

2a.​In general, the distance from your hip to your heel should be the same as the distance from the middle of the seat to the footplate.

​2b. Alternatively, the distance from your waist to your heel should be the same as the distance from the back of the seat to the footplate.