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The Casual Outdoorsman
A site dedicated to the love of kayaking and camping
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Canoe vs Kayak: Which is best for you?
Canoes have been around for thousand’s of years, they are one of the oldest, if not the oldest known boat design man ever invented and since there inception, that original design has been steadily improved upon. The canoe helped early explorers discover new lands and were at one time the main vehicle of commerce in many parts of the world.
Kayak’s have been with us for a very long time…
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Last week we paddled Snake Creek. We launched on the St. John’s River near Blue Springs State Park. There is a launch site that is free to use about half a mile past the park entrance. There was a lot of traffic on the river so instead of going straight to the Snake, we paddled to the Smith Canal which is further up river. From the Smith, we entered the Dead River then paddled to Snake Creek entering it from the back side.
It was a overcast day with sporadic wind and rain, and the trip almost ended before it started because one of us forgot his paddle, but thanks to the nice folks who run the canoe and kayak rental at Blue Springs Park, we were able to rent a paddle for him.
In the beginning, we saw a lot of wildlife, mostly birds, but a couple of people on very loud jet-ski’s passed us on the the Snake and after that, we didn’t see anything else. We had planned to go into Blue Springs, but water access to the park was closed.
The St. John River
Lots of People on the River
Smith Canal
Snake Creek
Blue Springs Park as seen from the St. John’s River
We hope you have enjoyed this trip with us, if you have paddled these waters, let us know in the comments section.
Find Your Headwaters,
Jaucque and Dave
A Cloudy Day on Snake Creek Last week we paddled Snake Creek. We launched on the St. John's River near Blue Springs State Park.
#Birds#Blue Springs#canoeing#Florida#kayaking#Nature#outdoors#paddling#St. John&039;s River#wildlife
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Last week, we paddled in Fort Pierce, Florida. It was mostly an open water paddle over beautiful clear water that is filled with wildlife. We launched at the North Island Causeway Island Park. There, they have a dedicated canoe and kayak launch and parking area as well as restrooms.
The launch.
On the water.
Gorgeous Water.
A Quiet Beach.
Birds Circling Overhead
Fort Pierce is a great place to get out on the water, but if you paddle near the inlet, check the tides, because when the tide goes out, the current is very strong and can easily push you out to sea.
Find your headwaters,
Jaucque and Dave
Paddling the Clear waters at Fort Pierce Last week, we paddled in Fort Pierce, Florida. It was mostly an open water paddle over beautiful clear water that is filled with wildlife.
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This week, we paddled to Samson’s Island in Satellite Beach, Florida. It is a 52 acre nature park owned and maintained by the City of Satellite Beach. Though there are many spoil islands in the Banana and Indian River Lagoons, few if any can compare with the beauty of Samson’s Island. The island is only accessible by water and there are docks on the south, east and north sides. The island is a great place for hiking nature trails, bird watching, a picnic or just taking a stroll through nature. There are numerous picnic tables and bbq grills throughout the island as well as a restroom and a camping area. For the paddler, canoe and kayak trails wind through sections of the island offering great opportunities to view and observe wildlife. If you don’t have a boat, the City of Satellite beach offers a first come-first serve ferry at 1:00 P.M. on Sundays and will pick you up a few hours later.
If you have never been here, it is definitely worth a visit. To get there, launch at Oars and Paddle Park, enter the lagoon then head north for approximately 1.5 miles either staying in the lagoon or by following the Grand Canal. Either way will get you there.
Banana River Lagoon
A shady spot to park my canoe.
The North and South Docks
Nature Trails
Wildlife
Flowers and Plants
Paddle Trails
The Bridge
The Boat Rack
Pavilions, tables and restroom
When you visit Samson’s Island, bring your own water because there is no drinkable water on the island and depending on the time of year, insect repellant is also a good idea.
Find your headwaters,
Jaucque and Dave
Samson’s Island: A Hidden Jewel in Satellite Beach This week, we paddled to Samson's Island in Satellite Beach, Florida. It is a 52 acre nature park owned and maintained by the City of Satellite Beach.
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We paddled the Hillsborough River last week on a day that had an incredible amount of fog in the air. Driving over from the East coast, visibility was less than 100 feet on the highways in the early morning making traffic a challenge, but we made it safely. By the time we reached our launch site at John B. Sargeant Park, 12702 US 301, Thonotosassa , Fl. the fog had somewhat lifted, but the day remained overcast with sporadic rain. This was my first trip to this river and all I can say was it was well worth the drive regardless of the weather. This is truly a beautiful river lined with gorgeous trees and abundant wildlife. Very well maintained facilities for rest and stretching your legs can be found every few miles and the river flows with a gentle current that is easy to paddle.
Soon after launching, we encountered this guy.
Birds were everywhere.
And trees eerily hung over the water in spots.
In the tallest trees, birds looked down on us as we floated by.
Alligators were on the banks.
Beautiful old Cyprus trees were everywhere.
We stopped at Morris Bridge Park.
Then continued on where we encountered these guys.
We passed a floating classroom.
Then we found this flock.
We detoured into Trout Creek, but it was blocked about a 1/4 mile up stream.
So we took out at Trout Creek Park. It was an amazing paddle and one that I hope to do again very soon. If you have paddled the Hillsborough, let us know in the comments section.
Find your headwaters,
Jaucque and Dave
A Rainy Morning on the Hillsborough We paddled the Hillsborough River last week on a day that had an incredible amount of fog in the air.
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More Random Pictures of Nature and Things
This is another collection of random photos taken by Jaucque and Dave during various paddle trips. Below each photo is a caption of where it was taken.
Samson’s Island
Banana River Lagoon
Wekiva River
Silver River
Ichetucknee River
Thousand Islands
Rock Springs
Wekiva River
Turkey Creek
Rock Springs
Econlockhatchee River
Rock Springs
Sebastian River
Econlockhatchee River
Samson’s Island
We…
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#canoeing#Econ#Florida#kayaking#outdoors#paddling#Silver Springs#Thousand Islands#Turkey Creek#Wekiva River#wildlife
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Rock Sprins Run is located near Apopka, Florida. It flows for nine miles eventually joining the Wekiva River. Together, the two make up the Wekiva Paddling Trail. The “Rock” normally offers clear waters, a gentle current and a lot of natural Florida beauty. Hurricane Irma caused a lot of damage along the river pushing numerous trees and debris over and into the water making it impassable after a few miles down stream. Paddling upstream is not much better. Work crews have been steadily clearing the waters, but as of yet, they are still blocked.
We put in at King’s Landing. Normally, King’s Landing offers a shuttle which will pick you and your boat up downstream, because you can’t get downstream, that service is currently not available.
We paddled out of the launch and went upstream.
The water was clear and beautiful.
Downed Trees soon blocked our way so we turned around and went down stream.
The water was just as clear.
But there were a lot of obstacles in the water.
The further downstream you go, the worse it gets.
We managed to make it about 3.5 miles down steam before it was completely blocked.
Rock Springs Run was one of Central Florida’s most enjoyable paddles. It will recover, but it may be some time before it is navigable all the way to the Wekiva again.
Find your headwaters,
Jaucque
Rock Springs Run After Irma Rock Sprins Run is located near Apopka, Florida. It flows for nine miles eventually joining the Wekiva River.
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Rock Sprins Run is located near Apopka, Florida. It flows for nine miles eventually joining the Wekiva River. Together, the two make up the Wekiva Paddling Trail. The “Rock” normally offers clear waters, a gentle current and a lot of natural Florida beauty. Hurricane Irma caused a lot of damage along the river pushing numerous trees and debris over and into the water making it impassable after a few miles down stream. Paddling upstream is not much better. Work crews have been steadily clearing the waters, but as of yet, they are still blocked.
We put in at King’s Landing. Normally, King’s Landing offers a shuttle which will pick you and your boat up downstream, because you can’t get downstream, that service is currently not available.
We paddled out of the launch and went upstream.
The water was clear and beautiful.
Downed Trees soon blocked our way so we turned around and went down stream.
The water was just as clear.
But there were a lot of obstacles in the water.
The further downstream you go, the worse it gets.
We managed to make it about 3.5 miles down steam before it was completely blocked.
Rock Springs Run was one of Central Florida’s most enjoyable paddles. It will recover, but it may be some time before it is navigable all the way to the Wekiva again.
Find your headwaters,
Jaucque
Rock Springs Run After Irma Rock Sprins Run is located near Apopka, Florida. It flows for nine miles eventually joining the Wekiva River.
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This past weekend we paddled the Ichetucknee River in Fort White, Florida. The Ichetucknee is a National Natural Landmark and is one of the most beautiful rivers you will ever see. At only six miles long, and with an easy flowing current, it’s crystal clear spring fed waters will take you on a trip through the “Real Florida” that will dazzle your senses with it’s overwhelming beauty.
We paddled with a large group of about 16 other kayakers.
Photographs truly do not do justice to this river’s clarity and beauty.
Beautiful old Cypress trees covered with Spanish moss line sections of the river.
Interesting Rock Formations protrude from the banks.
Hardwood trees lean over the water.
If you continue past the South take out, you will come to a bridge and tunnel.
Development begins on the other side where it soon empties into the Sante Fe River.
We hope you have enjoyed this trip with us down the Ichetucknee River. If you have been there, let us know in the comment section.
Find your headwaters,
Jaucque
The Incomparable Ichetucknee River This past weekend we paddled the Ichetucknee River in Fort White, Florida. The Ichetucknee is a National Natural Landmark and is one of the most beautiful rivers you will ever see.
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When you are kayak camping, space and weight are limiting factors when it comes to the gear you carry. It is for that reason alone that many of us want to minimize the gear we take with us and just make do with as little as possible. When it comes to cookware, there are many space saving products available that offer a lot of capability, but a lot of it either comes with a high price tag, or is reasonably priced but with questionable quality.
We have put together a list of space saving camping cook gear that not only is reasonably priced, but is of good quality that we think will appeal to both the minimalist and the “Glamper”. We tested all of the gear in the field and explain why we like each of them
Camp Chef 3/4 Quart Dutch Oven: $17.99
A Dutch Oven in a kayak? We say yes. At only a little over 6 inches wide and a weight of 3.8 lbs., it does’t take up much space and gives you a lot of capability. We think it will appeal to the minimalist because it is “old school” simple. Will appeal to the “Glamper” because it is the one pot that you can do almost anything with and all you need to add to make it work is coals from a fire.
Why we like it: No stove? No problem. Need to boil water? Check! Want to make a stew? Check!. Want to bake a cobbler? It can do that too. It’s virtually indestructible and can be used for almost any type of cooking. You are only limited by your cooking ability. Yes, it weighs almost 4 lbs. but it does not take up much space.
Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set: $11.77
Made of stainless steel, it won’t rust and has a 24 oz. capacity. Two 10 oz. nesting cups are conveniently stored inside allowing the the camper to have both a drinking and eating cup. Has a folding handle and vented lid which allows you to use it on a stove or fire.
Why we like it: You can cook, boil water and heat things up and if you are a minimalist, that is all you need to enjoy eating in the great outdoors. It’s small, light weight and easy to store. Having a drinking and eating cup is nice. It’s great for the camper that just needs to boil water for their freeze dried dinner, heat up a can of beans or even make a fish soup. Comes with a lifetime satisfaction guarantee.
Ozark Trail Camp Cook Set: $14.88
In the past, a lot of the gear from Ozark Trail was always low quality when compared to other brands. In many instances that is still the case, but in this one, OT has really stepped up their game. The quality of this set is on par with other name brands. It comes with a 2 qt. non stick pot, two insulated bowls with lids, two sporks and a carrying case which can also be used to wash your dishes.
Why we like it: Has enough capacity for two people. Is small and portable. The bowls are insulated which means you wont burn your hands when they are filled with hot food. The lid strainer is convenient. Because of the larger size, you can actually “cook” in this pot. We made an Irish stew. You can use it to cook over a campfire or a stove. The nonstick surface makes it easy to clean up and the carrying case can be used as a wash tub. You can use it for everything from boiling water to making fresh soups and stews.
Coleman 9.5 inch Frying Pan: $9.99
If you are carrying fresh foods on your trip, sometimes there is no substitute for a frying pan. The folding handle makes it easy to store and the non-stick surface makes it easy to clean.
Why we like it: It’s lightweight, durable, has a nonstick surface and is easy to store and clean. Because of it’s light weight and thin metal, it takes a little practice to get used to cooking with it. It works great over a campfire and with a little practice, will have you turning out your morning bacon and eggs like a pro.
Stanley 32 oz. Coffee Press: $22.99
There’s nothing better than a hot cup of coffee in the morning at camp. This stainless steel coffee press holds a quart of water and keeps your coffee hot. It filters out all of the grounds and makes great coffee. If you remove the press, it could double as a cooking cup.
Why we like it: This is the most expensive item on our list, but it’s worth it. This by far makes the best coffee of any camp coffee maker we have ever tried. It’s fast, just heat up your water, pour in your coffee and give it a stir. The longer it sits, the stronger it gets. Insert the press and you have cafe quality coffee at your campsite. It allows you to minimize your gear by being both a coffee maker and a cooking cup. Like all Stanley products, comes with a satisfaction guaranteed lifetime warranty.
Foxelli Camping Stove: $9.97
This is a great little stove that’s small enough to fit in your pocket but puts out enough heat to boil a liter of water in about 4.5 minutes. It’s compatible with most Butane/Propane fuel canisters and has it’s own ignition system. The flame is adjustable allowing you to adjust the heat to whatever level you need. We used it with both the Stanley and Ozark Trail cookware and it performed perfectly.
Why we like it: It’s dependable, durable and puts out a lot of heat in a very small package. Works great with most camp cookware and though the cooking platform is small, it is stable and had no problem holding the OT 2 qt. pot.
Sterno Single Burner Folding Stove: $11.94
Sterno Cooking Fuel: $6.99
Small and portable, the Sterno Stove is a simple lightweight cooking system that has been around for a very long time. The stove shields the flame from wind and in our field test, was able to boil a liter of water in about 12 minutes. (You must have lid on pot)Not the fastest or most efficient stove on the market, but it works.
Why we like it: It is a simple stove that is easy to carry, cheap to fuel and in a pinch, you can make your own fuel canisters. (Stuff the empty cans with cotton balls and pour in alcohol.) It burns clean and does not leave a residue on your cookware. What we really like is you can use it to keep your coffee hot and your beans warm. Use it in conjunction with a gas stove and you have the ability to cook multiple dishes and keep them hot.
We have tested all of these products in the field and believe they will serve the paddler who likes to camp once in a while very well. Combine a few of these items together and you have a lot of capability at a minimal price. Excluding the fuel, you can have all of these items for under $100.00.
Find your headwaters,
Jaucque
Inexpensive Cookware To Help The Kayak Camper Up Their Cooking Game When you are kayak camping, space and weight are limiting factors when it comes to the gear you carry.
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Small coolers are great to have when you are paddling. They are easy to carry, don’t take up much space and will keep your favorite beverage cold on a hot day. Years ago, the only options for small coolers were either hard side models that were bulky and cumbersome and soft side models that didn’t keep things cold for very long.
Now days when you go to your local sporting goods store or big box retailer, the shelves are stocked with either expensive “High Performance” soft side coolers that can keep ice for many days or the same old inexpensive “low performance” models that we’ve all got used to using that are only good for a few hours. I already had a “High Performance” soft cooler made by Polar Bear and have been very pleased with it, but I needed more cooling space for my kayak camping trips and didn’t want to spend another $80 – $200 dollars for a larger model. I needed something small but with excellent ice retention and I wanted it cheap.
I decided to do an experiment with a $4.97 cooler I purchased at Wal-mart.
Ozark Trail 6 can cooler with removable insert.
This was your typical lightly insulated “lunch box” style soft cooler with removable hardliner. To test it’s performance, I filled it with 4 lbs. of ice and let it sit in my garage where the temperature started at 71 degrees in the morning and climbed to 85 during the heat of the day. Within 8 hours, all the ice had melted and I was left with nothing but water.
Next, I modified the cooler by increasing the insulation to see what effect it would have on another 4 lbs. of ice.
I had some formed shipping styrofoam that came as packing material in the box of a portable air conditioner. I sliced it in sheets about 1/4 inch thick. I cut them to shape the out side walls of the removable liner, then attached them to the outside walls with duct tape. I also taped a piece of styrofoam into the storage compartment in the flip lid to give it more insulation.
After all the pieces were attached, I wrapped the outside in duct tape covering all the exposed styrofoam. Then put the liner back into the insulated cooler sleeve. It was a tight fit, but it did fit.
As a comparison, I used my Polar Bear High Performance Nylon 6 can cooler. Polar Bear advertises it will keep ice for 24 hours in 100 degree heat. (Ozark Trail does not give theirs an ice retention rating)
I filled both of them with 4 lbs of ice, closed them and put them in my garage. The room temperature varied from 85 degrees during the day to 70 degrees at night.
4 lbs. of ice in each cooler:
4 lbs. of ice
4 lbs. of ice
24 hours : About half the ice had melted in both of them.
24 hours
24 Hours
36 hours : 1/4 of the ice remains. Most still clumped together
36 Hours
36 Hours
48 hours : A few individual pieces of loose ice in each. The Polar Bear had more ice in it, but not much more.
48 Hours
48 Hours
The Ozark Trail cooler with modifications performed as well as the Polar Bear in these conditions.
Total cost of Ozark Trail Cooler plus modifications:
$4.97 plus tax – Cooler
50 cents worth of duct tape
Styrofoam- no cost, it came as shipping material with something else.
30 minutes of time
Conclusion: The Polar Bear cooler is a very good cooler. It holds cold and is easy to carry. Though I have never tested the 100 degree claim, I’m sure it will do it. It is durable with some great features like a built in bottle opener but it costs 8 – 9 times as much as the Ozark.
With a little modification, the Ozark Trail seems to perform just as well and saved me a lot of money. I plan to take my “new and improved” Ozark cooler on a camping trip next week, I will update this article to let you know how it performs.
Jaucque
How I Turned My Cheap Soft Cooler into a High Performance Ice Box Small coolers are great to have when you are paddling. They are easy to carry, don't take up much space and will keep your favorite beverage cold on a hot day.
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The Wild Wekiva River
The Wild Wekiva River
The Wekiva River is a National Wild and Scenic River located in Seminole County, Florida. It and Rock Springs Run make up the Wekiva Paddling trail. We put in at Katies’s Landing located 262 Wekiva Park Dr. Sanford, Fl. Katie’s offers ample parking, an easy launch, clean restrooms, picnic tables and lots of shade. There is a daily fee of $3.00 per vehicle.
One of the first things you will…
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The Casual Outdoorsman Reviews the Hurricane Santee 126
The Casual Outdoorsman Reviews the Hurricane Santee 126
The Santee 126 is a sit-in recreational kayak manufactured by Hurricane Aqua Sports, an American company in Warsaw, North Carolina. They are sold through specialty kayak retailers throughout the United States at a price point of $1099. It is also available in Canada, Australia, Japan, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
At First Glance:
This boat is gorgeous. It’s deck has a high luster…
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Silver Springs is one of Florida’s oldest tourist attractions. It is known for it’s glass bottom boat rides and was the filming location for Tarzan movies during the 1930’s as well as the classic movie “The Creature from the Black Lagoon.” It is one of the only places in Florida where you can see wild monkeys.
The Silver Springs are a first magnitude spring producing over 500 million gallons of gorgeous artesian water per day. To paddle there, launch at Ray Wayside Landing located at 9560 N.E. 28th Lane, Silver Springs Florida just upstream from where the Silver joins the Ocklawaha River. Ray Wayside park offers plentiful parking, an easy launch, picnic tables and restrooms but there is a $5.00 launch fee.
Paddle up stream against the current. It’s about five miles to the springs. When you reach the spring head, you can not dock and landing on the river’s shore is prohibited. It is a serene, scenic paddle over crystal clear water where wildlife like alligators, otters, fish and birds are abundant and easily viewed in the lush sub-tropical vegetation.
The Launch at Ray
Going Up River
White Ibis setting on drift wood at Silver Springs Florida.
Silver Springs
Glass Bottom Boats
Fort King Paddle Trail
The Boat Barn at Silver Springs
The remnants of old tourist exhibits at Silver Springs Nature Park.
Paddling back to the launch.
We hope you enjoyed this trip with us. Have you been to Silver Springs? If so, let us know in the comments section.
Find your headwaters,
Jaucque and Dave
Photos by D.T.
Special thanks to the Space Coast Paddlers Club
A Paddle Trip to the Silver Springs Silver Springs is one of Florida's oldest tourist attractions. It is known for it's glass bottom boat rides and was the filming location for Tarzan movies during the 1930's as well as the classic movie "The Creature from the Black Lagoon." It is one of the only places in Florida where you can see wild monkeys.
#beautiful pictures#canoeing#Florida#Florida State Parks#kayaking#Kayaks#Nature Sanctuary#outdoor gear#outdoors#paddling#Silver Springs
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Pelicans and Other Birds of the Indian River Lagoon
Pelicans and Other Birds of the Indian River Lagoon
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#beautiful pictures#Birds#Florida#Indian River Langoon#kayaking#Nature Sanctuary#outdoors#paddling#Pelicans
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One of the great things about having a kayak is the ability to get away from civilization. Floating far and away from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives is often a welcome and much needed retreat, that’s one of the reasons why we paddle. Sometimes though, a few hours away is not enough and adventure beckons us to go further into the unknown or at the very least take the next step towards it. When I hear that, I know it’s time to take an overnight trip.
Kayak camping is fun. It allows you to go to remote places that others cannot reach and connect with nature in a way that is uniquely yours. It takes you back to a simpler time when inland waters were the highways of commerce and communication and the people who traveled them were the adventurers that we still tell stories about today.
Gearing up for an overnight camping trip in a kayak can seem like a daunting task because not only are you limited by space, but you are also limited by weight. If you have a 10 foot craft, it makes you question whether or not you can carry everything you need to make the trip enjoyable. Many recreational and angler kayaks of that length will carry enough gear for an overnight trip and some will carry enough for trips that are longer. Remember, kayak camping is not much different than backpacking and in many cases, you can carry more gear with you because you are not carrying everything on your back, your boat is carrying it. If you are already packing the essential gear we recommend, you probably have some of the stuff you will need aboard like flash lights, fire starters, first aid kit, multi-tool and toilet paper. By going “light and small” with the rest of your gear, you should be able to pack for an enjoyable overnight camping trip with space to spare.
Things To Bring:
Dry Bags: Most of your gear is going to be stored in these. Having different sizes available is always a good idea.
Food: Plan your meals ahead of time. For an overnight trip, you can usually get by with three to five meals. Most people bring freeze dried food, MREs, Dry soups, oatmeal etc.
These are all great and don’t take up much space, but as an addition for an overnight trip, a small flexible cooler with a little dry ice can keep food fresh/ frozen for a long period of time and is easy to stow.
I like to “pre-make” my meals with everything already blended together then store them in freezer bags in my flexible cooler. That way when I get to my campsite, cooking and prep time is minimized. Also, any dry goods I bring (coffee, dry soups, canned good, etc.) I put in a dry bag.
Water: You have to drink. Since carrying water takes up space and weighs 8.3 lbs per gallon, one option I use to lighten my load is carrying a small amount of water while getting to the campsite and when there using a LifeStraw.
Life Straw Mission
The Family and Mission models do not take up much space and removes virtually all bacteria, viruses and protozoa. (Does not desalinate salt water or remove heavy metals)
Mess Kit / Cooking Gear: Cooking while camping can be as simple as cooking over a campfire or as elaborate as a gas camping stove. It really is a matter of what you are comfortable cooking with and how much space you have to carry it. For simple overnight trips, I like to use the campfire for cooking along with a Sterno Folding Stove and a simple mess kit. Yes, there are other options out there, but these work and don’t take up much space. Also, don’t forget eating utensils.
Shelter: Some people like to sleep under the stars, some like a tarp hung over a rope that’s strung between two trees. How much shelter you need is determined by the climate you are camping in, your comfort levels and the amount of space available in your boat. In Florida where I do a lot of camping, a tent is a must because of the insects and the ever changing weather. Small conventional one and two man tents do not take up much space and weigh between 6 and 8 lbs.
Bed Roll: Compressed sleeping bags are small and light. Hammocks with mosquito netting work well too. (Check the weather first before using this)
Hammock tied to tree on coast reservoir
Other things I bring:
Extra clothes- Packed in compression sacks
Toiletries- I carry the small airline approved sizes.
Personal Comfort items- Inflatable pillow, journal and coffee maker (I don’t like instant coffee), camp chair or hunters stool.
Campers French Press
Most of this stuff can easily fit into a few dry bags, including the tent. Then it can be stored aboard on deck, in dry storage or in the cockpit. If your boat has dry storage, then smaller items can be stored there giving you more carrying capacity. You might be surprised how much you can get on board. You might even have enough space to bring more gear. If you are camping with other kayakers, together you can really carry a lot of gear/ supplies and extend your overnight trip into a full weekend.
Things to Remember:
If your kayak is a sit in, when loading, make sure to place your heaviest items as low into the hull as possible, and utilize as much of any dry storage area you have. This will prevent you from being top heavy and prone to capsizing. Anything that is loaded on the deck needs to be as low profile as possible and secured either by bungee on rope. Utilize the space forward of your foot pegs for storage. If your kayak is a sit on top model, secure everything to your deck as low profile as possible.
Know what your kayak’s weight capacity is. Weigh your gear and add it to your body weight. As a rule of thumb, try not to exceed 80% of your capacity.
Anything that you carry in, make sure you carry it out. Keep our waters and forests beautiful.
Kayak camping is an incredible experience that allows you to get back to nature and center yourself. If you have never tried it, you should. If you already have, then you know what I’m talking about. I hope to see you out there.
Find Your Headwaters,
Jaucque
Tips For An Overnight Kayak Camping Trip One of the great things about having a kayak is the ability to get away from civilization.
#camping#camping gear#Essential Gear#Florida#kayak camping#kayaking#Kayaks#outdoor gear#outdoors#paddling
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Random Pictures of Nature
Random Pictures of Nature
This is a collection of random pictures I took during different paddle trips.
Find your headwaters,
Jaucque
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