Can You Kayak?

Kayaking is one of the fastest-growing active outdoor sports. And no wonder: kayaks are pure fun. You just get in and go.

You don't have to be rich. Renting a kayak is very inexpensive. It doesn't cost very much more to go on a guided trip and, if you're a newcomer to paddling, this is a great way to get some instruction and experience before you decide to buy your first boat.

You don't have to travel far. Every New England state has dozens of places suitable for kayaks. Every major river in the region has at least one livery which rents canoes and kayaks. Most provide shuttle services which allow you to paddle downriver without worrying about how to get back up. Most lakes and coastal resort communities also have some place to rent kayaks. Renting a kayak for a day on the water eliminates even the littlest hassle involved in the sport. You don't have to load or unload the boat from your car or store it between trips.

You don't have to be an athlete. Because you can go at your own pace, kayaking is something almost anyone can do. You do have to be flexible enough to work yourself into a boat and strong enough to sit up and move your arms, but that's about it. Kayaking is one of those sports where technique trumps brute strength and you can easily learn as you go.

You also don't have to be a hero. Kayaking on a quiet pond or lake, or even in an ocean harbor, is about as safe an outdoor activity as you can find. If you're smart, you'll wear your life vest at all times and you'll steer clear of motorboat traffic. In a kayak, you can stay in shallower water where motorboats can't travel.

Mad River Float

A couple of weeks ago, while exploring the Mad River Valley in Vermont I signed up for a Sunday morning float down the Winooski River with Clearwater Sports.

Our group was very mixed -- two or three moderately experienced paddlers, two women who had never tried paddling, and a couple of families with kids who were also newcomers to kayaking.

The goal of this float was not to challenge ourselves, but just to have fun. We weren't in any hurry. The boats we were using were built for stability, not speed.

Sitting low in a river, you'll be amazed at how much of civilization just disappears. Even where a road parallels a river, you often won't hear anything but the flow of water and the laughter from the people in your group.

There was just enough current in a couple of spots to give a little thrill without fear. In one spot, we were given the option of running some faster current -- at the risk of spilling and getting wet -- or walking around while our guides took the boats through. We all paddled. Some of us got wet, some didn't, but we all came out smiling.

Mid-Coast Maine

Some of the best kayaking opportunities in New England are along the central Maine Coast. You can paddle among the thousands of islands and picturesque harbors and bays between Brunswick and all the hustle around Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island.

I recently took a kayak tour with Seaspray in Sebasco Estates.  

Despite the fact that it was a perfect, sunny summer afternoon, I was the only guest at the Sebasco Harbor Resort to sign up for that tour. So Zack, my guide, and I were free to go as far and as fast as we wanted. I already know the basic paddle strokes, so we started with a quick lesson on getting back into a kayak should you fall out. If you're going with a guide, learn all you can while you have the opportunity.

If we'd wanted to, it would have been easy to stay in the sheltered, quiet waters of the harbors. But I like to feel the swells lifting the boat, so we headed out for a paddle around Burnt Coat Island and Carrying Place Head. Usually, there are seals pulled out on some of the little rocky islets in this area, but we didn't happen to see any this day. We contented ourselves instead with the company of gulls, cormorants, eider ducks and merganzers as we floated among the seaweed and lobster trap buoys.

We paddled maybe five relaxing miles, got just enough exercise to build up an appetite, plus a millionaire's view of the harbors and rocky coastline. We got smiles and wakes from passing lobster boats, stretched our legs on a tiny beach and generally had ourselves a wonderful time. I can't think of a better way to spend a sunny afternoon along the coast.

Try it on

If you're renting a kayak or signing up for a tour, make sure you get a boat that fits you and the kind of paddling you are going to be doing. Most rental places will do a good job, but it helps if you participate. Make sure that the foot braces are set properly and, if you are on your own, learn how to adjust them yourself.

If you're much larger or smaller than average, make sure you get a boat that suits you. One of the big men on our Winooski float really needed a larger boat than he got, both for comfort and the extra flotation.

Short, wide boats are very popular these days. They are safe, stable, easy to get in and out of, but they can be very slow and hard to paddle. If you're going a long way, look for something a bit more streamlined.

Again, make sure you ask a lot of questions and get a boat that fits.