Liquid Logic kayaks are imported into the UK by System X, the Session and Session + were the first of the Liquid Logic boats to hit the UK and have since been followed by the hugely successful Pop and Skip. And now in 2003 by the Airhead, Pocket Rocket and Space Cadet. The three new boats are designed around the same hull design and only really differ in there size. I was unable to get in the Space Cadet as it was way too small for me. I’m 6ft 2in and felt pretty comfortable in the Airhead, loads of foot room!
The 4Fun, FINALLY a boat for the taller paddlers… This boat has been geared towards those out there, who like me are tall, (6’04”) But not exactly on the heavy side (12 1/2 stone last time I checked). It’s big on foot room, and can easily accommodate size 12 feet. It’s a river runner/playboat. So it won’t be the most radical boat on the river/ weir, but it can hold its own. Continue reading
I have had several request to add more of the old content onto the new site (mainly gear reviews). Over the next few weeks I will be doing exactly that.
There is pretty much an App for everything, so being a bit of a techno geek I thought it would be useful to have a run through just some of the Apps that I am currently using that have an outdoor/kayaking theme.
Firstly it’s fair to say I am a huge Apple fan and have been since my first encounter with a Mac Classic when I was at sixth form in ’91. The follow apps are used on my iPhone, they may or may not be available for other smart phones.
The Go Pro camera (or at least the mount) has definitely become the must have accessory for kayaking/canoeing helmets. You can find loads of videos on both Youtube and Vimeo showing footage shot from a helmet mount. So from time to time it’s quite nice to see shots from a different angle, such as in the image shown below.
The image is a screen grab from some footage taken on a Go Pro HD mounted to a homebrew kayak mount created by my good friend Mr Phil Higgins.
A common problem faced by paddlers each time they buy a new boat. Reasons for such problems can be placed in to one of two categories;
* The paddlers kit is letting the water in.
* The boat is really leaking.
If your paddling kit doesn’t fit correctly it will leak and yes the boat will fill with water. If it’s a simple case of ill fitting cag or deck then the solution may be easy but expensive – get some kit that fits. On the other hand your kit may need a little TLC – check seals/seams and repair or replace as necessary. Continue reading
From the very first moment you sit in a boat you start to get “a feel for it”, how it fits and possibly even how it may perform. As beginners we start off in boats that may be used by many different size paddlers, which results in cockpits being kept clutter free. Loose, comfortable boats feel good on flat water, but they can make leaning and bracing difficult. Once the boat is padded to provide a close, body-hugging fit that still allows for quick and easy water exits, performance can dramatically improve. This same rule applies to all levels of kayakers, whether they’re paddling easy whitewater, big water runs or creeks. Customised outfitting helps transfer every trace in the river’s current through the kayak’s hull to your body, helping you sense your surroundings, make critical maneuvers and maintain your balance, thus staying upright!
Outfitting 101
Since paddlers press against their boat’s inner hull with the small of their backs, butts, hips, thighs, knees and feet, it is these key areas that should be customised to match the shape and size of the paddler. To make this as easy as possible I am going to break the cockpit into a handful of sections and tailor each one to help you get the best control possible from your boat.
A lot of discussion goes on about the pros and cons of wearing nose plugs. I don’t really want to enter into that because at the end of the day it is down to personal choice. So assuming you wish to wear nose plugs – which ones are best? The short answer to that is the ones that are comfy and stay on!
Up until quite recently the nose plugs available have been developed specifically for swimming or diving – all types being adequate for the job but not ideal. However over the last 10 years paddle sport specific plugs have made an appearence.
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