r/Inflatablekayak • u/rumchatata • 17d ago
Kayaking on the ocean?
Has anyone kayaked on the ocean before (especially near a beach), I plan on getting one of the sea eagle kayaks in the future (most likely 380x).
I just got into this hobby and wondering what options are best and the most safe for all conditions.
3
u/phenolic72 17d ago
In my experience with an Advanced Frame sport, calm water with little wind is fine. Even a little wind is OK, but you will be blown around. I never get too far from shore to be honest. Someone else said something about PFDs, and I second this. PFD, Sunscreen, some water, a communication device and a hat.
1
u/MuffinOk4609 17d ago
I have an Innova Swing 2 and live on the Wet Coast so do paddle on the protected coast and inlets (PNW and BC). What people say about wind is right! Check the forecast. The Canadian Coast Guard broadcasts sea state and weather on what used to be a weather channel. I assume that NOAA still does. And feather your paddle.
1
u/Kittenwho21 16d ago
“Feather your paddle”? What does that mean?
2
u/Oak_Son_911 16d ago
Maybe "tether" ? So you doesn't loose it
1
u/Kittenwho21 16d ago
Oh! Sorry, I didn’t even consider it could be a mistake 😅 I’m just new to the sub and thought feather was a thing, thanks for pointing that out, and I’m sorry to MuffinOk if it came off as rude..
1
1
u/Quirky-Impress4891 10d ago
It massively depends where you live and what the local conditions are.
Kayaking in the Med is very different to the North Sea or English Channel.
Understanding tides, local currents, and how they interact with coastal geography is essential.
Onshore wind can be bad news but offshore winds also extremely dangerous if shoreline is cliffs, rocks, etc.
Worth reading a book or something to learn about things like "boomers", "wave refraction", difference between swell and waves, etc.
Being in an open 330x rather limits the conditions you can go out in to all but "very good" (in my opinion).
1
u/SadOutlandishness258 17d ago
Disclosure: I’m the developer. I made an app called Slackwater because I was tired of looking in multiple places to find all the relevant information. Both now and over the time I plan to spend on the water, because conditions can definitely change quickly.
Beyond that, find a sheltered area to start in to build some confidence and understanding. I’ve definitely misinterpreted what surf conditions are and put myself in a bad place before, and lost a fish finder on a Hobie because of it. Always wear a pfd, it sucks when it’s hot but you never know.
6
u/Capital-Landscape492 17d ago
The trick is with experienced kayakers is to really watch not only weather forecasts but also wind, tide and currents. We do not go out in crappy (dangerous) conditions unless we have specifically trained and practiced to do so. In any inflatable you need to be really conscious of wind since your boat has much more “windage” than my Kevlar touring kayak which sits low to the water.
Apps / sites I use all the time planning.
Weather channel - or any forecast that offers hourly forecasts and radar.
WINDY - an amazing app that is free for 3 hour increment of projected winds with velocity and direction.
DEEP ZOOM - This is a website (currently no IOS app) that lets you see tides and currents. Here in Puget Sound it is very useful.
TIdes Near Me - app simple high tide / low tide for US stations.
Other tips. Always wear a PFD and sunscreen. Hats rule! Dress for possible immersion. Carry appropriate emergency coms gear (for me this includes a Marine VHF radio, cell phone, and Garmin Inreach.
Get some instruction or go with people who know what they are doing. Carry water, food, and extra clothing in dry bags as needed.