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Tom's
TopKayaker Shop - For Kayak gear, books & more.
Purchases
Support TopKayaker.Net |
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Kayaks
4 Kidz™ is a youth development program located at Mother’s
Beach in Marina del Rey, California. This Youth Water Sports Camp
is offered as a free community service to boys and girls ages 7
to 17 and their families from June through September. |
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Properly
Fitting A Child To A PFD or Life Vest Life Vests for kids
are sized based on the weight of the child. Each life vest is
printed with a weight range. There are three basic sizes
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The
SealLine SmartTrack Rudder System Rudder
systems that require sliding foot braces sacrifice energy and overall
kayak control for the sake of a poorly executed turn & create
excess drag making. The SealLine SmartTrack Control System, a system
with solid foot braces and toe operated rudder control, claims to
have remedied those ailments. |
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Installing
The A Style Hatch by Tom Holtey
Cobra Kayaks supplies a large A shape hatch for installations
on their kayaks. The A Hatch may fit other kayak makes and models,
but a careful assessment of the deck space will have to made.
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Kayak
Car Topping 101 by Tom Holtey
The very basics on how to tie a kayak onto the roof of your car
- The first in a series on roof racks and the car topping of boats. |
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Wheeleez
- Any kayak cart that mounts in the middle of the kayak, so that
the weight of the bow and the stern are in balance, is the easiest
cart to use. A cart configured this way will require no lifting,
simply just pulling it behind like a wagon. |
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Kayaker's
Guide To Avoiding Injury & Paddling With Disabilities, Sports
Injuries & Joint Pain
by Marna Powell - Every one of us should be adaptive paddlers. Outfit
your boat to fit your body. Learn to paddle with good form and technique!
Proper posture while kayaking will solve and prevent many physical
discomforts. |
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MAINTENANCE
OF LARGE CARGO HATCHES
Large
size cargo hatches on touring kayaks are a blessing for campers
and scuba divers. They can however be problematic in maintaining
a waterproof seal at times.
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K-9
Kayaking By Lonnie Olson
Excellent detailed article about kayaking with your dog by Lonnie
Olson Director of "Dog Scouts of America". |
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Kayak
Design Terminology Defined By Tom
Holtey - A
discussion of terms used to describe the various hull shapes and
other design characteristics, with illustrations, that determine
a kayak’s performance and “personality”.
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Crossing
Currents & Calculating Ferry Angles by Tom Holtey
One cannot simply point their kayak at a target on the far shore
and cross a strong tidal (or river) current in a straight line to
it. A paddler must angle into the current. Tom teaches methods for
calculating how. |
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Paddling
in Traffic and Judging Collision Course by Tom Holtey
Indepth
article of kayakers in boat traffic situations with diagrams, and
simple techniques for avoiding collisions |
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Participating
in a Group Kayaking Adventure by
Janice L. Green The role of leader to a fleet
of kayakers and the pitfalls often encountered with participants,
opened up another unexplored territory in the authors paddling experience.
She shares with us here her valuable findings. |
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"How
To Avoid Becoming Shark Bait - A Guide For Kayakers Against
Shark, Alligator or Crocodile Attacks" |
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"DEMO
"DAZE" Kayaks
are just like cars, there are many to choose from, they are not
all in one place, some are small, some large, some sporty, some
utilitarian. Also like cars, you may be worried about spending a
bundle ...So you test drive. Learn how to find & make the most
of kayak demo days in your area. |
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How
to make an EYE SPLICE in rope, for bowlines, anchor ropes &
lifelines
With this quick and easy method you can make an elegant and effective
loop at the end of hollow core braided rope. This will enable you
to make your own bowlines, anchor ropes and lifelines. |
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Group
Kayaking: Formations & Communications Kayakers can
enhance their paddling skills and increase safety when they apply
some basic group management to their trips. Whether you paddle
with a club, guided tours, kayak casually with buddies or teach
kayaking, these principles will help
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Group
Kayak Expeditions: Planning & Procedures by Tom Holtey
Putting
together a group paddle? Do it right. In this article Holtey outlines
the details of organizing a group paddle, from choosing Lead and
Sweep Paddlers to coordinating a "Float Plan." |
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Exploring
Caves By Kayak by Tom Holtey
Tom discusses Sea Cave safety and prerequisites for enjoying this
exciting aspect of sea kayaking. |
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"Dock
Entry & Exit With A Sit-on-top Kayak"
How
do you handle getting off and on a dock with your sit-on-top kayak?
Tom walks you through it complete with slide show.
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INDEX
TO KAYAK CAVING ARTICLES
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Good surf techniques can open up to the kayaker the exciting world
of sea caves.
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Kayaking
with Kids
By
John Enomoto
A Practical Guide To Kayaks, Gear &
Having Fun Paddling With Your Children
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Introducing
Kids To Kayak Fishing By Mike Kogan
One of life's joys is going fishing with a kid, and kayak fishing
is no different. Mike shares his practical approach with his own
children and some great photos. |
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Kayak
Lights & Kayak Lighting Techniques For Dawn, Dusk & Night
Paddling
This is exactly what you need to know about how to light your kayak
properly. Stories illustrate night surfing and dusk paddling precautions. |
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We
Steer By The Stars & Toward The Fire
By Jo Hu
Join a two mile paddle in the dark for an evening of good food,
friends, and night fishing on Kapapa Island of Oahu's windward coastline. |
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Fall
Paddling Fun & Precautions
This article is a practical guide for the unique preparations
required for kayakers to get the most out of the season. Includes
links to important Fall and Hunting date information.
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Keeping
A "Ship's Log" or Journal For Kayakers -
As kayakers
engaged in a sport requiring safety and skill an accurate accounting
of your trip is important. This article will deal with both the
sentimental and the practical reasons for keeping a kayaker's "ship
log"
and how to do it |
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The
Straight and Narrow Path For Kayakers
By Tom Holtey
One of the first problems most new kayakers encounter is going in
a strait line. Learn how to paddle a kayak in a straight line and
improve your skill & kayak's tracking |
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Getting
the paddlesports education you need.
How
To Find Sit-on-top Kayak Lessons
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Trouble
Getting ON? See Paddle
Float and Rescue-Stirrup Re-Entry Technique
for Sit-on-top Kayakers |
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Sit-on-top
kayak lessons are being offered by TopKayaker.Net with ACA
Certified instructor Tom Holtey. This program will be available
for beginner / intermediate paddlers in New England. |
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Packing
Your Sit-on-top For Camping & Touring by Tom Holtey
By properly storing your supplies and gear and placing them appropriately
into your kayak, you can be ensured of good paddling performance. |
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Signal
Devices By Athena Holtey
Proper use of appropriate signal devices are an essential part of
every kayaker's safety protocol. They let others know that you need
help. There are Signal devices used primarily for emergency; and
there are signaling methods used to simply assist paddlers in communicating
to each other. |
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SEE
OUR FISH/DIVE TAB FOR
INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES ON THESE TWO SPORTS |
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Tandem
Sit-on-top Kayaking: How To Avoid A Mutiny by Tom Holtey
From the author of "Tandem Sit-on-top
Kayaking" and "Sit-on-top Kayaking,
A Beginner's Guide" here are some basics taken from his book
to help Tandem paddlers get started off on the right "seat." |
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"Harbor
Kayaking: The In's & Out's" by Athena
Holtey
An unexpected "side trip" after a storm at sea teaches many lessons;
one everyone should be prepared to put to use whether you paddle
near busy Harbors or not.
(For quick harbor tips click) |
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HOW
TO RESCUE A SWAMMPED SIT-IN-SIDE KAYAKER
In
this article you will learn how you can rescue a sit-in kayaker
using your sit-on-top kayak while paddling in mixed fleets.
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The
PFD Knife, Don't Leave Home Without It by Trevor Gardner
Trevor
Gardner, of the New South Wales Sea Kayak Club explores the reasons
to carry a knife while sea kayaking in this entertaining essay.
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Small
Craft Navigation Tool by Tom Holtey. You can make your own
handy navigation tool using a protractor and piece if fine string.
Tom shows you how. |
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Topo
Maps, GPS and UTM Grid Readers Electronic devices can and
do fail. For this reason if you do depend on using a GPS consider
also carrying a topo map, compass and a UTM Grid Reader. Instruction
here on how to use the UTM Grid Reader. |
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DIVE
FLAGS by Tom Holtey
Divers must use a dive flag for safety and … It's the law!
Divers already know this, or at least they should. Snorklers, free
divers and even swimmers can benefit from a flag too. Instruction
here on dive flag regulations and mounting methods. |
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Solo,
Tandem Kayak Re-entry by Tom Holtey - Getting back on your
kayak from deep water is one of the most important things that you
need to know to best enjoy the advantages of a sit-on-top kayak.
Excerpts from his books "Sit-on-top Kayaking, A Beginner's
Guide" & "Tandem Sit-on-top Kayaking." |
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Deep
Water Re-entry Best of the Forum - Special problems with
re-entry are addressed here as an exchange between novice and expert
sit-on-top kayakers. |
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Kayak
Sailing with a Vee Sail by Tom Holtey
A
Vee Sail is essentialy a down wind sail. Read this thorough review
of the Primex / Deluge Kayak Sail provided to us by Lyon Expeditions.
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BEAUFORT
WIND SCALE FOR KAYAKERS
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Beaufort
Windscale for Kayakers:
Adapted
by Tom Holtey for Tourers and Kayak Sailors alike. A table to
help you estimate windspeed by observing the water conditions;
or estimate water conditions by listening to windspeeds in a weather
report.
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Kayak
Towing Methods & Equipment by Tom Holtey
Towing is an important safety skill. Open water towing and WW
towing are completely different.
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Kayaking
With A Disability
Kayak paddle and backrest adaptations for the sit-on-top that is
encouraging this safe and easy kayak to become the paddle craft
of choice for many organizations with disability programs. |
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VHF
Marine Radios & Communication Devices
For the Kayaker by Tom Holtey |
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Go
Sail A Kite! By Tom Holtey. Complete instruction on how
to kayak sail with a parafoil kite. |
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Basic
Surfing Techniques Contributed by the British Canoe Union
Surf Committee. This is a beautifully done manual on surfing manoeuvres
in eight parts. Originally published on their website at The Watershed-UK.
ALSO SEE OUR SURF SECTION
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"Quick
Search" our 2002 Sit-on-top Kayak Database of all known
sit-on-top models and their stats; both old and new models. Contributed
by Mike Brann. Includes "How To Use The Kayak Database"
article. |
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BACKRESTS,
KNEE STRAPS & PADDLE LEASHES…OH MY!!! Your
sit-on-top kayak is naked without the basic accessories. Tom Holtey
teaches you everything you ever wanted to know about these accessories
but didn't know to ask. |
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Planning
Your Route and Finding Your Way with Kayak Navigation by
Tom Holtey Using a chart and compass will allow you to find your
way through unfamiliar territory and complicated waterways with
lots of islands, coves and peninsulas. Such areas possess extraordinary
kayaking views and adventures to the paddler familiar with navigation
basics. |
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Cold
Weather Clothing and Paddling Tips by Tom Holtey Sit-on-top
kayakers can extend their paddling season by preparing with proper
clothing and understanding some basic principles. |
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"Group
Paddling Techniques" by Tom Holtey
Put
together a group paddle right. This
article, first printed in "Lifeline," outlines all the details of
organizing a group paddle, from choosing Lead and Sweep Paddlers
to coordinating a "Float Plan." |
