Updated to reflect all the latest gear and techniques, this guide is the perfect step-by-step handbook for beginners, with sage advice on every aspect of flat-water and sea kayaking, from selecting a boat to kayak camping.
What Others Say
Lacks discriptive diagrams and photo's
I agree with Mark-from-DC; there is WAY to much verbage and WAY too few diagrams. Verbose "how-to" passages must be read several times to get the gist of what the author is trying to describe. I actually ended up diagramming my own sketches as I re-read sections. I too, would not recommend Kayaking Made Easy, 3rd: A Manual for Beginners with Tips for the Experienced (Made Easy Series), and for the same reasons. I found it a big disappointment.
Needs some pictures
Kayaking Made Easy, 3rd: A Manual for Beginners with Tips for the Experienced (Made Easy Series) might be packed with information about the various paddling techniques but takes at least three readings to understand what the author is trying to describe. The narrative would be helped tremendously if some pictures were included. Simple things like showing the proper wrist rotatation during strokes, even body positioning during the stroke are not illustrated.
In addtion, the authors writing style leaves a lot to be desired. The author wants to imagine he is right next to us while we sit in the kayak. Things like, '...go ahead and pick up your kayak while we walk down this hill together....' UGH!!!!
Just describe each technique and some illustrations to go with each step would do wonders for this ... Read More
A Good Read
Disclaimer - This reader has no kayaking experience. Your humble reviewer has taken to the waters on the Nimitz, in canoes on still and running bodies of water, a twenty one foot sloop, pontoon boats, rowboats, down the rapids of the Chatahoochie in a guided raft, and on the garden variety cabin cruisers that litter the waterways like so much floating garbage. (do you detect a bias?)
Your reviewer does read a fair bit, and compared to other books on this and other subjects, found Kayaking Made Easy to to be a very enjoyable read. The conversational style of the author reached me loud and clear. With some experience in boating and outdoor activities the advice seems sound.
The work is geared to touring and casual ... Read More
Kayaking Made Easy
Good information for a beginner, also helps with understanding terms used in kayaking.
Good information
Done with humor and well done instructions even for the one who has never touched a kayak.
