A WNY Beginner's Guide to Kayaking

Hi all - hope you had a wonderful July fourth!

With the renaissance at the waterfront in Buffalo, the harbors and rivers are coming to life with hundreds of people venturing out on watercraft! There's dozens of ways to enjoy the water, including speed boats, sail boats, jet skis, wind surfing, or even just lazily floating on an inner tube. 

However, today we will be discussing the basics of paddling - both kayaking and SUP (stand-up paddleboard) have taken off in a BIG way in western NY, and with more and more people hitting the water, it's more important than ever for beginners to know what they are doing. 

I talked to Nancy Giglio-Maisano from Longboards At The Beach to get the rundown of what's important when paddling as a beginner. 

First of all, know that Lake Erie is not the wild west. There are people looking out for your safety and making sure that you're not making any boat-based infractions. On land, we have the police. In the water, the Coast Guard is looking out for you. And since the congestion in WNY waterways has increased so much, they are cracking down a bit on safety rules and regulations. 

All of Longboard's renters will go out on the water with the essential safety equipment - the kayak or paddleboard, a paddle, a life-jacket with a whistle attached, and knowledge of how to navigate around larger boats. Their operation has been inspected by the coastguard, and they received zero safety violations (they have also had zero incidents out of the hundreds of people that rent their equipment - a top-notch safety record). 

Although the rule may not be as strict as with larger boats, certain items are required when you are out on the water on a kayak:

• Life jacket/vest - coast guard approved, and of the correct size and type for the intended user. Inflatable life jackets are an option for those 16 years of age and older (these are only recommended for people who are decent swimmers). When buying a lifejacket, make sure that it fits comfortably - I would suggest trying a "paddling" motion like in a kayak while you are in the store purchasing it - I definitely found some that chafed my shoulders uncomfortably when shopping around.

• A whistle is required - this can signal distress, as well as get the attention of other boaters while on the water.

• Running lights - a vessel (boat) with manual propulsion (as opposed to a motor or sail) should at very least have an electric torch/flashlight/lantern with white light to prevent collision if they are on the water at night (most people kayaking will come in at dusk).

• Lights/visual distress signals - when operating at night, you must carry visual distress signals that can be used to find you in an emergency (these are not required during the day, but from sunset to sunrise). This could be as simple as an electric distress light that meets coast guard requirements, or could be as flashy as a flare. (just don't light any of these on the water unless there's a real emergency - that will get you into trouble). 
• Federal boating regulations - http://www.uscgboating.org/images/420.PDF

Types of life vests that you can purchase for everything from an oceanic voyage, to a quick paddle around the inner harbor. Image from lifejackets.co

It is also required that when you are out there, you follow the rules of the "road", and act responsibly. Giglio-Maisano and her employees instruct their renters on proper waterway etiquette before they leave the dock/beach. She stated that, while paddlers technically may have the right of way, you have to be mindful of the fact that it is much more difficult to stop or turn a large heavy boat than it would be to put the brakes on in a car. While the boater may be required to stop for you, you should look out for your own safety and not put yourself at undue risk - treat the main thoroughfares like a busy street. A kayak or paddleboard would be similar to riding a bike - stay to the sides, yield to larger vehicles, "drive" defensively, and cross with caution. 

She also stressed that especially when you are a beginner, good equipment is key. You may not want to spend top dollar when you are first starting out with a hobby, but I know from experience that cheap equipment can make an activity extremely frustrating and much less enjoyable. She mentioned that cheap kayaks can be rather tippy and difficult to keep on course. They also may not be rated for enough of a load to carry a fully-grown adult. The kayaks that they rent out are heavy-duty and extremely stable which makes for a pleasant paddling experience. They also have purchased carbon paddles, making them durable, but lightweight (I do not have carbon paddles for my kayaks, and I can attest to the fact that your arms definitely can get sore after a few hours of paddling around!). 

My personal kayak is a Pelican from Dick's Sporting Goods. It's serviceable, but nothing fancy. 

Aside from the kayaks, I had a chance to ask her specifically about SUP (stand-up paddleboard). Giglio-Maisano stated that the best way to get started with this activity is to take a beginner class (which makes sense. Anyone can sit in a kayak and paddle out from the dock. Standing on a flat board and paddling would, I'd imagine, take a bit more coordination and balance... and bravery! I will find out when I take my beginner's class on Friday!). This will give you the opportunity to work with an instructor who, beyond the basic technique, will also teach you things like how to fall off, how to get back on, and what to do when the water conditions change (around here, weather can change very quickly). From the lesson, you can go many different directions with your SUP abilities - everything from just leisurely paddling around with friends, to taking fitness classes (yes, on the board, and in the water!). 

Yup, you can even do that. Photo credit - Joanne Wu and Acroyoga Buffalo

One thing that I did specifically ask - how often do you wind up in the water when paddleboarding? She told me that it was not as often as one might think - that maybe 1-2 out of a class of 10 come back "wet" at the end of the hour. She also said that not as many people as you would think wear swimsuits when they come down to rent a kayak or a board, or to take a class - guys may usually wear swim-trunks, but women are frequently more comfortable in athletic clothes. 

As far as paddling footwear goes, sandals or watershoes are fine for the kayak. It is recommended not to wear shoes that you don't want to get wet - while you will likely not dump your kayak, you probably will still get them wet when launching, and nobody likes paddling around in swampy sneakers. When paddleboarding, they have lockers to leave shoes in (as you will be barefoot). 

A couple of final thoughts:

• Dress for the weather - yeah, your bikini may be suuuper cute and brand new, but don't forget that it's frequently a few degrees cooler on the water than it is inland at your house. Also remember that other factors like wind, clouds, rain, and dusk (and falling in) can quickly affect the temperature that you're feeling. Paddling becomes significantly less fun when you're shivering, so it may not hurt to bring a shirt. 
• SUN SCREEN!!! I cannot stress this enough - the sun overhead can not only be quite powerful, but the light reflecting off the water can burn you places that you're not used to burning. Also, even on cloudy days you can get a significant amount of UV rays coming down, so lather on that SPF. (hats and sunglasses are also a good idea)
• I know that's it's fun to drink when you're at the beach, but operating a vessel while intoxicated is a federal offense - the rule on boats is still .08, and if you're over the limit, you could be subject to up to $1000 civil penalty, or a criminal penalty of up to $5000 and 1yr in prison - BE SMART AND BE SAFE!
• Be a good neighbor - carry in and carry out! That means absolutely no trash in the water. Remember, the fish need to use Lake Erie too (this is also punishable by law if the Coast Guard catches you!)
• Here are some launch sites in the Buffalo area - http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/23898.html

I would recommend renting at least once before you purchase a kayak or a paddleboard - that way you can get some instruction from the rental shop, pick a pro's brain with any questions that you might have, and also you can try it out before you invest a lot of money in it. Chances are good that you'll be hooked after your first time out, but it never hurts to make sure. 

Here are some places to rent in the Buffalo area:

• Longboards At The Beach - with their knowledgeable staff, they now have 4 locations at Hamburg Beach (original), Buffalo Riverworks (you know, the giant Labbatt six-pack), Woodlawn Beach, and Wilkeson Pointe (at the outer harbor). 
• Buffalo River Canoe and Kayak Outfitters - located at Harlem Road on the Buffalo River
• BFLO Harbor Kayak - Located right in downtown at the central wharf near the naval park
• SUP Erie Adventures - Located at Sunset Bay in Irving
• Elevator Alley Kayak - Located in the old first ward in Buffalo right on the river
• Also - please check out Buffalo Paddleboard Co - they are a company based right here in Buffalo NY that makes absolutely gorgeous hand-made paddleboards!
• And finally, check out this nifty facebook page - WNY SUP and Kayak - they organize just-for-fun meet ups for paddlers. 

Happy paddling!