I want to get into kayaking but am a bigger girl. is it going to be difficult for me?

Question

is there anything i should work on before getting out onto the water to "prepare" myself?

Answer 1

If your a bit bigger I would say get yourself into rowing.

it's very similer but instead of sculling by yourself your with a boat of, 2,4,or 8 other (not including a coxswain).  it's an amazing sport plus it will get you very tone.  I'd also say in being involved int he sport bigger girls tead to be better then smaller ones.

Have fun in w/e you decide

-Randi

Answer 2

You will find that touring kayak,s have a roomy er cockpit and have 350 lb. capacity. They are usually around 14.5 ft. long and weigh about 55 lb,s. If you can get a paddle set then get a chair and a mirror and practice your stroke. You will need to learn to hold your paddle with a stiff arm and use your ab,s and lat,s to make the stroke . It takes a little getting used to and some practice but it is the best stroke. If you go to a store and buy a kayak mag. you will find info. on proper paddling technique. Or go to http://www.canoekayak.com you will find link,s to help you learn proper paddling.

Answer 3

If you're going to kayak whitewater work on your rolls until they are bulletproof.

Just like anyone in this sport you gotta get in shape but that doesn't always mean you have to super ripped or a stick figure...

Remember once you hit the water you don't weigh anything and should actually be bouyant [wear that PFD].... so work on swimming and hope you never have to.

I'm a big guy [6'0, 200] and I kayak with guys bigger than I am.... But I'm in shape and that really helps.

And check out mountainbuzz.com.... they have a "Betty Buzz" forum that discusses just this topic.

Answer 4

I have a 12ft, Malibu II, ocean kayak (sit on top) and adore it!  I'm also 6' tall at about 200 lbs.  This model is for 2 people, but for just one it is great, I can pack a cooler, lunch, rods & reels, you name it, and even load a friend and dog.    I live on the water, and although this model is a bit heavier and bulkier, I can still manage to get it out of my truck and in the water in about 10 minutes.  I have had pretty big wakes hit me from other boats in the area and man was it fun, but have never tipped yet.  As long as you sit your butt down first and swing your legs over, you shouldn't have any problem getting in.  It's all about center of gravity.  I can even stand up and cast in mine, though it did take some practice!   But I practiced in pretty shallow water to start, just in case.  Now I can paddle out to the bay with the rest of them, and am in no ways in any kind of shape.  I would try and rent one if you can and try out different models, then research, research research.  And though it sounds dorky, please wear a lifejacket.  Other than that, have fun, and don't worry about your size or that you have never paddled.  I promise you, once you are out there floating, it will amaze you.  My Kayak is called "meditator"

Answer 5

Sea kayaks come in lots of different sizes versus whitewater kayaks which are built short and slim for getting around rocks quickly. There are two main types of sea kayaks, sit-on-tops, which any beginner can paddle since they track well (go in a straight line well) and are pretty bomb-proof (they are very hard to tip over). Most of these kayaks are 12-14 feet long. Sit-on-tops aren't too bad getting into and out of, which are the hardest things to do in kayaking! They're the kind of sea kayak most vendors will rent to beginners. I'd recommend one of these for anyone, size doesn't matter. Here's one popular vendor of sit-on-tops:

http://www.oceankayak.com/kayaks/why_sit...

The other type of sea kayak is for more advanced kayaking, expedition sea kayaks, which don't track as well, but often have rudders to help with turning. They usually contain sealed bulkheads, to store gear in, since they are set up for distance and overnight stays. They have cockpits that you have to get into and out of, but they vary in size, with the type of vendor who creates the sea kayaks, and have been increasing the cockpit size, to accomodate baby boomers. Expedition sea kayaks are often 16-17 feet long, but can vary greatly in size, since some are also made for day trips, and are 14 feet on average, and often contain just one or no bulk heads. I have a 16 foot expedition sea kayak, with a rudder. Here's a popular vendor who sells "touring" or expedition sea kayaks:

http://www.wildernesssystems.com/index.a...  

The better your technique, the less strength you'll need in your arms, since you'll use the muscles in your back and abdomen instead. Also, the better your flexibility (from stretching) the easier it is to get in and out of boats, since landings and take-offs are the time most people fall in, when canoeing or sea kayaking.

Check out the American Canoe Association for information about safe tips for sea-kayaking, at http://www.americancanoe.org

But to get started, I'd check out your local Parks & Rec department or see if you have a local outfitter, so you can get some beginner lessons on how to use a paddle and to be able to try out different types of models of sea kayaks, before trying to buy something.

There are now vendors who create pfd's (personal flotation devices) for women, who have "large chests", which are comfortable (I have a model by one of these vendors, when they first started offering them a few years ago):

http://www.seakayakermag.com/1998/oct98/...

Before even buying a boat, I'd buy a paddle, since the lighter the paddle, the easier it is to paddle. It was the first thing I bought-I took it with me whenever I rented a boat, since some vendors provide the cheapest and heaviest paddles with their kayaks. Most paddles are now made of different types of plastic or fiberglass; the lighter they are, the more expensive they are. I have a wood laminated paddle, since I'm a bit of a traditionalist, since I love canoeing too. Here's the in's and out's of paddles:

http://www.seakayak.ws/kayak/kayak.nsf/f...  

Be safe and have fun!