Product Description
For beginners eager to explore and for more seasoned kayakers yearning to take longer expeditions, this is the perfect handbook. Brimming with excellent advice about every aspect of flat-water kayaking, this guide offers tried-and-true techniques for enjoying this popular sport. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent book for touring kayakers
I mistakenly bought this book to help me get started with recreational kayaking. I found this fascinating, comprehensive, and well-written, but duhh -- I should have paid more attention to the subtitle: (Sea Kayaking How-To). I doubt I will ever get into kayaking on this level, but for people who want to know everything about heading off into the wild blue yonder in a kayak, it would be an excellent choice! I would *love* to find a Kayaking for Dummies book. From my point of view, most of the books out there are geared to outdoor gear-head types in good shape. I'm a 49-year-woman who wants to paddle the slow, spring-fed rivers of the Texas hill country and need something much more basic than this.

Could have had more detail.
Good introductory book. It could have had a lot more specific information on kayaks and gear.

"Apicture is worth a thousand words..."
A very useful book, but the author insists on taking two paragraphs to describe a technique or motion that could be conveyed in a single picture or diagram.The few pictures that are in the book are very indistinct.It's no mystery why authors do this.It's much easier and cheaper to type an extra dozen sentences than to have an artist develop an appropriate graphic.Too bad, though, as the section on paddling would have benefited from some simple illustrations.As it is, there are perhaps four or five actual diagrams and they really don't contribute much to the book.

Great Beginners Guide!
I found this book interesting, entertaining, and informative. The author is witty and his descriptions are excellent.

Rebecca "New Kayaker" ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Very Good Introduction to Kayaking
Great introduction to kayaking.Loaded with photos that are very helpful. Good for anyone starting in kayaking.

Glad to see inclusive theme in this guide!
Finally got our hands on this amazing guidebook and really impressed!!Our company Access Anything supports any guide with an all-inclusive theme, and the photos, descriptions, and adaptive equipment additions to this book place it one step above the rest for sure. Every adult and kids sports program should have this guide on their shelves, adaptive or able, this guide will direct you excellently!

... Read more

Product Description
Canoeing is one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities-- more than 9 million people enjoy the experience each year. It allows you to socialize with friends and family while exploring new places as you relax and enjoy the outdoors. Canoeing not only provides you with the basic skills and knowledge you need to safely head out for adventures on a variety of water trails, but it also presents a strong foundational understanding of this recreational activity.

Readers will find

• indispensable advice on gear and equipment selection, food and nutrition, fitness, water trail etiquette, and safety and survival skills;
• step-by-step instruction of basic paddling skills and techniques;
• informative consumer, technique, and safety tips; and
• Web-based resources to help you plan trips in the United States and throughout the world.

The book also includes the Quickstart Your Canoe DVD. This instructional DVD guides you through an introduction to paddle sports and basic safety and paddling techniques so you can enjoy a safe boating experience. It contains videos of the essential skills and techniques of canoeing, making it easier than ever to learn the basics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great all-encompassing text
This text is excellent.It is full of photos that clearly show everything that is explained.Covers all paddle strokes, safety, pre-planning, types of canoeing, and river reading (with great diagrams.)Only thing missing is an index - so at times, it's hard to find exactly what you're looking for.But a great read and resource! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Very basic information
I bought two books by this author and one would have been fine.If you haven't ever gone kayaking then this would help you get up to speed with your first trip or definitely for buying equipment before you actually try it.My wife and I rented kayaks two times and then wanted to enhance our knowledge for more trips and for buying.I didn't find these books added too much to what we had learned from the renting experience (the two books were very similar).

This book delivers as advertised
Dennis Stuhaug's title words "Basic Essentials" means just that.There is enough information to interest a person new to the sport without going into a lot of additional information.This books get you started.For more specific and in depth coverage of such specific sit on top kayak uses as kayak fishing, The Complete Kayak Fisherman by Ric Burneley fills the bill very nicely and is a better choice.

Good book for the beginner.
Comprehensive and easy to read, even has a bit of humor thrown in to make reading more enjoyable. Covers all the basics such as finding a sit-on-top kayak and outfitting it for fishing, diving, etc. Explains various paddling strokes and other drills. It could use a glossary of kayaking terms.

For a more advanced book that covers navigation, weather, tides/currents, and DOES contain a glossary, read "Kayaking Made Easy", also by the same author, Dennis Stuhaug. Although this book concentrates on sea kayaks, much of the info is applicable to sit-on-tops as well. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

The Perfect Introduction to Kayaking !!!!!
Derek Hutchinson is a master kayaker with a gift for teaching.

His "Basic Book" is just what the novice kayaker needs.For those who have not yet purchased a kayak, Hutchinson surveys the various types of boats and their respective strengths and weaknesses, with lots of helpful tips on what to look for in a new or used kayak.His discussions of clothing and equipment (particularly his discussion about paddles) is excellent and well-crafted to ensure that the beginner is properly dressed and equipped for his/her local conditions.He even offers such escoteric tidbits as making sure that your new kayak is left upside down overnight to adequately vent the styrene gas that might have built up during the manufacturing process (thereby preventing contamination of your gear and possibly making you sick).

Hutchinson's descriptions of basic paddling is very good...each subject is well illustrated with diagrams and photographs, and his instructions are written with a brief, clear and complete command of the subject that clearly bespeaks his decades of experience.The all-important sections on safety, rescues, and (gulp) capsize procedures are also very well written and illustrated.

I think the only thing better than buying and studying this book would be taking one of his kayaking courses (he has been designated a senior coach by the British Canoe Union).

In short, this expertly written book will answer many of your questions about kayak purchasing, outfitting, paddling technique and safety.For the money, you can't possibly go wrong.

Excellent beginners book
This is a perfect book for the beginner, written by THE master himself, and for 6 bucks! If you really want to learn contact your local kayak shop and find out when Derek will be in your area (or somewhere close), andtake his two day introductory class.He dosen't charge more than otherinstructors, but you will learn more in two days with Derek, than mostpeople learn in two seasons.Learn from the best. By the way, that's me onthe cover taking his two day course. ... Read more

Product Description
Smart, instructive, and beautifully designed, every book in the Trailside Guide series contains the essential information readers need to master outdoor activities and have fun in the process.

Norton proudly reissues these best-selling guides with fully revised "Sources & Resources" sections (including where to find the Web sites, gear, services, books, clubs, and organizations that make for foolproof outings); updates to reflect the latest in gear technology, wilderness medicine, and first aid; and advances in techniques.

You can take it with you: Trailside Guides are designed to be used on the trail. Their handy size makes them easy to take along on outdoor adventures.
Picture this: Trailside Guides show you how it's done. Each book has more than 100 color photographs and dozens of informative, full-color technical illustrations you'll refer to again and again.
Buying Guide: Each Guide has all the information readers need to make informed decisions about what gear is available, and what they should buy.
Step-by-step: Tutorials take readers through every aspect of a given outdoor activity. Each Guide covers planning and preparing for a trip, getting in shape, technique, safety, and first-aid tips, and how to have more fun along the way!
Easy to use: Trailside Guides provide information quickly. Every book contains detailed illustrations, information-packed sidebars, and a complete index and bibliography.
Technique tips: Any physical activity is more fun when it's done right. Trailside Guides are written by experts and contain lucid explanations that help the reader quickly achieve proficiency.

It's a big world out there. Get into it with the Trailside Guides. Color photographs and drawings throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Conoeing Instructor's Comments
I have been a paddler since 1973 when my husband and I bought a used aluminum canoe. Back then there were almost no comprehensive, well-written texts on the subject. How I wish a book like Mr. Grant's had been available to me.

In 1982 I became a certified canoeing instructor and have regularly taught canoe classes since that time. We supplement our canoeing instruction with numerous handouts. One handout is a list of recommended books and videos to help the students advance their knowledge of the sport.

I never envisioned that we would replace Bill Mason's Path of the Paddle at the top of the list but we have done so with Canoeing, A Trailside Guide. We now recommend it as the very FIRST book the students should acquire.

The manner in which the information is presented is so similar to the way we teach, we tell our students they will actually hear our voices coming from the pages. On our recommendation, the principal canoe retailer in the area keeps this book in stock and we have encouraged the local book stores to also carry it. The illustrations are quite well done, much better than most canoeing instruction texts.

I am delighted to have a book I can so enthusiastically recommend and that can be of significant value to new and to experienced paddlers also. Reading and practicing the instructions in this book will do more to assure you a safe and satisfying canoeing experience than any other text I have encountered. Happy paddling.

Beginner or You Need A Refresher Course. . .
Memories of hours upon hours spent with my father, canoeing the ozark's rivers and lakes in the "Green Hornet", has stayed within my very soul. December 7th, my husband gave me a 16' "green" canoe withall the accessoriees for our 35th wedding anniversary.After 40 years-Ican't wait to make my first trip! I immediately went to the book store andafter reviewing every book on the shelf, I chose, "Canoeing-ATrialside Guide". The simplistic explanations and clearillustrtionsgrabbed my attention immediately. Christmas eve found me immersed in study,reviewing and learning from this easy to understand publication. GordonGrant's writing technique has me anxioux to feel the tug of the waters - atmy paddle and at my soul.

An Excellent Summary of Canoeing Knowledge
Armed with no more knowledge than provided by this book, my twelve year old son and I purchased our first canoe, practiced its use and successfully ran 12 miles of Class III river last summer. Several experienced kayakersthat we met at the river (and paddled with for safety) were impressed withthe skills we had achieved - this was a section of river not generallynavigated by canoeists. We only flipped once and confidently avoided anydangerous situations. This was a good kick start to a lifestyle that Ithink we both will enjoy for many years to come.The book isstraightforward but very thorough. Mr. Grant's writing style makes whatcould have been a dry technical treatise an enjoyable read. The appendicesat the end with gear manufacturers and additional sources of informationare concise and very useful. ... Read more

Product Description
Continuing his efforts to increase the skill level ofpaddlers, Cliff Jacobson offers some unique canoeing techniques andcustom design tips never before released. In this fully revised secondedition, you'll discover how to choose a canoe that's right for you;select canoe accessories from paddles and PFDs to knee pads andwaterproof gear bags; lift, portage, and transport your canoe withease; master the basic paddling strokes, then learn how to canoe inwhitewater and currents; and rescue yourself or a friend aftercapsizing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Opinionated Dissertation About Canoeing
This book has usefull information and lots of opinions. There is a sense of a "know it all attidude." Still, this book has lots of good advice and great illustrations. The author's opinions regarding hull design are interesting but definately slanted toward his bias for specific brands and/or style of canoes. It is telling that there is an advertisement for one brand in the cover flap. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

One and only
Seems to be the one and only guide to surf kayaking. Well done basic book. What we need now is a followup advanced guide that details moves more completely and discusses some of the whitewater tricks or barrel rolls etc. Nigel Foster is the guy to do it since he has a sense of balance and control in a kayak that others only dream about.

Excellent instructional tool...
I've been looking for a book to help me get started in this new sport and now I've found it...Great discriptions of the skill and equipment necessary to get started. A must have for all those intrested in learning SurfKayaking!!

Excellent instructional tool...
I've been looking for a book to help me get started in this new sport and now I've found it...Great discriptions of the skill and equipment necessary to get started. A must have for all those intrested in learning Surkkayaking!! ... Read more

Product Description
Let world-renowned sea kayaker Nigel Foster guide youthrough one of his favorite kayaking havens. In "Guide to Sea kayakingin Southern Florida," he leads kayakers of all skill levels on 40trips, with many additional route alternatives, in some of the mostspectacular and wildlife-rich marine habitats on the planet. Designedfor the beginner, intermediate, and advanced kayakers, this guidegives detailed descriptions of the routes, including prominentlandmarks and interesting sites along the way. Detailed maps as wellas overviews of Southern Florida's weather, tide, and current patternsadd to the thorough coverage of paddling this spectacular coastline. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Very good book if you don't know the area
This is a really good book for kayakers, if you are not familiar with the area or the weather habits.Each location in Florida is a little different.From tides to weather.What I like about it is it gives you alot of info BEFORE you get out there.This helps make the kayaking adventure more fun, as you are more prepared and aware.If you are not familiar with the area, get this book!I live here in FL, and travel all around.Fortunately, I am already aware of the majority of the info in this book.I was merely looking for more areas to use the kayaks.If you are a beginner, or from out of state...get this book before you head out and become a statistic! ha ha.But really, some good preperation and info will help with a great day of kayaking in the many great areas of Florida!

Great for planning your eco-trip
Thank you Nigel Foster for such a complete and wonderful guide! I have been to a few areas in Florida, and can not wait to go this February and "try" out a few more of the recommended trips.A friend and I are going to go to Ding Darling Refuge and the Black Island (Lover's Key) trip at the very least.The trip descriptions have me longing for my vacation to get here. Very good maps, and I appreciate the section on places to stay and camp!

Keys section very good
Very good advice in the Keys section. Did several of the trips recently. Always "as advertised" in the book.
Worth the $$$.

Lots of trips to keep one busy kayaking South Florida
Nigel Foster has finally turned his excellent writing skills to South Florida.Having kayaked in South Florida for the past 6 years, I have personally done most of the trips described in the book.Mr. Foster'sdescriptions are brief, but his attention to detail, and excellent on-waterguides make the book very useful.Short accounts of the history of someareas (i.e., "The Watson Mystery") enliven the book.It iswritten in the style of a travel guide - a bit unusual for a guide to kayaktouring, but it lends itself to the area.His "Caution" tips,e.g., "Watch out for racoons at your picnic site." arewell-chosen.Trip ratings are very reasoned and appropriate, e.g.,"Paddling the outer coast is committing, with exposure to theGulf...Waves across Whitewater Bay generally produce a short chop...No onelives in this area, and there's no way out of it except at the campingsites...." A concisely written book.Well done! ... Read more

Product Description

"For five months in the spring and summer of 1996, Maren and I traveled the Inside Passage...It was a long and beautiful journey, a season of bright sun and dark cloud, above-average rainfall, and broad shoulders...It was a time before home ownership, before children, an open window and all we had to do was leap through. And we did...The very name, Inside Passage, seemed to carry an intimacy, a knowing. It would be a personal voyage. As much as anything, it would be a journey home."

Amazon.com Review
In an era of testosterone-charged adventure tales, ByronRicks's Homelands: Kayaking the Inside Passage is a wonderfullyintrospective adventure-travel memoir. In 1996 Ricks and his wife,Maren van Nostrand, came close to making an offer on their firsthouse, but instead decided to undertake an adventure of a differentkind together--kayaking from Alaska's Glacier Bay down the coast ofWestern Canada to southern Puget Sound, near their Seattle home. Theyhad no set schedule to keep and for five months lived by nauticalcharts and the rhythms of the tides, wind, and weather. Their plan wasto paddle from the glaciers to the city, exploring a coast in flux andthe ways of native peoples such as the Tlinglit, Tsimshian, andHaida--whose ancestors paddled the passage for centuries. The drivingquestion of Homelands is this: how does the act of making avery long journey home, in this case by paddle--at an average velocityof a mere three knots--affect one's concept of home? This ocean-sizequestion is fed by smaller tributaries: Do overcoming peril and dangermake the rewards of coming home greater? How do native inhabitantsencountered along the way relate to their homeland? What do you dowhen you're camped in a bear's back yard? And what are the issuesfacing a husband and wife setting out across vast expanses of openwater to confront--in the most literal sense--what lies beyond?

Ajournalist with a background in history and anthropology, Ricks isgifted with both a keen eye and a poetic ear. The tale is written indiary form, and its voice originates in the pace of the kayak:tranquil, steady, respectful. An easygoing and astute companion, Ricksis clearly an old soul--with questions well worth asking and somelovely observations to share. --Kimberly Brown ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

A wonderful trip through the inside passage...
I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy not only an exciting kayaking trip down the inside passage from Alaska to Washington, but also a fine piece of writing that was colorful and relaxing.Fellow armchair adventurers willappreciate this close look at the history, ecology, and landscape of thisrugged coast.The author does not weigh down the landscape with excessiveintrospection yet his commentary personalizes the journey just enough toenjoy the couple's companionship through the experience.A great way toenjoy some time in a far-away place.

Spritual and thought provoking
Byron did an excellent job of taking the reader along on his paddle....spiritually, mentally, and physically. He appreciation for the land and it's people was quite evident and gives the reader a new perspective and greater understanding of each. I appreciated Byron'shonesty about spirituality and his insights. Very thoughtprovoking!

Would suggest having a map of the Inside Passage handy tofollow their travels as you read.

It wasn't what I expected
Byron and Maren sound like wonderful people, and I admire thier spirit of adventure and commitment and respect of the land.I think I expected a lot more action in the story.I would have liked this more had they included pictures of the landscape, themselves, some of the people they had met, anda larger map.I understand their desire to protect the places theystopped, but, being an east coaster who "day kayaks" for four orfive hours at a time, I wanted a bigger and better glimpse of such a worthyadventure.

Paddling journey of the mind and soul at water level.
I have sailed and paddled the Inside Passage from time to time over the last 24 years.I am an avid reader of true outdoor adventures.I usually judge a book by its ability to hold my interest and ultimately to motivateme to leave the comforts of home and to take a stoll down "the roadless traveled."I have been eyeing my kayak and checking my gearsince finishing Homelands.When the ski season is over, I'm packing mykayak and heading north.My only regret is that I do not have the luxuryof duplicating the entire trip.

The author provides an engaging andcaptivating description of this courageous undertaking in a journal format. This format serves the book and pace of the adventure well.The poeticlanguage used to describe characters, places and events is excellent andconjures memories that parallel my own experiences along the BritishColumbia coast.The author has done an excellent job of capturing theflow, feeling and character of this region.This is not a Fodor's onkayaking the Inside Passage but rather an adventure of the soul and mind,at water level, along one of the most rustic, beautiful and inhospitablecoastlines in America.

Interesting, but not consuming
An interesting book, but I wanted more detail about the writer's daily life while on the sea. I found it frustrating to be brought to the edge of what appeared to be an exciting passage, only to be let-down by a single non-desriptive paragraph. I may have missed the explanation as to why therewere no pictures of the trip, or even a reliable map -- also found thisfrustrating and confusing as I'm not familiar with the area. A better modelfor how to write and include the reader rather than only document a journeyis Alvah Simon's *North to the Night*.

All in all, if one is familiarwith the area and concerned with the socio-economic and evironmental issuesof such an area, they will find this book an interesting read. But,unfortunately, one that will not keep you enthralled nor stay with you longonce finished. ... Read more

Product Description
A richly detailed guide to 30 of the best sea kayaking day trips spanning the coastline of the Old Dominion.

A veteran paddling guide offers her favorite routes and insights gleaned from years of experience. Spanning the length of the coastal plain, this guide includes the Chesapeake's tidal tributaries, the eastern shore, and the blackwater cypress swamps of the south.

Each route description goes beyond access points and paddling notes to include estuarine ecology, social and natural history, and sidebars covering a variety of topics from gear to wildlife sightings to local highlights. Beginning and experienced kayakers will appreciate the depth of information, including geographical, wind, weather, tidal, and safety issues. A brief introduction to other area trips effectively doubles the number of trip locations to pursue. 30 black & white photographs, 30 maps, index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Great Help--Enjoyable Reads
This book is fantastic! It was helpful when planning routes, deciding where to put in -- Nolan knows all the best spots -- but I also found myself reading descriptions of trips I didn't plan on taking, because the author really knows how to tell a story. It's hard to find a guide book that's savvy with relevant information but well written too. Probably the best I've ever found.

Two great kayaking books for MD and VA
Sea Kayaking Maryland's Chesapeake Bay: Day Trips on the Tidal Tributaries and Coastlines of the Western and Eastern Shore
by Michael Savario and Andrea Nolan
and
Sea Kayaking Virginia: A Paddler's Guide to Day Trips from Georgetown to Chincoteague by Andrea Nolan

Savario and Nolan are professional guides who have written two delightful guidebooks for kayak day trips in the area of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.The books document trips the authors have made a regular part of their itinerary and are written in a narrative style that is not only informative but makes for a great armchair tour for those nasty winter days as well.I found both these books at my local library and liked them so well they had to become part of my personal library.Enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description
This is the only book to focus entirely on those waterways served by liveries that offer rental canoes. Now you can enjoy Florida's great canoeing opportunities without the bother of owning, transporting, and maintaining your own canoe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Accuracy, Please!
To be useful, a guidebook to canoeing trails must be accurate and complete in directing the reader and potential paddler to undertake the trips described with confidence and in safety.I am familiar with many of the rivers described in this book in north Florida and have noted several gross inaccuracies.The most dramatic being the description of a Blackwater River trip of more than thirty river miles being accomplished in four hours!This could certainly lead a novice paddler into considerable difficulty were they to try the same trip.Taken as entertaining prose and accepting the "poetic license" taken with some important details, I found the book otherwise to be enjoyable reading, written by folks who certainly do enjoy the sport.As a starting point in looking for a new river to cruise Carefree Canoeing is a fun and useful read, but accurate and complete sources must be consulted before planning a trip to any of the rivers described. ... Read more

Product Description
For a generation the Basic Essentials series has been as much a part of the outdoors experience as backpacks and hiking boots. Information-packed tools for the novice or handy references for the veteran, these volumes distill years of knowledge into affordable and portable books. Whether you're planning a trip or thumbing for facts in the field, Basic Essentials books tell you what you need to know. Discover how to choose the right type of solo canoe, customize your solo canoe for peak performance, perform various braces and ferry strokes, pack and portage for camping expeditions and maintain and repair your solo canoe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

SOLO CANOEING
I'm fairly new to canoeing, did a lot of kayaking (sit on top). I bought a solo canoe because I can't haul camping gear in the kayak. This book has been really helpfull, in bringing me up to speed on canoes and solo operations.

It gives you info on choosing a canoe, paddles, accesories, safety, proper paddling strokes,and camping with your solo canoe. Cliff Jacobson has been plying the waters of northern Minnesota all his life, and knows a little something about canoeing and camping there.

This is a very good reference for anyone new to the world of solo canoeing, I highly recommend this book, you'll learn a lot from Cliff and his vast experience.

The Only Solo Canoe Book to Buy
This is a great book for anyone who has or is thinking of buying a solo canoe. There are decided design and paddling differences between solo and tandem canoes and Cliff Jacobson covers most of these differences well. He begins telling his own history of using and building solo canoes since 1973 and gives an enthusiastic declaration for paddlingsolo canoes.
Choosing, tuning and outfitting the solo canoe are thoroughly covered as well as paddle strokes from the midpoint of your canoe. There is a chapter by Harry Roberts on "sit and switch" paddling with a bent shaft paddle and another chapter on freestyle technique by Charlie Wilson. These 2 chapters are alone easily worth the modest price of the book. There is included a short chapter on quick water techniques in a solo canoe. Solo Canoeing also covers camping and portaging the solo canoe and finishes up with sources for canoes and gear as well as a great index and glossary.
This is about the only readily available book on just solo canoeing and it is a really good guide to the nuances and pleasures of paddling solo. I hope to see the author expand this book in a third edition in the future and include a more comprehensive history of solo canoes from the time of the small native canoes (what we call rat boats in Alaska) to the time of Rushton and George Sears in the 19th century. Some of Mr. Jacobson's other books, like "Expedition Canoeing" have a chapter on solo canoes, but this is by far the most comprehensive treatment of the rediscovered and still evolving solo canoe.

Slim volume packed with good information
To acquire the knowledge and insight that Cliff Jacobson reveals in "Solo Canoeing" would take a lifetime of experience. Save yourself some time and buy this little gem of a book. He covers all the basics:How to buy, equip, paddle, care for and enjoy a solo canoe.Jacobson has been canoeingfor almost 50 years and has been writing about it for 30. His accumulatedwisdom of the canoeing sport is vast, yet he is able to condense this downto the knowledge you will need to enjoy this sport. He includes a valuableappendix of suppliers who make the products he recommends in his book. Iown several of Jacobson's books. Each one has delivered valuableinformation that was new and useful to my outdoor adventuring. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Spectacular Book
My dad and I on a whim took a trip up to the BWCAW last year and it is now an annual trip.After that first year we were looking for some good ideas on what to bring and any tips for canoeing and camping.This book holds a ton of information in it and is a great read.We took ideas from what to pack, how to store gear, how to paddle in certain currents, and even got the design and specs to make yokes for our canoes.AWESOME book.I recommend it to anyone who is looking for some good tips for living in the outdoors.

A Surprisingly Good Read
I am a wilderness canoeing enthusiast but I've only been at it for a couple of years. I thought I had enough canoeing "how to" books, including one by Cliff Jacobson, but my kids need inexpensive Christmas gift ideas and I was intrigued by what might be "beyond the basics".So I put this on my Amazon wish list and I'm glad I did.

This book is really not just "beyond" the basics. For example, it devotes a half dozen pages to the primary paddle strokes; about as basic as one can get. A more accurate title would be "The Basics and Beyond" because although it starts with the basics it does go well beyond. As a result, I learned some stuff I now see I was doing wrong and learned a lot of new stuff I'm anxious to apply when the weather breaks. My next trek will be safer, easier and more comfortable because of this book.

Technical Manual for Wilderness Canoeing
The author has extensive experience in wilderness canoeing and camping; and much of this practical experience is summarized in this book.There is a great deal of information and recommendations on equipment and gear, ranging from canoes and tents - to footwear and saws.The author also covers dozens of techniques for safer, drier, and more enjoyable wilderness canoeing ranging from dealing with bears to how portage the canoe.If you're planning on a wilderness canoeing trip, whether or not you're an experienced canoeist, this is a phenomenal read.

Killer book
Wonderfull book that in detail explains every accpecet of camp canoe and portage.I am a BWCA adventurer and this book helped with weather maps paddling packing everything you could think of

Great book on equipment
This is an especially good book on equipment.Lots of in depth information on canoe shapes and material trade-offs, paddle types etc.It's very interesting and fun to read.There are sections on paddling too but they are not as elaborately illustrated as some books.Also not a lot of pictures related to river reading etc.But you can't beat this book for equipment. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

Outstanding reviews for the authors' Paddle Your Own Canoe:

"This is the best book on how to canoe." - Canoe and Kayak

"Absolutely the best canoe paddling book on the planet! Clear writing, world-class photography... This book rocks!" - Canoeing icon Cliff Jacobson

Paddle Your Own Canoe set a new standard for how-to-canoe books. In this much-anticipated follow-up, Gary and Joanie McGuffin use the same model for the art of kayaking. The authors discuss the kayak's Inuit history, types of kayaking, recommended kayak sizes and shapes, and proper gear and clothing. They also offer expert, step-by-step instructions on all of the sport's essential techniques.

Illustrated with more than 600 color photographs and illustrations, Paddle Your Own Kayak is designed for both seasoned and novice kayaker, offering guidance on:

• Balancing the body
• Strokes and maneuvers
• Paddling fundamentals
• Recoveries and rescues
• Carrying and launching
• Weather and water conditions techniques
• Staying centered
• Navigation methods.

A special section on kayak camping provides good advice on what to look for in a destination, how to select a site, packing your kayak, setting up tents and shelters, meal preparation, water filtration, first aid and much more.

Customer Reviews (7)

Great Book!
I bought this book before I even bought my first kayak. Because of some personal limitations I have, I wanted to see if I thought I would be able to handle kayaking. This book described the different kinds of kayaks, paddling strokes, equipment, clothing, etc. in a simple easy to understand format. I would highly recommend this book to any beginning kayaker or someone who is thinking about taking up kayaking.

Paddle Your Kayak
I read this book before launching my new kayak. I learned many fundamentals that the book presented. I was disappointed that there was almost no reference to sit-on-top kayaks which is what I own. There are significant differences between kayaks that the book didn't cover.

Great Introduction, Brilliant Photos!
If you are interested in getting a thorough introduction in kayaking, this is the book for you. Easy to read, understand andspectacular photos.

Best book on kayaking!!
This is the BEST book I've seen on kayaking - it's great for beginners; and helps the experienced kayaker remember key points!The best part of all is that it's hilarious - if you're a "visual" sort of person - the funny cartoon illustrations should stick with you even if you forget the text....LOL!!It's also the first book I've read that deals with some of the more delicate issues of kayaking - like "how to take a potty break in the middle of the ocean"; or explains with drawings how the hull shape creates initial and/or secondary stability.It would be very helpful for the first-time kayaker who is in the process of buying a boat, since it explains all aspects of kayaking and what type of boat works best.It could even save lives, because it stresses safety, and there's a lot of little $200-300 "death traps" (sit-in kayaks with no flotation) being sold to first-time kayak buyers....grrrrr...

It's a very, VERY informative book that's fun to read!!

Great Book
This is simply one of the greatest with the most beautiful photography kayak books you can get. It takes you through all the basic strokes, rescues, equipment and other things you may want to know about kayaking. Its also great resource for any level paddler. I review this book every time I'm going to do a class or skill session on kayaking. Buy it, you won't regret it... ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Pretty Basic
Having recently returned from five months of largely sea kayak-based travel in Baja, and reflecting on the library that we brought along, Ramano Lax's book was not a particularily useful addition. That is really saying something, as there are very few resources out there for Baja sea kayak route information. Most of Romano Lax's routes are very basic follow-the-shoreline type descriptions that lacked information on the logistical questions involved if one does not have, as she appeared to, a full time vehicle support person that will repeatedly drop you off and drive down the coast to meet you in a few days time. The maps were hand-drawn as to be mainly too vague to be useful. The most distressing part of attempting to use this book was the all too frequent discovery, upon paddling some of the routes she included, that her descriptions of the nature of the coastline were dramatically incorrect (eg. a section of the northern Cortez is described as being "70 miles of cliffs". This is dangerously incorrect). This type of inaccuracy on availablility oflanding and camping options also extended into her "mile-by-mile" route descriptions and the chronological order in which topographical or geographical shoreline features appear. In short, as she says in her author's bio, she was a beginner kayaker when she did many of these routes. This is reflected in her writing and assessment of shoreline character.

Dated - Now History
The book was good.But too much has changed in the Baja since it was released (1993).No longer a useful resource if you're planning a trip.As the previous reviewer pointed out, this guide covers a HUGE geographical area (the Baja Pennisula is longer than Italy).Sadly, there isn't a current guide that covers how to plan and execute a Baja small-craft trip.Perhaps the author (Romano-Lax) should consider a 2nd edition - her writing is excellent and she knows the area intimately.

The author does a good job of tackling a huge subject.
The only guide in print for sea kayaking the Baja.The author does a good job of providing an overview of this vast subject.The book is geared towards people planning independent trips, and provides descriptions of about 15 areas, along with maps (non-nautical), put in points, trip difficulty, hazards, and colorful descriptions of each area including personal remembrances.If you're thinking of kayaking in the Baja (even in a tour group) this is a good reference. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Carolina Whitewater, 9th (Canoeing & Kayaking Guides)
Received book in a timely manner and in excellant condition.It was purchased as a gift so I cannot vouch for its content.

Great resource
Very descriptive & helpful resource for finding the kind of paddling water you are looking for in the Carolinas. So glad I bought this book!

Badly in need of updating
I've only paddled a few of the runs described in the book but have found a lot of information that needs updating. Apparently the authors are unaware that Al Gore invented the internet a generation ago and that there are online gages for many (?most?) of the runs described. (e.g. French Broad) but few are mentioned in the book. The description is usually along the lines of drive there and inspect onsite. You could waste a lot of time and gas if you don't consult the USGS gages first. Another example the put-in location described for French Broad section 6, is fenced off with a chain link fence topped with barbed wire. Given the rusty nature of this fence, it has been there a long time, well before the 2005 date of the latest "revision".

A Word of Warning
This is indeed THE guide to paddling in the western Carolinas, but it contains one extremely important error:the put-in listed for the Upper Green (class III) is actually the put-infor the Narrows (class V).

Thetrue put-in for the Upper Green is just below the Tuxedo power plant; thetake-out is what Benner mistakenly describes as the put-in.

This is THE book
on North Carolina white water.There are a number of regional white waterguide books, and while they can be more helpful in some ways, they are notnearly so comprehensive.Benner has got it all.If it's in NC or SC andit's whitewater, then it's in there.The Caveat:Bob Benner is the oldschool author of most of the book.His son, David, is from the more elitehair-head generation.This means that the rivers rated by David are on adifferent scale from those rated by Bob.The good news: careful readingwill reveal the difference between Bob's description's and David's. ... Read more

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Before you head out on an overnight canoe camping trip, or before you lead a day trip into the wilderness, be sure your skills go beyond the basics. Wilderness canoeing and camping require specialized techniques not ordinarily required in other outdoor recreation sports.Canoeing and Camping: Beyond the Basics shows you the all-important skills that will make your canoeing excursions safe and enjoyable, whether you paddle on millponds, lazy rivers, wilderness lakes, or the open ocean.Canoeing expert Cliff Jacobson reveals how you can: select the equipment that's right for you and customize your canoe and gear for better performance; master key canoeing skills, from paddling portaging, and transporting your canoe, to avoiding common hazards and rescuing and repairing your canoe; apply your canoeing skills when solo canoeing, leading day trips, canoeing with children and pets, or navigating through wilderness; polish your camping skills: learn to fix quick and tasty meals; weather storms; avoid bears, bugs, and other bothersome pests; and plan canoe expeditions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Canoeing beyond the basics
Useful information.
A lot of differnet ideas for camping and canoeing.
One useful section of the book allowed me to be able to perform an open water rescue properly.
Two people flipped their canoe in open water.
I was able to use the techniques described in the book to get their canoe uprighted and them back inside.
We were able to just continue canoeing.

Great book for learning about canoe camping.
There are dozens of canoeing books that touch on the basics of canoe camping.This one really takes you beyond the fundamentals found in those books.I found the section on meal preparation veryhelpful.It also has helpful information for leading a group of teenagers on a canoe camping trip.

Anything by Cliff Jacobson must be very wothwhile
based on his "Expedition Canoeing," I am buying this book.

Great Book for Beginniers
Getting ready for a first time trip to the BWCAW - this book has been very helpful.Great illustrations for canoe techniques and a lot of How-to info on packing, portaging, etc.My only criticism, it needed a bit more info on packing and preparing light weight foods.

excellent resource
from time to time we all have questions or are looking for confirmation on proper procedure/etiquette in camping. this book proved to be an excellent to me. although i consider myself somewhat experienced, it was refreshing to have several of my ideas confirmed by an expert. on the other hand, what was most valuable was the disproving of out of date camping policies that even the forest rangers havent updated on. a great example is bear proofing your camp. the author firmly disagrees with the traditional "tie it in a tree" procedure.a very good book for beginner to advanced campers/canoeists. ... Read more