Your Beginner Kayak Questions Answered On The Water

[@MarkReynolds-z1v]

You are great teacher, you are very inspiring too!

[@sambickel2058]

My wife and I bought our kayak at Scapoose Bay Next adventure. Jackson TakeTwo. The purple and green one in your video was ours. Thats the perfect setting for their store. Great customer service. Every time I watch your videos I learn something. Thank you for taking the time to educate others.

[@HeadwatersKayak]

That is awesome. What’s setup they have! Would love to work that shop for a summer and guide trips in those sloughs. We spent 4 days there at the RV park and explored a ton!

[@maxcampos1759]

Next Adventure Scappoose Bay (near Portland, Oregon) has an awesome demo setup. They've got the fully Eddyline fleet right there on the dock; just tell them what you want to try and they pop it in the water. Try the Sitka LT, then compare to the Sitka XT, then the Equinox, Skylark, etc. All right there! They also have a bunch of paddles for you to try as well - bent shaft, straight shaft, carbon fiber, fiberglass, etc. 10 out of 10 demo experience.

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Agreed 5 star setup! ⭐️

[@MouwDown]

Definitely looking forward to a Sitka xt review. Please incorporate your thoughts on fitment for tall lanky Mofo's

[@norm_badwolf_9119]

Oh man, I recognized Next Adventure just from the thumbnail! It really is a cool area to paddle, lots to see.

[@bertsadventures9974]

Perhaps my favorite video yet! This will be my first season in my new Skylark that I purchased over the winter. I have a vacation home on a river that feeds a large reservoir in PA and I plan on going up and down that river all season long! Can't wait.

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Right on I’m glad you found it.

[@heathen_7]

Dan!! Miss your vids here, but I see you killing it on the trails!

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Getting back to the water now that its heating up.

[@ajpend]

You have another channel? 👍🏽

[@NoBrakes23]

I don't know if the camera angle accentuates it, but it is pretty rad to see how far you can lean that thing.

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Yeah I really like this angle for teaching.

[@jayburne6825]

Awesome thanks for sharing your just having to much fun teaching ....

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Definatly my happy place.

[@CheekyMonkey888]

excellent teacher

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Thank you! 😃

[@jesusbarron8052]

I just bought the Quest Outlands 100 from Dicks with the Rod holders… I’m pretty excited!!! $279

[@ajpend]

Good for you! Is that your first kayak? I got my first kayak a little over a year ago: Crescent LiteTackle 2. I’m thinking about expanding my fleet with a Crescent UltraLite, so I have some variety, though mainly so I can take a friend out and share the experience with others.

[@jesusbarron8052]

Yeah first one. Funny enough I just found a Pelican Castaway 100 angler for $150 at tractor supply so I gave the Quest Outlands to my teen daughter.

[@greatestamerican7023]

I demoed a couple of kayaks there & ended up buying a Dagger Axis 12 from them!

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Nice love the Axis

[@GreenManalichi]

I have a question that I cannot find an answer to and I'm hoping to get it here. Circumstances force me to purchase a 12' kayak for fishing in the reservoirs here. The FF Mokens 12.5 PDL seems to be right up my alley and within my budget. However, there's no dealers even remotely close to me so I have to order one for delivery. I'm on the shorter side ... only 5'8", with a leg span of only 30". With that in mind, will I be able to reach the pedals without locking up my knees at the end of every stroke? Please, no yes or no answers... I'd truly love a measurement... I don't want to pay for a pedal drive system that I can't use. Thanks 👍

[@jimfromoregonusa9899]

Very well done and informative....!

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Thank you!

[@ellenkroon8444]

Thank You!

[@bullseyesnbrewskis6601]

Hands down best all round kayak channel out there we appreciate you sharing your knowledge and opinions! Quick question if I may, regarding the FeelFree Moken 10 V2 any suggestions to make that storage hatch water tight? I don’t get much water in there but occasionally it happens ty!

[@mrmidnight32]

Can you talk about the difference in Quest and Lifetime kayaks? I have a Tamerack and Teton. But the Quest looks exactly the same by why the new name? Asking for a friend (literally) they want one like mine and saw the quest on sale but idk why it’s named differently. Can’t find anything online about it

[@HeadwatersKayak]

I’ve never heard of Quest. I’ll have to look them up.

[@ajpend]

I noticed the Quest name a week ago at Dick’s SG, on a kayak that I’m pretty sure used to have the Lifetime name. Looked like the Quest brand took over the Lifetime products.

[@LetsGoPaddling]

Awesome! I wish there were such events/opportunities around London. I need to learn this hanging draw - any chance for a technique 103 video from you, Dan? 😁

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Maybe one day! I need some ideas of what folks would want me to cover. Any suggestions?

[@LetsGoPaddling]

@@HeadwatersKayak, I was thinking of building up on the previous video. For instance, when you explained edging last time, you could now show and explain a few maneuvers that fully utilize edging... like bow rudder: how far away, how deep, how to setup for it etc. Definitely a hanging draw too... 😅

[@GTN355]

@@HeadwatersKayak Some stuff that I think might be interesting and I haven't seen anywhere else being discussed or explained : - Optimal position of thigh/knee braces. Since my Essence 17 is pretty close to your bargain Zephyr I am really curious how you use them as a fellow tall guy :) - Same thing for hip pads. I am still not sure if I should order a pair to add to my kayak... - Dry top + Dry pants : How high/low should the pants be so that the top is high/low enough together with the spraydeck for the cockpit coaming ? How to tuck away the double tunnel of the top in your pants and not make the mistake to just leave it over your pants thinking that tighting both down is enough to leave the water out! :P - Back band adjustment : How low/high it should be to avoid pains and issues ? All stuff I think I have figured out more or less, but I am curious what others think/how they use them :)

[@BigGuyIn_aLittleBoat]

This was excellent

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Thanks for watching. It was a fun day

[@zoeybullard3811]

Have you tested the lifetime manta angler yet? I’ve been seeing it at my local store and been debating on picking it up or not. There’s only one or two written reviews I’ve found.

[@HeadwatersKayak]

The problem with Lifetime is they rebrand so many models and create subtle changes every year that it’s hard to review all their kayaks.

[@zoeybullard3811]

@@HeadwatersKayak for real lol. I’ve had the Yukon for about 5 ish years now and I’m looking to get another one to add to the collection but was curious about the manta. I’m going to see if any rental companies near me have one before I commit to buying one!

[@firstnamelastname1748]

So, question about your paddle. I'm looking to buy my own kayak in the coming year, and I love the look of those Bending Branches wooden paddles. I've seen on their website that the Navigator is recommended for a low angle stroke, but I've noticed that you, like me, use a fairly high angle. You actually aren't the only KZbinr I've noticed using this "low angle" paddle with a high angle stroke. Am I misunderstanding something? Or is this a pretty versatile paddle well-suited to a variety of styles? On another note, I really appreciated the brief text you put up to provide context to your various conversations. It was clear that you guys were talking about the Sitka, but putting up the note to clarify that the boat compared to it was a Fathom, and then the way you added that guy's background as a whitewater paddler. Really goes to show the quality of your videos, and why you've become one of my favorite paddling KZbin channels!

[@HeadwatersKayak]

I appreciate the feedback. The Navigator is a pretty versatile paddle. Without a bunch of dihedral it lends itself to a variety of paddling styles.

[@colingilbert449]

Dan, what's the name of your neoprene hoody?

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Level Six Jericho Hoodie.

[@groovymoon]

Can I get a demo of an Eddyline in SE Michigan? I am torn between a Sitka XT or a Sandpiper 130.

[@iimasheriiol222]

Thanks man ❤

[@JakkeLehtonen-Jagster]

Damn those paddles are bautiful

[@yarning4asmile]

Hello, been watching your videos today and I have a question. I have a Swifty 9.5. I am a 5 foot tall women and its comfortable but would love a bit more comfort… I am looking at upgrading to a Joyride 10, but is there anything else around that price point that should be under consideration for me. I am not a fisher, not looking to go camping, just want a little float with the family.

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Something narrower would serve you so much better. No sense dragging around a wide kayak if you’re only 5’ tall. Maybe a Feelfree Aventura 110 or a Eddyline Rio if you could find it used.

[@llllllllllilillii]

It's ScaPOOSE not SCApoose.