Paddling a kayak in a straight line - Beginner Kayaking Tips - Kayak Hipster

I'm often asked by new paddlers on ways to keep a kayak in a straight line. Here's a couple of tips of things I see and try to help with when paddlers are starting out.
************
#kayak #seakayak #kayaktips
Join this channel to get access to Office Hours, Archives and more:
/ @kayakhipster
My photography book
kayakhipster.com/book/
For gear I like to recommend for kayaking, camping and photo/video, I put it all together on an Amazon shop page:
www.amazon.com/shop/kayakhipster
Let's be social:
Site - www.kayakhipster.com
IG - / kayakhipster
FB - / thekayakhipster

[@boatman222345]

Good advice on developing good paddle technique. The one thing I might add is that while kayak bottom shapes and kayak length do have some effect upon tracking that effect is often way overstated! Nine times out of ten a skilled paddler can easily compensate. Years ago after giving a talk on sea kayaking at a Sea Kayaking Symposium I was invited to go for a paddle by a group of NYC paddlers. I told them that I would love to but that I hadn't brought a kayak as I planned on being too busy with my talk. They assured me that they had an extra kayak that I could borrow so I joined them. The "extra" kayak turned out to be an 11' slalom white water boat with a rockered bottom. Anyway they all hopped into their long Greenland style sea kayaks and I hopped into the white water kayak and off we went. As we moved out into the bay I could tell by the grin on their faces that these paddlers pretty much thought things were going to end badly for me due to the boat I was in. Six miles later the grins had pretty much faded as they struggled to keep up with me. When we got to within about a half mile of our destination I decided to put a sharper tip on the point I hoped to make so I spun the slalom boat 180 degrees and paddled the last half mile backwards. As I sat on the beach waiting for the rest to catch up I couldn't help but notice their grins had totally vanished. Now my point here is not to brag about my paddling skills per se but rather to illustrate just how important a role paddle technique plays in keeping a boat going straight. Several decades ago I got a captain's license, closed my kayaking guide service and switched to running charter boat trips. I still occasionally go for a paddle in my 9' polypro Old Town Otter. At age 74 fifty mile days are behind me but my little 9' kayak still goes straight as an arrow!

[@phil.cowling]

Mate, no one is doing quality kayak videos along these lines. I'm a new coach, and these really help me.

[@cathyanthony7419]

Thanks. I hope this helps me. I just started kayaking last fall. I can’t wait to get out again this year.

[@barrieparker200]

I needed this video, my 17ft canoe tracks straight as an arrow, however my kayak will track well and then spin off like a drift car on ice, whilst it’s fun and makes me laugh at my lack of skills after 4 hours on the water it became so frustrating!!! Tomorrow is another day and I will try again!

[@tanqinxiang]

You are casually explaining these high quality content while driving? Wow!

[@aerozg]

I just went and bought a brand new German made Prijon Grizzly heavy sea kayak. Paddled it for the first time this morning. I have never sat in a kayak before. Thank God i went early, around 6AM because the few people fishing and walking dogs couldn't really see me going in circles, not being able to keep a straight line for the life of me. This kayak doesn't come with a skeg or a rudder, but the manufacturer offers one, which i think i will be getting pretty soon. It also took me 30 minutes to get out, trying to not fall out of it. In the end i had to step out into the shallow water with my right foot, or else i'd still be stuck out there on the lake :D I am also a bit heavy, weighing in about 105kg (231 lbs) so i think some trimming is in order, at least try and push the adjustable seat forward, because now it is fully aft. Also, the kayak is somewhat tippy, i almost capsized a few times, but when u relax and stop fighting it, it all kinda works out. So i guess it's practice, practice, practice. Thanks for the video, greetings from Croatia!

[@MrJoshanthony734313]

This is definitely worth watching at normal playback speed, several times. Also, he helped me look waaaay cooler than I really am out on the river w/ my new girlfriend yesterday. Thanks, man!

[@a.joegevara3519]

After paddling canoes for years, I just bought my 1st kayak for an overnight trip. I have a lot to learn, new PFD on the way & shopping for a proper paddle, I'm super intrigued by the Greenland style?!?

[@Hawklordz]

This is great, thanks for posting these, just getting into Kayaking and these are very interesting and helpful

[@mailitedd185]

This is a great video. You explain things very well. I would like to see all of your videos!

[@CanoeingTheEdgeOfTheWorld]

Good advice and observations. Great video.

[@Lilacleaf49065]

Thank-you! This was super helpful

[@kayasper6081]

Well explained, love your channel!

[@dugongsdoitbetter]

Much thanks. Some great things to consider when I'm out there. The dominant arm thing is a big one I'll be watching for.

[@bmknzi569]

I'm new to kayaking and I find your video very helpful, thank you.

[@iampongo]

Thank you from a born again paddler! I've been done in my 14 foot composite touring barge but today I bought the boat I wanted 25 years ago - a perception pirouette 😁 Took it out for my usual 5 mile bimble today and didn't even leave the marina.. I spent an hour spinning out like a sports car, which was most distressing. Having watched this I'm not selling it after all. I'll watch whatever you've got - good job.

[@SuperAn0nymus]

Great tips thanks!

[@peteroakes9007]

Thank you for this, I'm needing to improve.

[@ComaPictures]

Good advices. Thank you.

[@mgadkins1659]

Very helpful

[@JonasAlexanderson]

Hi Luke! Nice to see one of your movies, I miss them. One thing I’ve seen a few times is that they have packed the kayak wrong. Too much weight forward so that the kayak got a forward trim, almost impossible to paddle straight. I check this for completely new kayakers but forgot to check with more experienced ones a few times. A more experienced kayaker will usually not say anything as they are embarrassed that the kayak will not track and they don’t understand why.

[@dismaldog]

Great Advice once again mate

[@Wild_Sugar_Love]

Thank you!!!

[@mr.wigglemunch3856]

I just was watching my first time kayaking on video, so funny, when i wanted to go right i would stroke with my right hand going left 🤣🤣🤣 3:28 True 🤣

[@scotttoner9231]

This is great - new to channel and now a subscriber. You did close with “going straight with a wind”: Please discuss the effect of for/aft CG in the longer boats. Can be frustrating, exhausting, and dangerous on a long crossing.

[@urbantreesteve2805]

Excellent

[@AaronBrand]

As someone who has been paddling for years, this continues to occupy my time while I’m on the water. Of course, wind and currents will affect how well the boat moves where I want it to go.

[@hihello1328]

I spent my whole kayaking trip turning around

[@mailitedd185]

Funny!!

[@rickquist3992]

Better than spending it swimming!

[@BrillPappin]

That's because it was too easy for you, you needed to paddle twice the distance!

[@alowatsakima8950]

When you paddle with your arms you are pushing the boat forward with your add, from the middle of the kayak. Keeping your arms relative straight and rotating your body puts the most power to the blade. When you push on your foot when pulling the paddle back, puts all the energy into the paddle blade. When you push on your feet, you are pushing the kayak forward from your feet, which helps keep the kayak going into the direction you want to go. Start slow, with the proper technique your strokes will keep you going in a straight line.

[@theandybchannel.1819]

Great video, learnt a lot from it. I realise I have a lot more to learn. 😂

[@carllewis2434]

00:24, 00:43, and more......it is GREAT to see "Pelicans" (noobs) actually being used in a video! FANTASTIC video that will help grow our sport in a positive manner!

[@truenorth365]

You never mentioned any alcohol in the video? 😂 Very handy tips there Luke, good video. Thumbs up from Sweden

[@johnpuckett899]

Hey man don't know when you made this video if you see this please respond I just got a new kayak yesterday and I was having trouble keeping it going straight now with that being said it's a big heavy fishing kayak not a sea kayak kayak like you use I had trouble with it wanting to go right and I am right handed so what you said makes a lot of sense I've been watching videos for about the last 45 minutes trying to learn what I did not know keep up the good work man and thanks I believe you've helped me out a lot

[@hihello1328]

John Puckett A fishing kayak is very sensitive to your strokes!!! You need to be a master to be able to control it smoothly!

[@johnpuckett899]

Okay any suggestions on how to help me panel better I see you said I need to be a master I know part of its going and don't one any tips that can help me along the way

[@joepassananti483]

Thx

[@markthomas2166]

I guess your car doesn't have heat? ;-) Great tips. My kayak is always weathercocking. I'm surprised you didn't mention if a rudder would help with keeping a kayak in a straight line?

[@mikeratkowski3506]

Mark Thomas one should learn good paddling techniques before you learn what the rudder does or doesn’t do. A rudder will slow you down if you can’t paddle efficiently

[@yt.damian]

@@mikeratkowski3506 and not enjoying yourself is more likely to make you quit. If a rudder helps people get where they are going its not slowing them down.

[@teop7887]

Also: if it doesn't have one, buy a skeg/fin, even a detachable one, it will also help track better. 😎👍

[@DeeJayTeeR500]

Great Video, Thanks. Can you tell me what paddle that is 4:28mins, look like NImbus? Thanks in advance.

[@fadecomic]

Every time I see video of someone saying use your core, it still looks like >70% of the motion (just to make up a number) is still coming from the arms, and the core seems to barely move at all. This video, too. There’s a ton of arm motion and like 10 degrees of torso twist on the “use your core” shot. I feel like I’m misunderstanding something, because “most of the motion comes from your core, seems to me to mean most of the pull backwards on the paddle should come from twisting. But even if I’m wrong (which I very probably am), no one ever explains it any further than “use your core”. That’s a vague statement, and I can’t be the only confused paddler.

[@tracydollman1429]

Thanks, was wondering why I don’t go straight 🥴

[@MsSuprio]

If there is slight dent on the hull, wont that also cause the kayak, a sea kayak, go little sideways, assuming strokes are fine? Thanks much!

[@adriangeary9628]

I used a action cam mounted on the bow pointed back at my wife to see why she could not paddle straight but she had good form. It turned out she was holding the paddle off center.

[@Electricshadows]

What kind of paddle?

[@IIICNSC]

I have a question / problem: when I stop paddling my kayak tends to sudently change direction (usually stoping only when is it has rotated 180 degrees). I capsized several times as a result... now I allow it to turn and only after I restart controling the direction (and I do not capsize). What could be causing that. It happens even in calm waters and with no wind (this is at see, in Angola, Africa)

[@garyramsdale9340]

Tight fit first, 2) tilt kayak ( lift right side to turn slightly right if kayak going off to left) to keep going straight. I constantly adjust tilt of kayak to go straight so I am not pulling or doing a bit of a sweep on one side to keep kayak going straight

[@arthurschamne]

Some of us cannot use our core for paddling, we have to use our arms. I fractured 8 vertebrae a few years ago, so I cannot consistently move my core to paddle with it.

[@yt.damian]

If not comfortable edging I find moving my hands along the paddle so there is more length on the side that my kayak wants to go helps - of course then you are working your arms/shoulders unevenly but you are still going straight.

[@3nertia]

What are you doing @ 3:52? Is there a reason for this or are you just showing off? :D

[@thomasw7952]

I've been kayaking since 1998 and learned nothing new here. Sorry. Dude, do you have heat in your vehicle?

[@mikeratkowski3506]

Thomas W we are waiting for your informative videos.

[@thomasw7952]

@@mikeratkowski3506 I learned how to kayak the best way - trial & error...before KZbin.

[@nataliaromanova9556]

Then you are clearly not a beginning which, if you could read, is what this vid is intended for. Why you feel the need to come in here and act like an ass doesn't even matter. The fact that you did it says far more about you than it does about the vid.

[@sarahpotts2593]

Did you read the video title?

[@topcat999999999]

Gobshite.