Q&A: Paddling White Water Kayaks in the Sea. Thoughts & Clip from Mendocino - Kayak Hipster

While many elements that make a sea kayak sea worthy might not be present in white water kayaks, in the right hands they can be used to the paddler's advantage in specific situations the sea provides. This question also brought up my time filming Cate and Snowy ripping things up on the west coast, so I wanted to share that footage again for inspiration - they certainly get me thinking of getting back out there.
The surf clip is of a trip I had out to Mendocino, California. We visited Dagger Kayak team paddlers Jeff Laxier and Cate Hawthorne of Liquid Fusion Kayaking, and were joined by Snowy Robertson from Dagger Kayaks.
Liquid Fusion Kayaking - liquidfusionkayak.com/
Dagger Kayaks - www.dagger.com
Woman on Water - womanonwater.blogspot.com/
Cheers!
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[@NickSchade]

I got started paddling on the ocean with a old school whitewater kayak. I am a strong believer in experience in whitewater kayaks making you a better sea kayaker. If you can make a whitewater kayak go straight over long distances, you have to have a very dialed in forward stroke. A really responsive boat will get you tuned into what your kayak does in response to every aspect of your stroke. Also playing in rock gardens and surf, the performance of a whitewater kayak is what you truly want. Most sea kayaks are really bad at playing. Since they are made to go straight efficiently, most honestly kind of suck any time going straight is not your goal. In a sea kayak many people attempting to play are fighting against the natural tendencies of the boat, when they really want a kayak that responds better. Something along the lines of a responsive whitewater kayak is way more fun in rock gardens, surf and tide races.

[@KayakHipster]

Thank you Nick, this is a fantastic point. Will pin your comment.

[@williambrazil3760]

💯 agree with this, I like sea kayaks, not having the ability to turn and burn that white water boat, or a boat with a tail is scary to me in surf

[@sbaldwin21]

Been looking at something like the Jackson karma RG, almost 12 foot rock garden version of a white water racer, but with a skeg and a hatch. That type of boat looks perfect for rock hopping, but white water boats come a close second. Don’t like taking my valley etain composite rock hopping for the reasons outlined in someone else’s post here