Kayaking from boat.

[Q22]

Does anybody ever kayak off of there boat.Up here in Northern Ca.there is not much water in our local lakes.The result is our small lake is even smaller.Me and my wife have a 10 year old boy.I can see us wanting to drop anchor more in smaller water. If I could let him paddle around the boat and work off some steam it would help my peaceful state of mind.What works for others as far as launching from the Catalina.

When I got my boat it had a safety net for a small child or dog around the life line.If anybody wants something like you can have it for shipping.

 

[centerline]

im not in northern cal, but they do it all the time here... and everywhere else ive been.

many boaters in the puget sound and san juan regions carry kayaks rather than a dinghy...its not for everyone, but it works well for some.

 

[CaptDon01]

We have an inflatable dinghy that we use when we go to Catalina Island, but a couple in our group have an inflatable tandem kayak that they use off their Montgomery-15. I would think if they routinely make the transition from a M-15 to a tandem kayak, it should not be any problem for a 10 year old.

Don

 

[Milton.Audas]

We too use an inflatable dinghy. We have the Sevylor 4-person which adequately holds 2 adults and a child (4 may be tight but still floatable). We do not beach our boat ever, usually raising the swing keel to get into water 3-4' deep. But in slightly deeper anchorages we use the inflatable to get ashore with picnic stuff, etc. and also let the kids play and explore.

We typically inflate at the start of the season and tow behind the boat, under motor or sail. We just tie it up on our slip or lash it to the cockpit back at the marina when we're not sailing. Very little drag under either mode, even when the kids (10yrs and 8yrs) are being towed while under motor. They think it's a great lark - just like the fancy jobs towed by those Fast 'n Loud wave making gas guzzlers that interupt our peaceful days. Just slower.

I think your son would love this. Check out your local boat store or one of the on-line retailers (like the one with a name like a big river in Brasil where we got ours, 2 day free shipping too and only around $100).

 

[Q22]

I have a couple kayaks little ones that work great for him.I'm thinking me stabilizing the kayak while he hangs on the ladder to get in maybe.It would be hard for me but I barely fit in the things just trying to think of the easiest way to get him going from the boat.

 

[justsomeguy]

He's 10 years old and likely will become quite adroit, once he figures out the mechanics of stepping into the kayak.

It'll be fun watching his first efforts!

 

[Milton.Audas]

Agree with JSG. Easy to get in via the stern rail and ladder, or get the kayak alongside and over he goes, hanging on to rail and gun'als. Otherwise, suggest finding a shallow lee shore anchorage, and motor in toward shore judging the depth on approach until you have 4-5', then run parallel to shore and then slowly out away from shore. Stop and drop anchor, reverse slowly and then let the boat swing with the wind, pointing the stern to the shore. You should almost be able to step off the stern ladder and wade to shore. From there your lad can kayak to his heart's content.

 

[Gene Neill]

My wife bought one of these, the Sea Eagle 330, but it hasn't been inflated yet. Too dang cold if you fall in the drink right now! She read a bunch of favorable reviews on it though. It'll go on it's maiden voyage next month when we go sail out of Carabelle, around Dog Island and St. George Island.

http://www.seaeagle.com/SportKayaks.aspx

 

[dgreen1991]

Here's how I beach mine

We too use an inflatable dinghy. We have the Sevylor 4-person which adequately holds 2 adults and a child (4 may be tight but still floatable). We do not beach our boat ever, usually raising the swing keel to get into water 3-4' deep. But in slightly deeper anchorages we use the inflatable to get ashore with picnic stuff, etc. and also let the kids play and explore.

We typically inflate at the start of the season and tow behind the boat, under motor or sail. We just tie it up on our slip or lash it to the cockpit back at the marina when we're not sailing. Very little drag under either mode, even when the kids (10yrs and 8yrs) are being towed while under motor. They think it's a great lark - just like the fancy jobs towed by those Fast 'n Loud wave making gas guzzlers that interupt our peaceful days. Just slower.

I think your son would love this. Check out your local boat store or one of the on-line retailers (like the one with a name like a big river in Brasil where we got ours, 2 day free shipping too and only around $100).

It never touches bottom. Knee deep at swim ladder.

 

[dgreen1991]

I've used kayaks

It never touches bottom. Knee deep at swim ladder.

I've used the sit in and the sit on. Both were tandems. I liked the sit on top the best. Both were lost at sea. Both when I was offshore. Both for using poly line that unties when your not looking. One came loose in pitch dark it was hunter green. So I decided on white. The second one was lost between the Marquesas and Key West in heavy seas with nothing but whitecaps. Could not see it. Now I have an 11 foot inflatable that I used once. I can give advice on this. Use a line to hold your swim ladder out and use it to keep the front of the tow boat near the end of the ladder. Pic a bright color NOT WHITE or dark. The sit on top is virtually unsinkable and no bailing out. I hated losing it. I ordered it from California. Held two divers and scuba gear. Had 6 fishing rod holders and a large hatch for storage. Here it was:

 

[PaulK]

The problem with kayaks is stowage and boarding. They are LONG, and take up a lot of space on deck. Going from cruiser to kayak (or vice-versa) can also be ... tricky, even in a calm anchorage. We've paddled out to our our boat and have had second thoughts. Friends paddling by seem to like holding on and chatting more than actually coming aboard. I got an inflatable Hobie kayak (haven't tried it out yet) which seems heavy and more than fills the wheelbarrow in my garage. It will take a good bit of space deflated, and when inflated it will likely fill an entire side deck. A dinghy (sailing?) might be easier to stow on deck and to get in and out of. It could also be used to provide better launch service than a kayak, and be easier to tow. Kayaks can be had fairly cheaply, however, and a 10-year old may not be so worried about getting wet. You may not need to go forward along the side deck. There are a lot of variables in the mix. You will come up with a combination that works for you.

 

[Q22]

I was thinking the open top would work better myself.I don't have one but can borrow one to give it a try.It's sliding down inside that's the most difficult.I'm curious about dixiedawgs approach too.The inflatable might be more stable.Paddling quite a ways in a kayak is no big deal but a little boat is tougher.I would like to know if dixidawgs kayak can be stowed any where on the boat with a air pump maybe.The way Paul k talks this probable wont work cause it's still to big.There were great deals on kayaks at Costco last time I was there.