Enjoying the Kayak surfing

Kayak Surfing

One outgrowth of white-water boating is the sport of kayak surfing, which can also be enjoyed with a canoe. Even 2- and 3-foot waves present a challenge, and where there is a higher surf the sport can be as exciting as surf-boarding.

One of the problems is to find a satisfactory beach. The best is a long, fairly shallow, sandy beach with a few offshore submerged reefs about 4 to 6 feet beneath the surface-a place where the swells make up steep and come in for a long distance before the wave breaks. On the West Coast such conditions are found at Santa Cruz, Rincon, Dana Point, San Onofre, all in California, and in other beach areas. On the East Coast there are a number of spots north of New York City, at the mouth of Long Island Sound, and at many southern beaches.

As for the craft, an experienced surfer can use almost any rigid or folding kayak or canoe if he is selective about the time and place he chooses. The most satisfactory canoe to use is a 15- or 17-foot aluminum model. Aluminum is stronger than wood or canvas and resists wear by sand. The longer model seems to perform the best. Next in order of choice would be molded plywood-then a fiberglass plastic -and finally wood and canvas. It is essential for safety to have built-in flotation in the ends. Paddles should be strong oak, ash or maple, and perhaps a bit shorter than those normally used, since they will be subject to great strain-and two extra paddles should always be carried.

For warmth, a skin diving “wet” suit will keep the body warm even on a cool, rainy day. It also acts as a life jacket and protects against abrasion-a few spills are part of the sport.

In surfing, kayaks sometimes have a tendency to slide to the bottom of the wave, burying the nose and sometimes the whole front end of the boat under the water. “Pearling,” as this is called, can sink the kayak rapidly. An easily constructed bow piece will eliminate this hazard. What the bow piece does is to provide a planing surface that comes into play the moment the bow starts to go under water. For foldboats it can be made of plywood and tied on with parachute cloth. On rigid kayaks it is fairly easy to make a molded fiberglass nose cone over the front end of the boat, and then attach the planing surface. A three-sixteenth-inch bolt secures it.

A spray sheet or skirt is almost a must to prevent the cockpit or hull from filling with water. On a canoe, a bailing bucket and big sponge are on the must list.

Tags: water sports

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