Guides
Which boat fits the water you have and the car you drive, what the rules require, the paddle and life jacket that go with it, and what to do on the first day out.
Kayaks
Sit-on-top vs sit-inside: which first kayak, and why
The real differences between a sit-on-top and a sit-inside kayak: stability, getting wet, re-entry after a capsize, speed, storage, cold weather, and which to buy for the water you have.
Which kayak do I need? Sit-on-top, sit-inside, inflatable and tandem, by where you'll paddle
The three questions that choose a first kayak, the four kinds of boat and what each is for, what the numbers on the sticker mean, the capacity rule of thumb, and one boat for each of six situations.
Paddles and life jackets
Kayak paddle size: the chart, blade shape, and why the included paddle gets replaced
How to size a kayak paddle from your height and the boat's width, with the makers' chart, what low-angle and high-angle blades are, what feather means, and when a 31-ounce carbon paddle is worth it.
Life jackets and cold water: the rules, the numbers, and the vest you'll actually wear
What federal law requires (one wearable life jacket per person, worn by children under 13), what the Coast Guard's 2024 statistics say about kayak deaths and life jacket use, why water temperature matters more than air, and how to choose a paddling vest.
Getting to the water
Getting the kayak on the car: alone, with foam blocks or a cradle, and strapped for the highway
How to lift a kayak onto a roof by yourself, carrying with foam blocks and no rack, J-cradles on crossbars, cam straps vs ratchets, why bow and stern lines matter, and the overhang rule.
Your first launch: the swim test, getting in, the first strokes, and getting back on
What to do the first day with a new kayak: test the life jacket, pick the water, get in without swimming, the forward stroke and the sweep, re-entry practice, and the small gear that goes in the boat.