The Right Paddling Accessories

By Connie Perry & Judy Nevil
Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company

There's more to paddling than the boat!

To compliment your boat, paddling accessories are essential!  Little more than your boat is required to get you on the water, but getting the right accessories will make the most of your experience.

Car Topping and Transportation

Safety is the most important aspect in transporting! There’s lots of ways to get your boat where you want it to be. Email racks@mountainmanoutdoors.com for a recommendation from our expert staff!

Foam Blocks

The least expensive option, they are also the least efficient in terms of time required and ease of loading/unloading – particularly if you are solo with no assistance. Blocks can also limit your ability to carry multiple boats or other equipment, and can affect the integrity of a kayak hull with repeated transport. 

Car Rack Systems

Yakima, Thule and others manufacturer base rack systems and watersport accessories that make loading and unloading faster and easier and are designed to protect your vehicle and boat (and your back!). Base racks are customized to your vehicle and accessories are customized to canoes, and whitewater, recreational and touring kayaks to create the best method to work for paddler and boat.  They cost significantly more than blocks, but offer benefits that are greatly appreciated and once you’ve used them, you won’t go back to foam!

Trailers

The most expensive but easiest loading/unloading option, we offer trailers to transport from one to eight boats.

Paddles

Your boat carries you, but your paddle powers the craft stroke after stroke, hour after hour, mile after mile through a variety of conditions. For that reason, we recommend not skimping on your paddle purchase. Spend as much as you can afford – it’s worth every penny to reduce the weight and increase the efficiency of each stroke! Purchasing a lighter paddle is the easiest way to minimize effort while maximizing enjoyment.  Kayak paddle materials can range from wood to aluminum, fiberglass and graphite.  Canoe paddles are mostly offered in wood, but may also be found in aluminum as well as in ultra-light graphite. Bent shafts are available in both kayak and canoe paddles which provide the utmost in efficiency while minimizing stress on joints. 

PFD’s

Personal Floatation Devices are required by law and need to be worn to be effective. The latest PFD’s are more comfortable with features to fit today’s boat and paddlers. They are shorter, more form fitting and breathable, and less bulky and restrictive.   They range from multi-featured rescue vests used for whitewater rescues to the basic survival vest for the occasional paddler. We carry a variety of manufacturers and models with several adjustments to allow a snug but comfortable fit for every body type. It’s a good idea to try on a few to find the best fit for you. 

Safety Equipment

We always stress the important of safety when paddling! Touring kayakers should carry (and know how to use!) a paddle float, tow rope and bilge pump at all times. Whitewater folks know better than to approach the rivers edge without a good knife, helmet, throw rope or floatation bags.  In the event of an emergency, a rescue whistle, signal horn, and a paddle leash can be vital to canoeists and recreational, touring and whitewater kayakers.  Headlamps and emergency strobe lights keep you prepared for the unexpected circumstance!

Portaging

Transporting your boat between the car and the water, or between bodies of water can present a major challenge. A set of wheels on a frame can make all the difference! Portaging carts can be either attached to the stern of a boat so that the canoe or kayak can be pulled from the bow, or strapped to the center of the boat, which reduces effort and increases carrying capacity. Most carts are collapsible for ease of storage when not in use. Yokes and yoke pads for canoes take the pain out of portaging without the use of a cart.

Kayak Accessories

There’s no limit to outfitting your kayak!  Here’s the low-down on some popular accessories paddlers just gotta have. Sprayskirts  They are essential for edging, bracing, and rolling.  They help retain heat in colder weather and protect your cockpit from rainwater.  Made of nylon, sympatex, neoprene, or a combination of those materials, there are models specifically for recreational, touring or whitewater kayaking. Cockpit Covers keep dirt, rain and undesirable critters from getting into your cockpit during transport or storage. Deck Bags attach to your deck rigging for easy access to smaller, more frequently used items.  Fishing accessories are available to turn your kayak into a fish-catching machine! prevent water from entering the cockpit during paddling, and are a necessity for open water, whitewater, and cold water paddling.
 

Dry Bags and Storage

Dry Bags seal your food and gear from water. Take your pick of various sizes, compression models, see through styles, and ultra-light bags. Map Cases are not something you want to remember to buy after your map is soaked from rain or spray! Cell phones don’t like water! Grab a waterproof case that is specifically intended to protect your expensive gear like cameras, radios, phones and GPS’s. Canoeists will find bow, thwart and seat pack bags a necessity keep gear dry and within reach.

Footwear

Foot protection is the key feature of paddling footwear. Water sandals provide breathability and protect the soles of your feet. Paddle shoes are a favorite for kayakers with less roomy, low volume cockpits, and neoprene boots offer protection from cold water and injury.

Paddlewear

Paddlegloves are used to prevent soreness and/or blistering from paddling as well as protect hands from exposure to cold water.  Wetsuits are made of neoprene and insulate the body from cold water even when wet.  These are used extensively by whitewater paddlers, but are also popular with open water touring paddlers for cold water conditions.  They can be used with base layers and additional outer layers for increased protection and come in different styles to cover your entire body, or just your core. Drysuits are waterproof suits with gaskets at the neck, arm, and leg openings that are intended to keep the wearer completely dry even when submersed.  Spraywear tops and pants are highly water resistant with closures but no gaskets at neck, arms, or legs.  They are used by recreational and touring paddlers to protect from spray or chop. 

Care & Maintenance

Most boats require little maintenance and just need a little TLC! Proper storage is important to protect structural integrity and longevity.  There are several options for storing both canoes and kayaks that maximize storage space and keep them out of the way. 303 Protectant is an easy to use UV protectant that is recommended to prevent damage due to sun exposure.  Boat covers are made for canoes and kayaks of different lengths and wrap around the entire boat for protection when transporting or storing.