Carrying your kayak to the water is an essential preliminary step every time you go kayaking. That’s why it is best to learn safe and effective techniques to do that without hurting your back. While today’s kayaks are lighter than the older models, they are still relatively heavier to carry on your shoulder.
How to Carry a Kayak
If you don’t want to miss out on a fun day out due to unexpected back injury encounters, it is best to follow the given step-by-step guide to practice a safe kayak-carrying routine:
1 – First of all, determine whether you prefer using your right hand or left hand when carrying heavy stuff.
2 – If you’re right-handed, stand by the left side of your kayak while facing the bow. On the contrary, if you’re left-handed, you must stand on your kayak’s right as you face its bow.
3 – Now, roll the kayak gently on the edge while its cockpit faces away from you.
4 – Bend your knees and grasp the cockpit rim with both hands. If you’re right-handed, it’s recommended to keep your right hand on the cockpit’s far side. Otherwise, use your left hand to grab onto the cockpit’s far side.
5 – Lift your kayak onto your thighs while making sure your knees are still bent.
6 – Once the kayak is comfortably resting on your thighs and knees, roll the vessel onto your shoulder as you turn your body towards the bow. You’ll find the perfect balance point right behind your thigh brace.
7 – Now, stand up without making any jerky movements.
8 – Rotate the kayak on your shoulder, letting the cockpit rim settle where it doesn’t cause you any discomfort.
9 – If you’re going a long way, we suggest switching the kayak onto the other shoulder time and again to strike a comfortable balance.
How to Carry a Large Kayak
If you’re to carry a kayak that’s relatively longer and heavier, it’s best to ask a fellow kayaker to help you out. Here’s how you can do that:
Step 1 – Stand on each side of the kayak (bow and stern).
Step 2 – One kayaker will have to grab the bow’s side carrying handle, while the other will grasp the handle on the stern’s side of the kayak. It’s essential to bend your knees while you hold on to the grab loops. Moreover, both kayakers should be facing the direction they are heading towards.
Step 3 – Now, stand up slowly while holding onto the grab loops and start making your way towards your destination.
We hope this step-by-step guide will help make your kayak-carrying trips easier. Nevertheless, installing a PWC port on your waterfront property is the best way to minimize any problems related to carrying your kayak to the water. If you’re looking for the best dock designs and services in Texas, EZ Dock Texas has got you covered! To survey your options and gather more information, please visit our website or call us at (800) 654-8168.
