Most people find launching a kayak to be a little daunting, and for good reason. When on the move, a kayak is a graceful and sleek water vessel. The grace part, however, is relatively harder to achieve while getting into the boat. Normally, there are two ways of launching a kayak:
- Shoreline Launch: You straddle the boat and sit in it after it slips into the water.
- Dock Launch: You maintain your balance and slide your butt and feet into the boat.
Both seem such a hassle because you have to make sure that the kayak doesn’t tip. Even experienced kayakers face trouble launching their kayak.
What if we told you that there was an easy way to slip your kayak in the water? In fact, the entry would be so smooth that your landing would surprise you.
Let’s discuss the perfect kayak launch!
Understanding a Kayak Launch
A kayak launch is an attachment, which can be added to your dock for a kayak. This plastic construction features an open pocket, which not just holds your kayak above the water surface but also allows you to push your kayak onto it easily.
The construction is quite simple: The kayak launch is a type of floating dock made of two plastic railings. The railings have indentations in them where the paddles rest. The kayak is pushed in between the railing, which allows you to easily enter it as if you are sitting in a car. Once you are setting in, you can grab the paddles and push your kayak onto the water by rowing.
The best thing about a kayak launch is that you can easily get it added to your dock. In fact, the construction is removable, so if you store your kayak in the garage, you don’t need to leave the launch floating in the water.
In case you are looking for the standard way to launch a kayak, here’s the process step-by-step:
- Carry a kayak and place it in shallow water
- The kayak should be vertical to the shoreline (If you are kayak is long and you are launching it in a river, placing it parallel to the shoreline might work better)
- Put one of the paddles under the line of the deck. It’s alright if the shaft is sticking out sideways
- Stand over your kayak and straddle the cockpit
- Place your butt into the kayak by grabbing the cockpit
- Lift your legs next and place them into the cockpit
- Scoot back a little and settle in comfortably
- Grab the paddles and start moving them back and forth
It’s important for beginners to learn this launching technique because not all marinas have a modern kayak launch. If you want one for your lake, visit the EZ Dock website. They offer one of the best kayak launches in the US. They also have other products such as boat docks, covered floating docks, industrial floating docks, etc. For more information, call on (800) 654-8168.
