Getting in and out of Kayaks????

[retiredhappy]

Okay for you ladies who have kayaks, I'm wondering about getting in and out thereof. My balance isn't so great these days so how do you get in (or out) without holding onto something and WITHOUT tipping into the water?????? If I got one it would have to be one of the small blow up ones because of storage space in my RT.

[BirdbyBird]

Come to Kansas and try them! One of the main reasons that I have my inflatables is that I can get into and out of them without feeling like I am about to end up in the water. They are very stable and I have never felt in danger of tipping even when running the rapids in the rivers here. The reason I bought the second Sea Eagle after purchasing the very nice Advance Element (it might cut through the water a little smoother) was because not only could I get out of the Sea Eagles easier, the dogs could ride in the Sea Eagles easier.... The open area allows me to move my legs around and reposition my bottom side on longer paddles which helps with hips and knees and reduces stiffness from having to sit in a more contained position for an extended time. Younger folks might not appreciate that as much as I do. There is plenty of room to put in a sack of snacks/water, camera, reading material....whatever you want. And I can invite a second person to paddle with me. That is especially useful if someone hasn't been out before and may be a little leery of the whole plan.

Getting in is usually not the big adventure and challenge that getting out is. Gravity helps you down but gravity is not your friend on trying to get your legs under you enough to have the strength in your knees and the balance to get yourself back out. At some point you decide how much you enjoy paddling along along the lakes and the quiet rivers. If it is important enough you can always go with the Nan method of exiting the kayak....(hers is a the nice Advance Element) She just paddles out a couple feet from the nice sandy shore line and tips herself over to the side so that she can slide out and stand up in about two feet of water. Her legs and seat get wet but her knees take to the method well and her legs deliver her safely through the shallow water to the shore. There are some things in life that are just worth living on the edge for. And neither of us were going to give up paddling around that lake in Alaska for anything......

[bluepinecones]

Karen, I have no doubt that you can master it with a little guidance from Tina.
Nan's exit method works quite well for her. She has even gotten very graceful at it.
Mitch had a not so graceful entrance on her first try at one of Tina's kayaks- she actually fell into the kayak - wish I could remember where that photo is - basically she is on her back with both legs straight up in the air. I don't think she even got wet. She did later buy her own kayak.

[MelissaD]

Nan method of exiting the kayak....(hers is a the nice Advance Element) She just paddles out a couple feet from the nice sandy shore line and tips herself over to the side so that she can slide out and stand up in about two feet of water. Her legs and seat get wet but her knees take to the method well and her legs deliver her safely through the shallow water to the shore.

I think I'd be using the "Nan method". I have neither the knees or the grace But I float well