Kevin H. Latham When it comes to launching your kayak, there are some important decisions you have to make. The first thing you have to decide is whether you want to launch the kayak from the ground or not, or over the water. You can even launch your kayak from the pier, although that’s usually a little more difficult than launching a boat from shore, or on dry land.
Can You Launch a Kayak From a Boat Ramp?
The two main methods of launching your kayak from the ground consist of the regular launch, and the “wet foothold.” A wet step means you load your kayak into the water so that the bottom won’t scrub any sand or rocks that may be on the beach. You should definitely use this method to launch your kayak if you are going to launch from a rocky shore, or any other situation where there may be objects that could harm your kayak in the sand.
After all, while most kayaks are generally designed to be fairly sturdy, it’s always possible that they might break. This is especially so if they are loaded ashore, and then dragged over the rock. When launching a kayak from the water, you have to make sure that you can fit everything in the kayak you want to use.
You should probably load lighter objects onto your kayak while you’re still on land, too, as they won’t cause any extra damage to your kayak, and it will make getting in a lot easier once you’re in the water. If you decide to try launching your kayak this way, make sure you practice a little first. That way you’ll be able to get into your kayak quickly and easily, and you won’t fall over.
Getting In and Out of Your Kayak
If you think that this method sounds too complicated, some people find it easier to get into their kayak on dry ground. However, you should only use dry land slides if you are on a sandy beach where there is no major obstacle between yourself and the water. Then, pull your kayak out so that the bow really floats. This is so you don’t have to drag your kayak over too much sand before you get into the water.
Keep in mind that launching your kayak can be much more dangerous and difficult if you launch in an area where there is a lot of surfing. While it is always possible to launch a kayak in high surf, you may be better off avoiding this. Hence, you should try to find sheltered beaches to launch your kayak on.
