Kayak's climb

Boat enthusiasts finding man-powered raft a convenient alternative.

Published online on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008

Eric Kaai was a typical fisherman. Proud owner of a 14-foot Boston Whaler, equipped with a 40-horse motor.

Sure, Kaai got some enjoyment out of that boat. But over the years, he began questioning whether it equaled the costs and hassles of maintenance, storage and towing.

Then one day, Kaai took his family to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. While his children petted starfish, he walked over to observe a fishing boat anchored off the kelp forest. It couldn't go any closer without snagging the prop.

As Kaai watched, two kayakers arrived on the scene and proceeded to paddle right over the kelp forest. At that moment, the Fresno man experienced what we in the writing business call an epiphany.

"I had seen kayaks but never took them seriously until that day," Kaai said. "Seeing that, it all came together."

Within a week, Kaai bought his first kayak and sold the Whaler. Without realizing it, he joined a growing of legion of kayakers who paddle their small, maneuverable boats not for thrills but for pure enjoyment.

Mention the word "kayak" and the image many conjure is that of a daredevil battling fierce whitewater on a raging river. Others picture wooden-framed boats enclosed with stretched seal skins like those built by Native Americans living above the Arctic Circle.

While these images remain valid, they have little in common with sport's largest and fastest-growing segment: recreational kayaking.

"Most people still equate kayaking with whitewater, but it's not the biggest segment of the sport," said longtime enthusiast Bob Raus, an employee at Herb Bauer Sporting Goods in Fresno. "Recreational kayaking is the fastest-growing branch of kayaking, no question about it."

Recreational kayakers aren't adrenaline junkies, and they don't need to know how to perform an Eskimo roll. They tend to be more interested in fishing, photography or a peaceful paddle on a lake or flatwater river.

Such opportunities are numerous in the central San Joaquin Valley. Combined with high gas prices and low lake levels throughout the region, there may never be a better time to give paddling a try.

Hensley Lake, in the Madera County foothills, last week closed its waters to motorized boats because the boat ramp is high and dry. But kayakers, who typically carry their boats to the water, can enjoy themselves without their thoughts getting drowned out by engine noise.

"If I go to a public boat ramp, I don't have to pay because I don't use it," said Kaai, an avid kayak fisherman. "I don't have to register my boat [in California] because it's human powered. And I can launch practically anywhere I want."

Anyone looking to purchase a kayak must first choose from two basic designs: sit-insides and sit-on-tops.

Sit-inside kayaks have a cockpit that offers some protection from wind and water and are typically more efficient to paddle. Sit-on-tops have an open deck with molded depressions for a seat and footrest and offer more versatility and comfort.

Sit-on-top kayaks also have a built-in safety advantage, which makes them especially appealing to novice paddlers. Because of the open-deck design, there is no risk of being trapped inside the boat if it capsizes. And if you fall out, it's also much easier to climb back in.

Three or four years ago, Raus said sit-on-tops accounted for about 20% to 25% of his kayak sales. These days, it's closer to 75%.

"It's a safety thing," Raus said. "People want a boat they can get back into if it tips."

Compared to some forms of recreation, kayaking also is relatively affordable. Raus said most novice paddlers purchase all the essentials (kayak, seat, paddle and personal floatation device) for less than $1,000.

And, yes, paddling down a lazy river is as easy as it looks.

"I've heard people say, 'I'm not in the best shape,' " Kaai said. "The truth of the matter is that if you can walk for a mile, you can kayak for two [miles]. It's a very low-impact exercise."