Kayaking - easy to tip over?

[Lovingtravel]

We will be on NCL's Pearl in June and are thinking about doing the Whitepass Railway and Glacier Lake Kayak excursion. Our friends are very nervous about tipping over. They went kayaking before and their instruction consisted of tipping them over in order to teach them how to right themselves should the need arise. Can anyone advise? We don't feel like starting out our trip wet and cold.

 

Thanks so much!

 

Lovingtravel

[wolfie11]

A double kayak is almost impossible to tip over unless you're really trying. They are wide and very stable. I did a kayak safety course with some friends who were in a double, and when it came time to do rolls, we had to help them to get the kayak to roll. On the other hand, I've rolled a single kayak a couple of times, usually when trying to get out of it...

 

You're in little danger of tipping over in calm water anyway and no safety-conscious outfitter would take novices out in rough water. If you do get a wake from a boat or waves, you need to paddle into the wave rather than let it hit you broadside, which could tip the kayak.

[goldenprincess53]

We did kayaking with Southeast Kayaks in ketchican and had no problems whatsoever. The kayaks used were the smoothest I have ever been in and we were able to steer easily and glided across the water it seemed almost effortlessly. I was never afraid we would tip and felt secure the entire time......even when we crossed the main channel with sea planes coming and going and the ships tenders as well!

[gambit57]

I did a solo kayak trip with a buddy. Never rolled. Calm waters tho. I'm glad instruction didn't consist of rolling us over. It was REALLY cold that day.

[donaldsc]

We will be on NCL's Pearl in June and are thinking about doing the Whitepass Railway and Glacier Lake Kayak excursion. Our friends are very nervous about tipping over. They went kayaking before and their instruction consisted of tipping them over in order to teach them how to right themselves should the need arise. Can anyone advise? We don't feel like starting out our trip wet and cold.

 

Thanks so much!

 

Lovingtravel

 

Considering that you will probably not be wearing either a wet suit or dry suit and you can survive in the cold Alaska water for maybe 10 minutes, do you really think that they will intentionally have you turn the kayak over? Also, for the same reasons, they will have you paddle double kayaks that are so stable that you could hardly tip them if you tried.

 

DON