Educate me on Kayaking

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Soldato
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Scottish Borders
Mates just bought her first house and upon moving in found two, two man Kayaks in the garage! Anyone know what the score with just showing up to any Lochs/lakes/rivers ect and paddling away are? Being the UK, I'd imagine there are about 1000 hurdles to jump?

Kayakers of OCUK unite!
 
I've considering doing this as well, kayaks are quite cheap and I could store one near the sea and go out every now and again.

Also interested if anyone else knows about legal requirements blah blah...
 
I don't kayak myself, but my cousin is pretty into it... as far as i know, you do not require any sort of permit or permission to use a non-motorised boat of any kind in public bodies of water (ie, anything that is not privately owned).

I could be wrong, but isn't a two man kayak a canoe?
 
Unlike the previous two posters I tend not to pluck incorrect information out of my bum, so will only speak for what I know which is the Thames. On the thames you do need to register with the environment agency and pay a fee. (obviously you may very well get away with it but that is another story)

Some other places do require similar. Have a look at this:

http://www.canoe-england.org.uk/membership/waterways-licences/

Can be cheaper to piggy back on a club's license
 
It depends on where. I kayak a fair bit in the Teme in Worcestershire and out towards Wales and have never needed a permit. I've also kayaked in the Severn, again with no permit. I don't know about the law though...
 
manic111 said:
It depends on where. I kayak a fair bit in the Teme in Worcestershire and out towards Wales and have never needed a permit. I've also kayaked in the Severn, again with no permit. I don't know about the law though...
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quite right, I have been using the Thames for about 5 years and have only been asked once
 
To be honest, river paddling in the UK is a SERIOUS pain.

Most of the waterways dont have access rights, and those that do vary depending on the fishing season.

Check out: http://www.bcu.org.uk/ and see if you have a local club near you, they're normally by far the best for advice.

There's no legal requirement to wear any personal safety equipment when paddling, but you'd be a grade A idiot to paddle without a buoyancy aid even if you're in an open boat on flat water. Get one of these sharpish!

Also, fill the boats full of water and check for any leaks. Are they fibreglass or plastic?

Turn them over and hit them a few times with your fists. Hard. If they break, throw them away. Bear in mind on a river a boat may hit a rock or bankside, with your ~70+Kg in, plus the momentum. You dont want to end up in the middle of nowhere with a broken boat!

Oh, and dont try to do this on day 1 :D (yes, its me in there somewhere, river Dee @ Llangollen)

Matt_spammed.jpg
 
wilko49 said:
I could be wrong, but isn't a two man kayak a canoe?
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It might be a canoe but there's no guarantee of that - essentially a kayak has a cockpit (or cockpits) which you sit in and enclosed top while a canoe is open and you sit on or kneel in it. Generally speaking you will use a double bladed paddle in a kayak and a single bladed paddle in a canoe.

There are of course some boats which blur the lines further but that's a reasonable way to look at it.

RedDanDoc said:
wearing an inflatable vest at all times would be a legal requirement I would have thought.
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As far as I'm aware it isn't a requirement to wear a buoyancy aid, companies who will take you out might insist on it and that might be due to a legal requirement or for their insurance but for yourself you're free not to wear one - you'd be daft not to but it's your choice.

I think the situation regarding water access may be slightly different in regard to Scotland as the trespass laws (or lack of them) are also. Again though what is required and what you might get away with may be rather different.
 
Skidder said:
Unlike the previous two posters I tend not to pluck incorrect information out of my bum, so will only speak for what I know which is the Thames. On the thames you do need to register with the environment agency and pay a fee. (obviously you may very well get away with it but that is another story)

Some other places do require similar. Have a look at this:

http://www.canoe-england.org.uk/membership/waterways-licences/

Can be cheaper to piggy back on a club's license
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Nicely put :)

I used to kayak a lot as far as I'm aware there are no laws you just need right of access.

But a boyancyqid is just commen sense
 
Am intregued by this as well.

I keep thinking i'd love to get a kayak and do some exploring down on the south coast, maybe use the canals where I live or maybe take one with me when I camp in the lake district.

Can anyone recommend one that would be suitable for all types of water (bar white water as that doesnt float my boat) (pardon the pun) :D

SiHH
 
semi-pro waster said:
It might be a canoe but there's no guarantee of that - essentially a kayak has a cockpit (or cockpits) which you sit in and enclosed top while a canoe is open and you sit on or kneel in it. Generally speaking you will use a double bladed paddle in a kayak and a single bladed paddle in a canoe.

There are of course some boats which blur the lines further but that's a reasonable way to look at it.
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If we're being really picky, kayaks are a type of canoe (at least using English terminology). An open top one in which you sit or kneel with a single bladed paddle is a Canadian canoe. Let's not go there though :)
 
Echoing what has already been said, you do not automatically have the right to paddle anywhere.

Obviously the sea and navigable esturies are fine.

Most managed navigable rivers and canals (ie the ones you see motor boats on) will require you to have a license. Obviously how well this is enforced can vary wildly.

The easy way to get a license is to join your home countries canoe union, which is only about £30 a year and includes access to british waterways managed rivers and most canals, as well as third-party liability insurance (incase your tiny canoe manages to damage someones superyacht) and a mildly interesting magazine every other month.

I'm not entirely sure about Scotland, but in England and Wales for other smaller rivers you need permission of the landowner(s), IE anyone who owns the bank on either side. Local clubs will usually have the best knowledge of where you can and can't go, and joining them is also a great way to meet new people and get into this wide and varied sport.

PK!
 
manic111 said:
If we're being really picky, kayaks are a type of canoe (at least using English terminology). An open top one in which you sit or kneel with a single bladed paddle is a Canadian canoe. Let's not go there though :)
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Well quite, I was just going for the broadest of overviews but we could get a lot more technical of course. :)
 
This is something I have wanted to do for ages (got a few qualifications when I were younger), and am now determined to do more of, especially white water.

Hear me good folk of OcUK, I hereby declare that I shall take up kayaking again.
 
matt_fsr said:
To be honest, river paddling in the UK is a SERIOUS pain.

Most of the waterways dont have access rights, and those that do vary depending on the fishing season.
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I believe the poster is based in Edinburgh, so he doesn't have to worry about the poor England and Wales' access laws, and have to deal with the landowners who own the river. In Scotland we have the right to roam, so as long as we do not use motorised transport we have a right to responsibly access most land in Scotland, i.e. you can drive to the river, park on a public road and walk across a field carrying your kayak to the river, and you have no issues. Full details on the Scottish Land Reform Act can be found here. It only excludes sensible stuff such, as not going through gardens and having to leave the land as it was found, e.g. you should close gates as you found them and you shouldn't upset livestock.

It's probably a good idea to find a local club where you can get access to coaching and advice for very little cost. You can find your local club here.

In terms of kit, it is advisable you use a buoyancy aid, helmet, paddle, spray deck and boat, but there is nothing to say you need these. A local club will have kit for hire if you require it, and this will save any large outlay before deciding if you want to get into it.

Lots of info can be found on the following pages:
Scottish Canoe Association
UK Rivers Guidebook - which has an online guidebook and a good forum for kayaking.
 
In England and Wales there seems to be big restrictions on where you can paddle. In Scotland you can pretty much paddle anywhere you want.

I've been kayaking for a few months and, from my limited experience, my advice is to do a beginners course before you go out, and always go out with a partner. If you're using a 2-man boat I'd say it's best to go out with someone in a second boat. Stay close to the shore and be on calm water at first.

You need to be as happy in the water as you are in the boat. You can't go kayaking and not expect to capsize, or be scared of capsizing. So, ideally get some practice in the beginners course wet exiting the boat, and when you're out practice it a lot.

I tipped my boat in the middle of Loch Lomond today and it was a bit of an experience :)

Always wear a buoyancy aid right for your weight, and always wear a helmet.
 
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