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I'm about to go up north (Scotland, Ullapool to be exact) and quite fancy buying into an inflatable kayak to add another string to our adventuring bow. I'm going with the family, so it will probably only be myself and my 5yr old who would venture out in it.
I'm totally inexperienced in kayaking, so am I getting a bit ahead of myself? Any tips I need for going out with the young one?
Having read up a bit i'm thinking inland loch to start with instead of tidal water, short trips to get the feel of things, but am I expecting too much too soon to be taking a 5yr old with me? Safety is my upmost concern here, so I'm not looking to take unreasonable risks but with no prior experience i'm not sure where the line sits on this one...
Would definitely give tidal waters a miss. Lochs can be challenging enough though especially the big ones in an inflatable. Major downside of an inflatable is their vulnerability to wind.
Its unclear whether its a holiday or permanent move? If latter would suggest joining the Inverness canoe club (not paddled with them myself but met several of its members and seems a very active club and is the main club for the highlands with members all over the place).
Having read the account of one of the fathers who survived the Gairloch canoe tragedy, I would never take children canoeing that were not competent swimmers and wearing life jackets rather than buoyancy aids.
Having read the account of one of the fathers who survived the Gairloch canoe tragedy, I would never take children canoeing that were not competent swimmers and wearing life jackets rather than buoyancy aids.
Jesus, that's absolutely horrendous. Noted on the life jacket Vs. buoyancy aids.
I'm just up for a holiday, but have local knowledge on where might be good to go, small loch wise. No way I'd be doing long trips / fishing as it would purely be about getting my daughter used to the kayak in the first place.
Major downside of an inflatable is their vulnerability to wind.
Great tip - exactly the sort of thing I hadn't considered. Thanks.
Yeah, inland lochs, stay close to shore, buoyancy aids all round fitted properly, mobile phone and dry case for it on your person(obviously signal isn't always there) and tell folks where you're going. You don't want to be going for a swim in the middle of a loch. The temperature can really debilitate.
Otherwise, enjoy it. Kids love that and it'll be a great thing to do.
I took a 1yo and a 4yo out in sit on tops in sheltered harbour waters and on a local canal and regularly still fo. The 4yo can swim and wears a buoyancy aid, the 1yo can't swim and wears a life jacket. (Although I'm beginning to question if the LJ is good for the 1yo now he's a 3yo. He could do a lot to help recover himself in a bouyancy aid, in a LJ he's helpless in the water.) (They're both a bit older now 3 & 7.)
I'm assuming you're not going to be a dick - avoiding strong off shore winds and not go far until you're pretty confident. Walk before you can run. If so I personally see no problem.
Both mine wear shortie wetsuits to keep their core temperature up just in case they get a dunking in a situation where I can't get them to safety/warmth quickly.
Personally, I'd have thought once you get confident the inflatable will be far more of a restriction than the 5yo!
m assuming you’re not going to be a dick – avoiding strong off shore winds and not go far until you’re pretty confident. Walk before you can run. If so I personally see no problem.
Haha, yeah. i'm taking a very cautious approach with this one, as I can't even pretend to have a 'ach, it'll be fine, I know what I'm doing' attitude about it.
So... inland loch, on a still as can be day (for the highlands), short session close to the shore, shorty wet suit (already got), life jacket for the 5yr old (as I can't imagine her doing much paddling initially). Got it.
Got it
Pretty much. Also think through what you would do in various situations, eg, (1) wind unexpectedly increases and blows you to the far side of the loch; probably tie the kayak to tree and walk back? Did you take a rope, can you walk far in your footwear? (2) despite care, kayak tips over - will you swim ashore pulling it or try to get back in, how will you get the children out of the water asap, as that's the best way to avoid hypothermia, which they are more vulnerable to than you are..
Maybe try it on your own first?
Maybe try it on your own first?
That would be probably be sensible.
That would be probably be sensible.
Agree, although the 'trying it alone' could be a 15 minute paddle while Mrs Alishand is helping the 5yo into her wetsuit.
Get a bailer.
Get a bailer.
Is that not the 5yr old?
Thanks for the replies all. I think i'll go ahead and purchase the kayak, but maybe take a more slowly slowly approach instead of shore horning a trip into the week we have away. The last thing i want is a 5yr old having a nervous beakdown mid paddle on a cold highland loch!
I fell in for the first time ever on Saturday, sit on top, flat calm no wind. Things can get out of hand really quickly, it's the initial shock. I had practised getting back on loads of times in a pool.
So strap everything in, or on, wear a life jacket, shortie or whatever. And practise getting back on, incidents happen when you least expect them.