Germans, Frenchmen or Dutchmen navigate great rivers and canals with lakes, on the other hand, Danishmen, Finns or Englishmen paddle along seashores.

In Czech Republic, as in inland country, sea is missing, so we can hardly speak about seakayak activity, anyway, we can paddle on lakes and dams with long and slight kayak.There are several localities, where the navigation with seakayak is possible. We can find it on mostly of dam-lakes. Orlík-dam or Vranov-dam are - with its bank-lines - interesting for sure, but navigations on Žermanice-dam or Slezská Harta are also not bad. We can recommend you cruising of nearly all great dam-reservoirs. In general, we can paddle along all greater rivers, with the exception of sharp bendings (meanders). It seems that kayak, a vessel long and narrow, is unstabil. The reason is different: it is long, of course, the direction has to be kept, and the vessel is quick enough. Most of kayaks are, surprisingly, very stabil.

We start with a choice of suitable kayak. As to holiday-kayaks for calm water: we find it on market from 270 cm length (this is kayak-length for wild water). The width of such vessel is bigger, 80 cm approx. As far as kayak for two persons is concerned (closed with two holes for riders, or with one big hole only - similar as in case of open canoe) it is longer, however, its length is lower then four metres. These are holiday-vessels for short navigations along banks or for short sections of calm rivers. It is true that a lot of luggage cannot be get inside. Even packing and loading of subjects could be quite difficult. Such navigation would be interesting for cottage-owners along dam-lakes, but, on the other hand, we can use it for condition-paddling on short sections.

A real lake - or seakayak is longer (length is moving from 3,5 m - in case of single kayak - and over 4,5 m length - in case of double kayak). One rule is valid: the longer is a vessel, the quicker is for drive. Anyway, speed is influenced by other aspects, such as bottom form, tip´s shape as well as ship´s bending in keel, and total loading, of course. Width of vessel is important as well. Most sharp and quick seakayaks have the width of about 50 cm, they are more stabil, in comparison to speed-canoe, however, the drive requires some  skill and experience. The other matter for notice: it is vessel´s shape. Slim tips, sharp stern and prow cause a speed and good forms for drive in waves. Oval forms and bigger width are signs of vessel with big tonnage, taking necessary loading for expedition navigation around Falkland-Islands. Anyway, most of lake - and probably all kayaks have available one, two or more waterproof rooms. The entrance inside is  by means of holes placed on front and back boards, closed with neopren or plastic covering. However, these spaces are not waterproof for 100%. Provided the vessel overturns, water can enter inside, so it is highly recommended to put all just packed subjects placed in small ship-bags. We appreciate the number and size of rooms (spaces), if we decide to navigate for couple of days. Some kayaks have the third or further, small room (within driver´s reach) - destinated for subjects of „permanent need“ - such us camera, small luncheon, compass, map and other small things. These rooms are to be shut on screw or bayonet fastener and are mostly waterproof. Anyway, we recommend you to prove it first, before we put inside camera-equipment for thousands of crowns.

Also a nest on board, small periphery ropes or strings, helping straps for fastening of any subjects on board, prove to be contributed. You can have on board also: substitutional paddle, various board-bags for putting of different subjects of daily use, for fastening of small wheels for transfer of waterpump or paddlefloat, etc. An important part of such kayak could become steering-wheel or skeg. Skeg (dead keel) is an immovable spur placed on back of vessel, stabilizating the vessel in waves and helping to keep its straight direction. Steering-wheel can, moreover, to conduct the vessel. It is suitable for use especially in waves and seastreams. It is managed from driver´s cockpit position, by means of ropes, fastened on foots´pedals. We paddle equally with steering-wheel, and with its turning we direct the diameter of kayak´s bending. Paddle of seakayak is longer (210-240 cm), its leaves could be slimmer. Anyway, the paddle technics is different, in comparison to wild water. It is similar to paddle technics of speed kayak, but approaches to rest-paddling, not to frequent-paddling. The sprideck could be as from  neopren as from nylon, being used for short navigations more often. Water-waistcoat is highly recommended - try what is more tiring, if to swim with kayak on narrow brook 5 m to the bank, or 200 m to lake-bank. Helmet could be used withing sea-surf, and especially in a case when we learn a drive in breakers. Other small things which make navigation more safe: it could be signal whistle or signal rockets, but also wheather-forecast knowledge (not only on sea) and just mentioned water-pump or paddlefloat. The best thing to know is: how to effect Eskimo-turning. Provided you are not successfull, it is possible to be rescued,with help of friends on free water space, far from shore.

Upsetted kayak could be taken for a tip from a friend in vessel , the other man is on the opposite part. The vessel will be pulled out on kayak´s board, poured our and shifted round to sitting position. Consequently,  the rider gets into a vessel (with support of friend´s kayak). For this support, so called paddlefloatis destinated (floater on paddle) - i.e. inflated bag, threaded on paddle leaf, we puff it up so that a paddle with one leaf is kept on kayak board, the second swims on water-level. However, to mount into cockpit, it is not easy. Lake - as well as seakayks are shaped is such way, in order to be driven in straight way, the turning is more difficult. Sharp turning is to be made by means of power - gearings by circles from bow and from stern on opposite part. We use for turning - except of steering-wheel driving - classical circle gearings, back gearings, gearings of unequal power, by means of any driving kayak-gearing. There is a comfort, in case of calm water-level. However, when a motor-ship passes and makes a couple of waves around you, you have to do your best to prevent  vessel-overturn. Knowledge of vessel-stability is similar as in case of other crafts: so, with your lower body-part (placed in boat) and in three points „joined together“ with kayak.This support is stronger in gearings as in paddle- leaf´s position to water-level. 

In gearing, we have further support point, moreover, there is a chance to drive the vessel ahead or back  and drive.You can enter perpendicularly in waves, obliquely, even in waves. All of these requires its technics, we have to learn, it is true that we cannot study it according to this text only. The perpendicular entering to waves is more simple, but not possible all the time. In genereal, there is quite difficult to get away the shore during breakers.

On the contrary, the landing in waves is easier, but in that case, we have to know how to surf in kayak. Anyway, in case we meet streams, wind and other traps of nature, so the real events come with seakayak. In spite of this, the navigation throughout bullrush along lakes-line of communications in Poland has its magic!    

Text: Vojta Jančar

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