The Coastal Kayaker's Manual, 3rd Edition

The Complete Guide to Skills, Gear, and Sea Sense

The Third Edition of an Extensive Sea Kayaking Manual for All Skill Levels

Once a unique form of transportation, now a popular avenue to recreation and adventure, sea kayaking is an exciting way to enjoy the world’s coastal waters.  But whether you are a seasoned paddler or an enthusiastic novice, you know there is more to kayaking than boats and paddles.  And you can find it all in The Coastal Kayaker’s Manual.

The third edition of this hands-on guide presents a broad range of information on equipment, techniques, safety, navigation, and trip planning, all with an eye toward proficiency.

You will learn everything you need to know about

- Kayaks:  fiberglass, plastic, single, double, folding
- Gear:  paddles, sprayskirts, life vest, clothing
- Paddling:  stroke cadence, braces, sweeps, draws, launching and landing, surfing
- Capsizing:  complete instructions on recoveries alone or with a partner
- Navigation:  nautical charts, tidal currents, compasses, dead reckoning, piloting

The Coastal Kayaker’s Manual goes beyond the how-tos to offer advice on gaining experience, understanding your limits, judging potentially dangerous situations, taking risks, and paddling defensively.  An invaluable reference, this book belongs in every sea kayaker’s library.

Randy Washburn, author of Washburne’s Tales, Kayak Trips in Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, and The Coastal Kayaker, also writes for boating magazines.  He teaches sea kayaking and navigation and manufactures canoe and kayak carts.

Learn Sea Kayaking’s Four Rings of Defense:

Avoid Trouble! By understanding changeable weather conditions, currents, and tides and by using charges and compasses

Survive Rough Seas! By bracing, handling beam waves, avoiding a broach, and surfing

Recover from a Capsize! Using the paddle float and recovery and reentry techniques

Signal for Help! With pyrotechnics, strobes, or radios.