What Kayak for Wildlife Photography

[terrib]

Just an update! I finally got around to ordering my canoe in December and took her on her maiden voyage yesterday. These are just iPhone snapshots but I promise some quality photos taken from the kayak in the future.

It's a 13' Advanced Elements Expedition inflatable with the dropstitch floor and adjustable footpegs. Having the portability of throwing it into any vehicle seemed the best choice for me. It seems a good size for me, tracked well and is pretty stable. Although with the cold water this time of year, I didn't push to see how stable. I figure I'll dump myself in the water sometime when it is warmer. The wind got up to about 10 mph before I quit and it seemed to do fine, although I admit I don't have much experience to compare it to hard side kayaks.

So I'll be working hard this spring to get out as often as I can so I can get comfortable enough to take out the good camera gear. I kept my old Canon 7D just for this purpose. I can tell just trying to take this iPhone shot that there will be more things to consider while trying to take a shot in a drifting boat. But I can't wait to give it a go!

All ready to go. I did end up in the water trying to do a side entry from the ramp. The "straddle the boat and sit" entry taught in my beginner class worked fine, although a little difficult as the boat is a bit wide. At least I had no trouble at all exiting without getting wet.


Across the lake from my truck.

[NorthernFocus]

Hi, Terri. I think you made a good choice. I recommend you get a dry bag to put the camera in when you are traveling, particularly if you are in salt water. Regardless of what you do you end up with a good bit of water dripping around plus hands are wet. When you get to where you plan to shoot you'll be paddling slow enough that less water comes aboard.

For getting in the boat from a low bank, were you taught the method of laying the paddle across the boat and sitting on it as you climb aboard?

[terrib]

They sent me a dry bag with the deal that's big enough to hold my 7D with 100-400 lens. I think there will be enough room to put it in front of me in easy reach and secure it to the deck D-rings so it doesn't float away if I flip. I have several smaller ones for my phone and key fob.

They only taught straddling the boat and sitting - which for me is basically falling part of the way. I was able to accomplish it by straddling forward of the deck and back up slowly until was far enough to sit but my legs just aren't long enough to make it a simple thing. I watched a video on the side entry using the paddle but I was nervous about putting my weight on the paddle because the ramp was a bit steep (although not as steep as a lot of them). So I was not able to accomplish it effectively. I'll have to try it again on a soft shore. There just wasn't a good shore at this particular location.

[DanK]

Looks good. I agree with Dan--a dry bag is essential. Also something with which to dry your hands before you open it.

re entry and exit: it's always awkward at first. Years ago, I did 5 or 6 days of paddling off Nova Scotia, and everyone other than the two guides and me was a complete novice. The only time anyone ended up in the water was getting into the boat. Practice makes it easier. I never use a paddle for this myself. I generally straddle the boat, but my boat is narrow, and I'm pretty long-legged.

From the picture, it looks like your boat has a cockpit entry about the size of the ones on touring boats, rather than the huge ones on most recreational boats. That's a plus, in my book, but I strongly recommend that you practice "wet exits" in a safe setting. You may capsize at some point, and it is very easy to panic the first few times, which makes it harder to get out of the boat. The motion is simple enough--you put your palms on the frame behind you and push--but when panicked, it's easy to forget.

I think there will be enough room to put it in front of me in easy reach and secure it to the deck D-rings so it doesn't float away if I flip.

It you have it secured outside the boat, that seems sensible, but I don't think I would store it inside the boat if it is secured to a ring or line outside the boat. You don't want a line tangling in your feet if you do flip and have to exit the boat. I don't have a good solution to this. I carry mine between my knees, not secured in anyway, and even though I can roll my boat in a pinch, I do get nervous about possibly losing the camera if I get swamped.

I look forward to seeing your photos from the new boat.

[NorthernFocus]

... I watched a video on the side entry using the paddle but I was nervous about putting my weight on the paddle because the ramp was a bit steep (although not as steep as a lot of them). So I was not able to accomplish it effectively. I'll have to try it again on a soft shore. There just wasn't a good shore at this particular location.

Terri, the steeper the shore is the less paddle you let overhang on the shore side(if that makes sense). You basically want the paddle as level as possible across the top of the boat. So of the shore is steep you just extend the paddle out over the water side. It's the only way we could finally get my wife into the boat dry.

You'll sort it out. Then you've got a whole new world of opportunity ahead of you

[GBO25]

I use a 13' Ocean Kayak (Prowler 13) and it's very stable. It's a sit on 'yak but it has a carrying well just behind the seat where I strap a small esky/ice box/chiller box (or whatever you want to call them) and use it to carry gear. If it goes overboard it floats but to date it's never gone over as it's strapped in.

If you want your hands free while shooting you could do what I do and rig up a small electric outboard for propulsion. I use an 18lb thrust Watersnake with a 45 amp hour deep cycle battery that lasts over 2 hours.

Failing that a Hobie uses foot power but can only be propelled forward using the pedals. If you want to reverse it's out with the paddle. Try Googling Hobie Adventure Island, they're very stable although they're a bit big and heavy.

Native Watercraft make pedal powered Kayaks that use a propeller rather than flippers so these 'yaks can be reversed by pedalling backwards. The prop can be quickly and easily flipped up out of the water if you're headed into the shallows.

If you're carrying your kayak on a roof rack there is a device called a hullavator that can be fitted to roof racks and makes it a lot easier to load the boat.

I also attach my camera to my life jacket with a length of cord so that if I drop it I can retrieve it. I've dropped it once so I'm glad I had it attached. Did I mention it's either a waterproof so called tough camera or a Canon G5 X in a waterproof case.

[terrib]

Thanks DanK for your comments. It's a good point about getting tangled in the strap. I'll have to give that some thought.

Dan, thanks again for your comments. Makes perfect sense about the paddle. I had so much I was thinking about, that simple change about paddle position didn't occur to me.

Graham, appreciate the feedback, although I've already chosen the kayak. (Sorry, it's a long thread so easy to miss my update)