Paddle Yaks how far have you gone?
 

Im asking only feedback from Paddle guys cause I know a peddle yak can go faster and further due to less effort. How far out do you guys go either regularly or ever? I am in good shape but not sure how far is really far? My guess is I've paddled a distance of maybe 2 miles one way. Return trip on that 2 mile was against the wind and current and it was hell! I plan on upgrading to a carbon paddle eventually.

On our Asuncion trips we average 10+ miles a day, sometimes against the wind, peddle, paddle it still takes effort. Fishing Gonzaga it is about the same,10+ most days sometimes 15+.

Coincidentally whether Dana or La Jolla the average day is right at 10.

My first season a few miles would hurt. Hurt my back, hurt my ass, hurt my shoulders.

This season got the right seat, got a lower lumbar support and now can stay out there for many hours no problem. Last month had a 9 1/2 hour day on the water and had no problems what so ever. Must have covered a dozen miles easily.

What'd you get?

Around La Jolla and SD Bay, a nonchalant 6-10 miles is pretty common for a typical "half day" fishing.

A hard pump against the wind or rough water is different than a casual day of trolling around. It's easy to cover a lot of territory when we are peddling slowly, preoccupied with fishing.

16-17 round trip

I don't get out as much as a lot of people on here, but have logged 10 mile days.

Helpful hint - plan your day fishing by paddling toward where you think the wind/current will come from when time to head home. Makes the paddle back a lot easier. May seem like common sense, but I had to learn it for myself the hard way

We just started, have been out like 5 times so far. But from baby beach in Dana to the red bouy at the headlands is supposedly 3.5 miles one way according to a friend's gps. So round trip you have seven, and if we fish in front of doheny or the first part of the pipe on the way out or back, I'm guessing we have done like 10 miles total. Although my back and neck are done by the time we get back into the harbor. Need a new seat bad haha.

Sore shoulders and a couple of break offs.

I lived in Big Bear when I got mine, fished the
May Classic! Paddled a lot, could have made Catalina
No problem back then. Not anymore.
Definitely need a new seat!!!!

I should rephrase...What seat did you get? I'm kinda where you were your first season and I'd rather be where you are now. I was thinking I'd get a Thermarest lumbar pad, but I think replacing my entire Apex seat might be in order.

Might want to add this while you're at it Dave. I use this along with my dad's lumbar support that he no longer needs. Works like a charm.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

With out a GPS/plotter it's hard to tell true distances. But I'd guess 6-10 miles might be a decent fishing day in LJ. I've done some longer trips like O-side harbor to the golf ball n back.

Some times its conditions that make things tough. Some times the current out of the NW will really get moving in LJ. You paddle around the corner and you're off wind n sea in 40 minutes or less. That's a long trip back cause if you stop it slow down you're losing ground.

I got caught in a serious wind when I lived on the outer Banks of NC. Hardest I've ever paddled. Over 2 hours to cover about a mile and a 1/4. Some times you don't know what you can do until you have to. Mike

Sweet, thanks for the tip!

I felt like that once while paddling my barge through 15kts of headwind at Dana. Murder I say!!!

For sure!

I hear you Saba. That area around Dana headland seems to be windy even when it's dead calm every where else. Mike

In the ocean we've gone as far as twenty miles or so, most of the time it's more around ten. Usually we fish about six to ten hours so you can cover a lot of territory or, if the fishing is good, you may paddle around in more or less, the same spot all day.

As others have mentioned, the conditions have a lot to do with how far you can go. If you paddle against the tide or a strong river current, it's going to be a lot tougher. I've had to get out of the kayak and pull it upstream when I misjudged the strength of the river current. Paddling is a physical activity, you need to be in shape to do well.

Ohh Sorry,

Seat


Lumbar Back Support

These two items made a big difference in staying on the water for long days.

Thanks for the links!

The funny thing though is that when everywhere else is howling Dana seems to be fairly calm and manageable.

Yeah I learned how to judge the winds now!!

But man Im a wimp doing 3 miles compared to you gents.. I just need to man up and go for it...depending on the winds of course. Im want to make it to Dana Kelp Beds but always stopped at Headlands lol.

how much further out are those kelp beds past the red buoy??

What kayak do you have? A wider kayak is harder to paddle than a narrower one.

Too far for a paddle yak. :D

This thread has gone twilight zone geography.

If you get out to the red whisler buoy off the point you are at the outside edge of the point kelp bed. Theres a diagonal strip there back toward the harbormouth too as you paddle out in 40 to 60 ft. The buoy is @ about 60. The kelp contours the coast from the point knob up to Monarch @ 40 -60+ in the shape of a 3 w both ends and the middle [Creek] having structure extending out farther that grows kelp. Landmarks are red buoy (point, headland whatever), Strands beach, Salt Creek point (Ritz), Creek Kelp, Monarch point.

Anybody got a map

California to Maui
 

How about San Diego paddler Ed Gillet's solo paddle from Monterey to Maui? 2200 miles and 64 days alone with no support. Long ways to paddle a tandem kayak.

There was a story in Sea Kayaker (I think) about his adventure a while back. I copied the article and have read it many times.

[QUOTE=King Saba;268656]What kayak do you have? A wider kayak is harder to paddle than a narrower one.

Yeah I have a Vibe Sea Ghost 13' by 33" wide and chose it to be able to stand when I start fresh water fishing so Im paying the price. Its only 75lb but still not streamline.