| A kayak has at times got advantages over canoes | | | | laborious and generally requires two people to carry |
| but these same advantages can become | | | | the boat. The third option of course is to unpack the |
| disadvantages as well if you don't plan your kayak | | | | boat every time you come to a new portage trail. The |
| camping trip properly. Their closed in nature can be a | | | | beauty of the kayak is that as you paddle along it will |
| plus when trying to keep your things dry but this can | | | | cut through waves with relative ease and your things |
| quickly become a real pain if you have to portage at all | | | | will remain generally dry, unlike using a canoe, that |
| or remove your gear every time you stop. | | | | would have a tendency to take on water. |
| My personal feeling is that kayaks are best suited for | | | | You need to use a proper sea kayak really. One with |
| camping trips along the coast of the Great Lakes or | | | | hatches that open into sealed bulkheads where you |
| the oceans or places where there are really large | | | | can keep your gear. They can be somewhat unstable |
| bodies of water. They can be difficult to get in and out | | | | and if you're new to operating a kayak then you |
| of so if you have a gentle shore to make things easier | | | | should be sure you stay fairly close to shore in the |
| it's obviously better for you. | | | | event that you capsize. You really should learn how to |
| If you do decide to take your kayak on a trip that is | | | | brace or even roll, although longer kayaks are harder |
| going to involve a couple of portages there a couple | | | | to roll than shorter ones are. |
| of ways to do it. You can buy wheel sets that you | | | | So you can see that it's not simply a matter of jumping |
| rest your kayak on while you pull it through the portage | | | | in your boat and heading out for your camping trip. You |
| trail. Simply find the balance point of the boat, secure | | | | need to be able to foresee the types of problems you |
| the wheels and start pulling. These wheels are not | | | | may run into and plan accordingly to make it easier. |
| generally really big so it's a good idea to know before | | | | Generally your trip is far more enjoyable when you |
| you leave what kind of terrain you will likely be | | | | don't have any problems and standing at the beginning |
| encountering to be sure your wheel set will be | | | | of a portage, wondering how your going to get all of |
| adequate. Another option is to pack very light and | | | | your gear across into the next lake is a sure-fire way |
| simply haul the boat up the portage trail with your gear | | | | to help make your trip go downhill fast. |
| in it. I've done this and although it works it can be quite | | | | |