Great comprehensive reference for new sea kayaker

books:

	• The Complete Sea Kayaker's Handbook Shelley Johnson International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press, 2001 - 307 pages average customer review:based on 3 reviews view larger image
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Read this book before purchasing a kayak

I like to browse the boating sections of outdoor stores and listen to the staff recommend equipment to people just getting started in kayaking. It can be a terrific learning experience and the best stores will always recommend good instructional manuals and the importance of taking lessons. The one book they always seem to suggest is Shelley Johnson's Sea Kayaker's Handbook. It covers all the basics but goes one step further. For instance; it is commonly explained that "the longer a boat is the faster it will go and the better it will track". There is a sidebar entitled "It isn't so simple" which carries the explanation a little further. Another section covers how to handle wind. Reading this section would be very helpful to a new paddler purchasing their first boat because one of the basic decisions is whether to have a rudder or skeg. A little knowledge here could save a lot of money and make the sport much more enjoyable. Read this book, ask questions of a knowledgeable salesman, buy a boat, take a lesson or two, have fun, see you on the water!!!

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Great comprehensive reference for new sea kayaker

Prior to getting this book I had one lesson and had paddled five or six times mostly in ocean harbors and estuaries. I have paddled several times since. I have done a fair amount of small boat sailing and canoeing before taking up kayaking.

The Complete Sea Kayaker's Handbook did a great job helping to fill in my knowledge of kayaking in general and to help "remind" me of some of what I learned in my lesson. It is well put together and has a nice mix of anecdote and information, with more of the latter. The book is specific to sea kayaking which I also appreciated. I am not terribly interested in white water kayaking and didnt want a book that wasted my time with more then casual information on the subject.

Hightlights for me:
- Detailed and well presented information on kayak design and construction.
- Nice explanations of paddle technique I was actually able to apply after I read the book (as a supplement to my lesson).
- Informative chapters on navigation and logistics without belaboring the subjects.
- Interesting side-bars going into more detail on one point or another throughout the book.

I think the best thing about the book is Shelley's easy going yet informative writing style. The illustrations and photos were clear and useful. The tone of the book was that of a very well informed friend rather then some kind of uber-kayaker. This book worked for me. Good luck in your paddles!

Regards,

Chris

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Excellent Comprehensive Kayak Handbook

After previewing several kayak books in the "handbook" category (those that cover the activity broadly and without specializing in any specific topic), I ultimately decided on Shelley Johnson's Complete Sea Kayaker's Handbook. I was hesitant to go with the title due to its corporate publisher (McGraw Hill imprint) figuring the smaller publishers with more specialization in outdoor activity publishing would offer better books or the more well known authors might have better selections. But the reviews kept leading me back to Johnson's rather inexpensive but very comprehensive Handbook.

The most important aspect of this title is Shelley Johnson's writing style. I found most kayak books to read like the author was an outdoors' person trying to be a writer rather than an excellent writer laying out all the key concepts of the activity. That being said, Johnson has impressive credentials and a solid understanding and mastery of kayaking and covered all aspects in respectable detail compared to many of the other "handbooks" that were rather short.

Three negatives come to mind and are minor flaws only. Pictures in the book (very good photography, I might add) almost all displayed Current Designs kayaks which seemed odd considering how many different kayakers were photographed. Made me thing there was some underwriting or sponsorship and annoyed me slightly for some odd reason. Number two is Johnson's use of "she" which is a personal pet peeve of mine rather than using a gender neutral "their" to describe an unknown third person. Finally, 10 pages on cooking with 7 of those pages being recipies was just weird. I understand the book should have a small section on cooking and camping while touring. But 10 pages for cooking seemed excessive.

Trip planning, navigation, and weather were all sensational additions to my developing knowledge. While I have become well versed though hardly fully proficient in most strokes, the chapter on strokes was very well done with good pictures and illustrations. The sidebars bring up a lot of controversies and issues associated with the activity, gear, etc. This book was even better than I had expected it would be and is an incredible value for the price considering the comprehensive nature and better writing style than other similar titles.

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The Complete Sea Kayaker?s Handbook is a comprehensive guide to the full sea kayaking spectrum, bringing a fresh approach and a dynamic voice to the subject. Author of the critically acclaimed Sea Kayaking: A Woman?s Guide, Shelley Johnson covers all the bases for beginning to advanced sea kayakers. It?s all here, from selecting the right kayak and gear to preparing and making an extended tour, mastering the strokes, rolls, and exit techniques; navigating; and much more.