Paddling with Gators

I get asked almost every time I go out paddling about gators. Doing most of my paddling on Florida waters, I've come upon many gators of all sizes. At first I was terrified about doing any kind of water sport in Florida. But I did research on the behaviors of gators and found that most attacks on man are by crocodiles not alligators. But that really didn’t help me on confronting my fear. I wanted to learn kayaking for incorporation into my wildlife photography. So one day I went to a local State Park that had 3 lakes on it to rent a kayak and give it a try. The young lady handling the rentals was very helpful and explained state policy on gators and what to look out for. She assured me that I would be fine. I did about a 2-hour paddle and didn’t see any gators but was told there were many in the lake.

Excited about my new adventure I wanted to do it again. I had talked with my sister and told her about my new thing. I asked if she would like to go kayaking? I found a different place called Shingle Creek that rented kayaks, excited we headed out the next morning. Knowing nothing about kayaks I saw that this kayak was one that you sit in not sit on top. Hey I didn’t know the differences. Anyway, we headed out and it was beautiful. This creek has several narrow passages, twists and turns. My eyes were glued on the water and banks as I knew there were hundreds of gators all around me. Well that’s what my head said. I was starting to relax more as I got a little out of shape amongst some cypress trees. I pushed off a cypress with my paddle that tilted the kayak which immediately took on water and tossed me out.  I was terrified and panicked. I just knew I was gator bait as I shot out of the water like a V-2 rocket. Standing on a submerged cypress root I attempted to empty out the kayak. Uncontrolled laughter is coming from my loving sister as she’s chasing down my paddle down stream. With a lot of the water out I got back in but there was still too much water in the kayak making it very unstable. I saw a small sandbar about 50ft away and thought I could dock there and empty out the kayak there so I made a small right turn and I was tossed out again. Panic really set in now I didn’t know what to do when 2 paddlers offered to help. The kayak was almost totally submerged as these 2 good Samaritans emptied out the kayak and waited for me to comfortable and pushed me off. I’m really leery about the balance of the paddle. But we finished without incident. I learned a lot that day. Types of kayaks and the waters are not jam-packed with gators. That incident is always in my mind. Since, with over 100 paddle adventures I have seen many gators where I paddle and the I've had many more close calls driving than I've had paddling around gators.

Typical Alligator Behavior Around Paddlers

The typical behavior of gators I've seen many times; I will see their head and part of their body on the surface of the water and as approached they will submerge or if on the bank they will slip into the water when paddlers approach. That makes sense, because they probably feel more protected from us underwater. So slipping into the water is typically not aggression, but just the opposite; a defensive action they take because they probably view a paddler as a potential threat to them.

During their mating season (May or June) is when they can get somewhat aggressive. If you are close to their nest they will let you know. Incubation requires approximately 63-68 days, and hatching occurs from mid-August through early September. So if you see a gator nest use common sense and give it a wide berth. The female is very protective of her young and if you’re too close she may get aggressive.

Gators in more remote areas less visited by man seem to enter the water faster than those that see people and paddlers more frequently. Stay away from heavy moss covered areas, reeds or heavy lily pad areas as this area is where they hide and hunt. I have learned where the gators stay on my regularly paddled lakes and rivers I travel as they stake their turf.

Be aware of your surroundings. Look for bubble trails or vibrating water ripples as that’s a male mating call. Again paddle clear of that. I always tell my friends who go paddling with me to be attentive of your surroundings.  Understanding their behaviors will make your paddle experience better. Over time, I've grown to enjoy seeing alligators while kayaking as I've become familiar with their typical behaviors. Here is the bottom line; remember that song by Aretha Franklin? RESPECT – that’s the best advice I can leave you with.

Things to Remember

Gators can certainly be deadly to paddlers if they wanted to be, but they typically try to avoid paddlers.

Some advice on paddling near gators:

Never feed alligators

Don't get too close or harass alligators

Don't corner alligators

Stay away from potential alligator areas during mating season in spring when they

become more territorial

Don't take small children or small creatures like pets near areas with alligators

Finally, beware that alligators behave very differently than crocodiles. Crocodiles are extremely dangerous to paddlers and have attacked and killed paddlers without warning or provocation. Crocodiles are common in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America and there are crocodiles in south Florida and the Everglades, though they are not nearly as common as alligators. Avoid paddling in areas with crocodiles. Do your research on the area you wish to paddle. On some Florida websites they have lists of lakes with the gator population posted. I know which ones to paddle and which ones I stay clear of. Do your homework and happy paddling.

Kayaking Blue Cypress Lake, FL

I received my monthly Photography Magazine and on the cover was this beautiful picture of a Blue Cypress tree all by itself on a lake. The title on the magazine was “Best Hidden Places in Florida”. Well this got my attention and my quest started. I had to find this tree and photograph it myself. Knowing this would require my StraitEdge fully rigged, my research started. Well I found the information and it’s called “Blue Cypress Lake” in Yeehaw Junction, Florida…I can’t make this stuff up! I made several phone calls and found out there was only one access to this place and that’s at Middleton’s Fish Camp. I placed a call to Middleton’s Fish Camp and a very nice lady answered. I inquired for accommodations, not knowing what kind they were, and made the reservation. Now, with that done, I’m going to turn this into one of my impromptu road trips.

The November morning had finally come and I was excited about this trip. Three DSLR cameras 4 different lenses, 5 video cameras and my StraitEdge was all serviced and ready to go. I’m driving, and driving out in the middle of know where. I hadn’t seen any homes, towns, or population for a while now. I’m checking my NAV system when I hear “2 miles turn left”. I’m looking at the map and I can’t see any road. As these 2 miles click off I see a small sign stating “Middleton’s Fish Camp 4 miles”. Well okay, I make the turn on this dirt road and yes, 4 miles in, here’s this very small like bait shop. I stop and see this elderly lady sitting in a rocking chair and she asks “may I help you?” I told her who I was and she said “oh, okay”, we walk to the edge of the lake and she points and states “see the boat on the bent trailer over there? That’s your trailer right next to it.” So, I’m waiting to fill out registration papers and waiting for a key. She looks puzzled so I ask about this and she just tells me we will square up when I leave and that there is no key as they are not needed here.

Swells 2 to 3 feet - no paddle today

I find my trailer where I’m staying and my front yard is the lake. The lake is huge and, while I was planning to do a paddle that day, the winds were blowing big time and swells were 2 and 3 feet! The lady told me this was a daily event and if I wanted to kayak I would have to be ready at the crack of dawn. I was disappointed that it was not safe to paddle that day so I grabbed one of my cameras and went on a hike. I spotted a bald eagle in flight almost immediately, and many other species of birds, but I was eagerly waiting the morning dawn to find that tree.

A Blue Heron wants a ride in my kayak

The next morning I’ve got my StraitEdge all inflated and rigged with 4 cameras and one DSLR in my dry bag. I’m taking a short coffee break when a blue heron decides to take up residence on my kayak. Snapped a couple of pics just before it took flight. I’m ready to launch, the morning sun is just starting to rise and the lake is like glass. The sky is purple, pink and orange and I’m the only one adding ripples to this massive lake as a good size gator raises his head to say hello. Fortunately, a local gave me general directions of where she thought I needed to paddle to find that tree so I keep an eye on that gator as I make my way out towards the main lake. There’s not a breath of wind on the lake and I can hear birds making their morning calls as well as the sound of my paddle breaking water. I paddle about a mile around this point and then there they are,

The Scenery was beautiful.

Blue Cypress trees out on the lake all by themselves but, of course, not my tree. The sun is just breaking the horizon turning these trees the color of fire and the shaded side a rich blue. I’m in awe as I’m wearing a blister on my shutter finger. Setting up for all angles to shoot these magnificent trees I must be aware to ensure I don’t get too close to the bank reeds. I really don’t want to turn my back to the reeds but have to in order to get these shots. So I look for bubbles and observe very closely to determine if a gator or two are lurking about before I paddle into position to get my shot. I saw a few during the first part of my trek but they stayed where they were and I gave them a wide birth. After all that, I’m still unable to locate that specific tree.

I find the tree I was searching for

I continue paddling and then all of a sudden, there it is. I’m blown away as it totally by its self and it’s as beautiful as the magazine cover pic. A special bonus was I was still in the “Golden Hour” to achieve this shot. I was so excited that I was able to get this same shot. Now that I’ve got this shot, the rest of my time can be spent photographing several other Blue Cypress trees and of course the wildlife.

An Osprey takes exception to a Buzzard in his turf.

An Osprey took exception of a buzzard infringing on his home so the fight was on. A few snaps of that and several of inflight birds. I notice a few hours into this paddle I’m really far away from the launch site so I decide to head back before the predicable winds return. I get back after a 5-hour paddle and feel great. I achieved my goal, had fun, got many great images and most importantly got there safe and sound.

What a fabulous place. Hidden? Yes. Worth the hunt? Absolutely. 

See for yourself.

What Paddle do I get????????????

Bent Shaft, Straight Shaft, Shaft Size, aluminum, fiberglass, carbon fiber, blade area, symmetrical blade, asymmetrical blade, dihedral ridge, angler blade, feather angle, adjustable ferrules, 1 piece, 2 piece, 4 piece, low-angle, high-angle.

Many people make the same mistake I did and purchase the least expensive kayaking paddle by just employing the beam width scenario. Geesh everyone, don’t do what I did, heck I now own 6 sets of paddles but only using 1 set for solo kayaking and 2 matching paddles for our tandem kayak leaving 3 sets just hanging in the garage. If I would have taken my time and did some more research I would have done things a whole lot different and with the money I spent buying all those paddles I could have gotten the correct ones and saved money. But lessons learned. 

Here was my biggest issue; I did not know there were so many elements to consider and I didn’t do my homework and learned the hard way. So I decided now that I have learned all this stuff I would pass it on others with a single blog article explaining all the elements of the plethora of paddles available out there and make recommendations for you to consider. Then you make the choice.

Although choosing the right paddle for your kayak is normally a matter of personal preference and paddling style, there are some general guidelines to follow for your best performance.

General Rule; Paddles are measured in centimeters and average 210-260cm (6’10”-8’5”) long. Smaller and beginner paddlers need a shorter shaft with a smaller blade while larger, taller and more experienced paddlers need a longer shaft with a larger blade to transfer more power to move their weight, which also requires more effort.

Guideline for paddler height:

It’s also important to note the width of your kayak. The wider the kayak, the longer the paddle you need to reach the water. Make sure to choose a paddle that clears the kayak’s sides while keeping proper paddle form and your knuckles don’t hit the deck. Tandem and sit-on-top kayaks typically use  a longer paddle. So now we are going to break kayak paddles into their elements.

Shaft

The one structure that ties every part of the paddle together, from the shape of the blade to the particular style of stroke - is the shaft. Shafts come in several materials; wood, aluminum, fiberglass and finally carbon-fiber. Durability is the key along with weight. So I will cut to the chase here. Don't waste your money on aluminum shafts they are heavy compared to fiberglass and carbon-fiber. The lighter the shaft the better off you will be. Consider a lightweight and durable shaft for smooth performance. My recommendation is carbon-fiber. Yes they are more expensive but trust me you will own one eventually. I have aluminum, fiberglass shaft paddles that now just catch dust in the garage. 

Shafts come as one solid piece, two or a four-piece paddle. Straight shafts are widely used by most paddlers however bent shafts keep the wrist at less of an angle for less strain.

 

Bent Shaft (Cranked)

The shaft is bent or "cranked" to minimize the amount of wrist flex during the forward stroke. Those who tend to grip hard on a paddle and/or fail to execute proper torso rotation often tend to prefer the alignment positioning benefits of the bent shaft paddle. The crank provides a leverage advantage, but does limit hand placement options. I have never tried a "Cranked" paddle so I really can't confirm its advantages or disadvantages.

Some kayak paddle shafts come with drip rings to prevent water from running off the paddle, running down your arm and entering the kayak. Make sure yours does.

Another feature are ferrule snaps that connect two-piece shafts and allow blade feathering, which is the amount of twist and angle between the paddles, usually between 0-60 degrees.  Feathering a blade allows you to offset the paddle for left-handed or right-handed dominant paddlers. The greater angle in the blade offset positions one end of the paddle to slice through headwind and create less drag. In a long paddle adventure, every effort to minimize drag helps.

Feathering

(top) center, (middle) 60 right, (bottom) 60 left

Most two-piece paddles will typically offer at least two angle positions, some will have 3. The ferrule (the joint where the two halves of the paddle attach) of the paddle have three different holes that the button can snap into — 60 degrees to the right, 0 degrees center, and 60 degrees to the left. By giving both a left and right angle option, users can choose which hand to use as their control hand. Typically, right-handed people will feather the right paddle while left-handing people will feather the left but can vary depending on the person. 

Aqua-bound Pos-lock system

Now there are paddle manufactures that produce an adjustable feather system on the ferrule allowing users to have more versatility in their feathering position. Most are in 15 degree increments. The image on the right is the paddle I now use consistently.

Using a feathered stroke is defiantly the way to go personally. I found on my previous paddle which was a fiberglass shaft had the normal 3 hole feathering system. Again it's either 60 degrees right, center or 60 degree left. I found that if I used it at 60 degrees right it was too much so I just settled for center. Then I discovered adjustable feathering systems and found my ideal spot to be 45 degrees. I must admit adjustable feathering took a while to get use to but now it's second nature. The only time I use center is when we are tandem paddling. 

Blades

Symmetrical Blade vs. Asymmetrical Blade

Basic paddles include symmetrical blades but more paddlers prefer asymmetrical blades because they have a greater surface area for a more efficient paddle. 

Symmetrical Blade

Symmetric blades work best with a high, vertical stroke where the blade is evenly distributed through the water, creating even force. Asymmetric blades work best at a low angle for an efficient pull.

Asymmetrical Blade

Look for blades with a dihedral angle (see example) for even water displacement (less flutter) and a smooth, stable pull through the water. The rib down the center of a dihedral blade also adds strength. A flat blade requires more effort and potential for fluttering but moves more water for propulsion. This additional effort can lead to grip and joint fatigue after a long day of paddling.

The Paddle Face

Almost all modern style paddles have short, wide blades. However, even among these paddles there is a significant amount of variation in the ratio of blade length to width. Wide blades tend to be more forgiving of mistakes when bracing and turning. Forgiving meaning the blade is less likely to dive and cause you to capsize if you make an error in the blade angle for the stroke. Paddles with long, narrow blades known as “low angle paddles” will work fine for the recreational paddler, and they are a little gentler on the shoulders. Remember the wider the blade area the more effort needed to paddle your kayak.

Angler-specific paddles also come with a notch in the blade to help rescue fishing line that might get caught in a tree without you having to risk falling out of the kayak to reach it.





What is Flutter? 

As a paddler begins the stroke, water builds up on the surface, becomes agitated and exerts pressure unevenly across the surface of the blade. The blade begins to twist or flutter as that water flows off the power face, especially as that angle of the blade in the water changes. That flutter/twisting tends to be more prominent in wider blades as they are more responsive to changes in that angle. Adding a rib down the center of a flat blade or making a slight dihedral cross-section is designed to reduce or eliminate this disturbance. A firm and proper stroke style can often reduce or eliminate T/F altogether.

Consider high visibility blade colors like orange and yellow for touring safety or blue and green colors to blend into the water while fishing.

So here's bottom line, keep it light in weight, my recommendation is carbon-fiber. A dihedral type blade reduces flutter. A 2 part paddle is great unless you have a space area. Personally I have a 4-part paddle. Decide if you are going to feather your paddle, if so I recommend an adjustable ferrule system to allow you to set your own feather degree. If you are not going to feather then the standard 3-snap will work fine. If you are a recreational touring paddler you want your blade shape long and narrow with your blade area to be about 87 inches. Remember the larger the blade surface the more effort is required to paddle.

So what do I have; for Solo I have a AquaBound Manta Ray Hybrid, carbon-fiber shaft w/posi-lok adjustable ferrule. Has a blade surface of 104 inches so it moves a lot of water, but takes more effort. For tandem we use a pair of Bending Branches Sunrise Glass, fiberglass shaft with standard 3-snap ferrule. 

So there you have it. I hope this will help in your paddle dilemma.