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.  

What to look for in Inflatable kayaks?

Kayaking has become a very popular outdoor sport for all walks of life. Great for family outings, friend and group gatherings on just about in any body of water.

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However, not everyone own a pick-up, large SUV or the ability to house a kayak trailer. 
What to look for in an inflatable kayak?

Many really don’t have the strength to hoist some of these hard shell kayaks from the top of their vehicle or the vehicle that could safely mount a hardshell kayak on top. Then there is the issue of portability, here is an example; during the winter you travel to warmer climate for your yearly 4 month vacation and you really enjoy kayaking, but its difficult to place a 15ft hardshell kayak in the cargo hold of a commercial airline. So what to do?

Well, let me tell you about my story; I drive a Mercedes and there is no way I was going to put a kayak roof rack on top, or a trailer hitch on my ride but I love kayaking and combining my wildlife photography in a kayak. I travel all over the southern states visiting many state parks, national parks, reserves which most have a lake, river or some form of body of water. In a kayak I can see wildlife that I can't see being land bound. I can get into areas where wildlife abounds and get there in stealth mode to capture breathtaking photographs. So my answer was an inflatable. However, the research was intensive. Ya see I have one more additional factor I have to look at and that's gators. Yes I live in Florida where gators are in almost every body of water. Even sometimes in my neighbors pool. There are many manufactures of inflatables and I researched them all before I settled on my manufacture of choice. Below is a list of inflatable kayak manufactures.

Manufacturers

Advanced  Element

Airis

Aquaglide

BIC
Coleman

Conquest

Grabness

Innova

Hobie

Intex

Sea Eagle

Sevylor

So there are several things to consider; Where you are going to paddle

• Sit-on-top or sit-in
• Beam Size
• Sport, leisure or fishing
• Solo or Tandem
• Durability
• Manufacturing materials
• Manufacturer Warranty
• Customer Service
• Certifications
• Cost

If you noticed cost is last as it should be. Let me explain. Lets look at each consideration. 

Where you are going to paddle; this plays a big roll in the decision making process. Will you be paddling on rivers with rapids class II, III or higher? Will you be paddling lazy rivers, lakes or how about ocean?

So in your research for your inflatable find out its rating to meet your needs. An improper rated kayak can cause some serious problems.

Sit-on-top or sit-in; These are the major types to consider. 

A sit-on-top is exactly what it sounds like. You sit pretty much on top above the waterline. These are the most stable, great for lakes, rivers with the occasional class I or II rapids. Very safe and difficult to capsize.

The sit-in is a type kayak you sit into below the waterline. These type are a lot of fun but not as stable as sit-on-top and can easily take on water. Too much water you will get tossed out. Not fun, I know.

Beam Size; 

The narrower the beam the faster the kayak but less stable. The larger the beam the better the stability. But if you're looking for speed the narrower the beam the narrower the kayak which cuts through the water faster.

Sport, leisure (Recreational) or fishing (Angler); 

For sport your probably looking at a kayak very long and with a narrow beam. 

For Whitewater like class IV/V rapids make sure that your kayak is self bailing but most importantly make sure that the kayak you choose is rated for the class rapids you plan on paddling.

Angler; And when it comes to fishing or the angler there are Angler kayaks. Certain inflatable kayaks can make excellent fishing boats. They are very comfortable and sometimes you can even have the option of mounting a small motor. The great thing about owning an inflatable fishing kayak is the ability to take it with you anywhere… on road trips, camping trips and traveling by airplane or by vehicle to far away destinations.

Recreational; The recreational kayak is the most popular and make up the largest segment of sales. A recreational kayak is a type of kayak that is designed for the casual paddler interested in recreational activities on a lake or flat water stream.

The most common considerations when choosing a recreational kayak include sit-on-top vs. sit-in, solo vs tandem, amount and type of cargo you expect to carry, and ease of transportation. Well, on the inflatable front ease of transportation is not an issue. 

AE1017 AF Sport

AE1007-G Convertible

Solo vs. Tandem; Solo or tandem kayak, either sit-on-top or sit-in, is really based on how you wish to enjoy this sport. I own both, solo when I want to just enjoy the tranquility of the lake or river I'm planning to paddle. Whereas the tandem when I want to just enjoy the conversation and camaraderie. Both have their challenges but the tandem requires cooperation from both parties. The strongest paddler should sit in the rear and let the front paddler dictate the pace.  Synchronization is the key to successful tandem paddling once you become a synchronized team tandem kayaking is a blast.


Durability; In the inflatables world durability is one of the most important factors. You know the old saying you get what you pay for? Could not be more true with the subject of durability. 

Many of the inflatables being offered could in no way pass my durability tests. Many are just glorified floaties with fancy colors that are very unstable. Also the inflatable does not have multi main chambers or if a single main chamber it's not protected with an outer skin, kinda like an inner-tube.  One protruding branch can and will easily puncture your boat and you're in trouble.

In this photo you see several different potential issues. Both occupants are not wearing their PFD's. The boat appears to have exceeded its weight limit making it very unstable. The durability of the boat is in question as the boat is buckling raising the bow and stern out of the water presenting potential dangerous situation. I know about this specific boat as I was asked to do a product review on it. It lasted 3 days before I sent it back. Very unstable if you inflate it to its manufacturing specifications as it tossed me out twice just trying to get on it. I have seen this boat out on rivers but have noticed that the owners under inflate them to improve their stability. 

Manufacturing materials; This to me is the most critical component of an inflatable kayak. The materials used and design is paramount. Having your air chambers with welded seams, surrounded by heavy-duty PVC Tarpaulin material and encased in a canvas zippered housing is a design for extreme puncture resistance. With the addition of either a backbone or Drop-stitch floor increases rigidity of your inflatable. Many companies are not even close to this level of technology.

Manufacturer Warranty; you want to do your homework here, many offer good warranties but many really don't stand behind them. Just make sure the inflatable company (manufacturer) you decide to purchase has a good reputation and does indeed stand behind their product. The reason I stated it that way is that many inflatable manufactures sell their their products through distributors, sporting good stores and internet like Amazon and eBay.

Customer Service; Customer Service regardless of how great their product is so important. If you have a situation with your kayak and need to contact their customer service you want a human on the other end or if by email you get a fast response with the goal to address and solve your situation fast and without any hassle. I have heard some real horror stories about some manufactures and many glowing reports on others. So keep that in mind when you are getting ready to make your choice.

Certifications; Some of the aspects of NMMA certification apply to kayaks, while others will not. The kayak’s capacity for horsepower, maximum weight, and number of persons are all things that a third party would look at when inspecting a kayak for NMMA certification.

Looking for a kayak that has NMMA certification is pretty simple. You’ll be able to find the NMMA certification logo on the yacht plate or capacity. This will be located near the helm plate. You can also check with the dealer if you fail to find it.

Whether or not your kayak is NMMA certified isn’t going to keep you from getting a kayak. It’s just something that is really in the best interests of you, and whoever else might use the kayak, to have when you go to purchase your kayak.

The combined standards of the USCG and ABYC result in a kayak that’s not only safe to use, but is also going to be able to perform according to its specifications.

Cost; I left cost as your last consideration as I have seen inflatable kayaks below $100 and as high as $2000. I personally don't place a price on myself or my families safety. There are many mid priced inflatables that will address safety. Firstly see if its certified. It is not for me to state your budgetary requirements. But I just ask to look at all the other considerations first.

So finally you might be wondering what inflatable kayak I settled on. Well after exhausting research I settled on Advanced Elements kayaks. Their build quality, technology applications and overall performance is hands down the winner in my book. Their Customer Service is exemplary and finally the product just looks cool. I own 5 of their kayaks now for all the different applications I employ to enjoy my sport.