Myth #1: Kayaks can tip over easily. That assumption is false. There are some models of sea kayaks that can be tippy, but there are many more models that are very stable, after all they are made for the ocean, that means for wind and waves and  'Big Water'...  if it is a concern  select a  more stable model.  When you sit in a kayak you have a very low center of gravity...so a little practice relaxing the hips and a couple of brace strokes to learn, and your stylin'. Double kayaks are a great choice for stability too!

Myth #2: Kayaks are hard to paddle. Sea Kayaks are  made to cover distance.  They are efficient because they are sleek and most of your energy is used to propel the kayak forward (unlike other crafts like canoes and white water kayaks where a lot of your energy is used to stay on course).  With a little practice it is not long before most people are able to make them "dangle" along at a good pace... And because you sit in the middle of the kayak, and have  low profile sticking out of the water, the wind and waves have much less of an effect than it would on many other types of crafts.

Myth #3: You have to know how to roll a kayak.  This is false. While this may be a fun skill to learn and definitely worth pursuing, it is the last skill we teach. The last stats we heard were that over 80% of all sea kayakers can not reliably roll. There is a very important reason for this. When you are approaching rapids on a river in a river kayak...when you tip you need the ability to quickly right yourself so that you can negotiate the rapids.  But even if you fail your roll, you can swim the rapids and then perform a self rescue by getting to one of the shorelines. In the case of Ocean Kayaking we don't get this "second chance"...even if you are the worlds most confident roller, you still take an alternate method of getting back in to your kayak. Reason being that if you are miles away from shore doing a crossing (as sea kayakers do) or if there are only cliffs with pounding waves, you have no choice but to get back in your boat as swimming for the nearest shoreline is not an option. For that reason if you only had your roll to rely on, and you don't succeed in rolling back up, then you may be in a situation...so that is why we carry alternate methods to gain entry back into our kayaks (Paddle floats), and why not paddling alone is not recommended (you can assist each other back into your boats). You can now see rolling is a valuable skill but becomes redundant.

Myth #4: I will get stuck if the kayak tips over. The quick answer is no. Ocean kayaks tend to have large loose fitting cockpits (cockpit is where you sit) and even though we train you how to properly exit a kayak should you tip... the reality is most folks just fall out if you tip over. Just to make sure though, it is wise to practice wet exits as a skill. The other question often asked is will the spray skirt hold me in. We use light nylon skirts and our kayaks have very rounded combings (that is what the spray skirts hook to). They usually pop off the minute you lean or twist too far...and they all have grab loops to make getting them off easy. The cockpits in river kayaks on the other hand are meant to form fit you fairly snug and are a lot smaller in the leg area. They can be tricky to get out of, and wet exits should be definitely be perfected before paddling.

Myth #5: Kayaking is a cold activity. Actually with proper dress and your spray skirt on (a small piece of material that covers you in and goes up almost to your armpits) you are sealed in your "own little house" so all that is exposed to the elements are your head, shoulders and arms and hands. A light wind/water proof shell, a pair of neoprene gloves, and your favorite wide brimmed hat, and even on a rainy day your are fairly comfortable! We often paddle when there is still ice on the lake!

Myth #6: Kayaks have very little room for gear and supplies. Again this is false. It never ceases to amaze us how much gear will fit in a kayak. Keep in mind that most ocean kayaks have a front compartment, a rear compartment, room behind your seat, some room by your feet, then after all that, you can put gear in water proof bags, and put them under the deck elastics. A full size touring kayak can fit gear and food for multiple weeks if need be.

Myth #7: You have to know how to swim in order to kayak.  Swimming is a recommend skill of course, but the good news is that most touring kayaks have bulkheads, which means they can't sink. Swimming is often not an option anyway, as your best bet in the case of mishap is to try and get back into your boat, and if you can not, then at least hang on to your boat for guaranteed flotation. In some ways this makes kayaks less risky for non swimmers than a lot of other crafts on the lake (i.e. aluminum fishing boats!!)

Myth #8: Kayaks are not very comfortable.  That's not true either.  Touring kayaks are often made to sit in for hours and hours...and you are sitting in a very natural position (feet out in front of you with a back support). Most people find them many times more comfortable than a canoe. It is very important to make sure you find a comfortable kayak. There are so many makes and models out there and they are all different. I believe there is a comfortable kayak out there for almost everyone.