My RV Life

As we all know many of our RV vacations destinations are spend along shore lines be it a lake, river or along the ocean. That's great and for many just kicking off your shoes and relaxing on a lounge chair next to the water is pure heaven.

It wasn't until I visited the Lake Powell area that I suddenly realized that yes, you can see a lot of natures beauty from the road or hiking, but so much beauty can only be seen from the water. The two photos you see here were taken from a small boat about a mile into the canyon. (impossible to see except from a boat). This is why I think when ever your adventure includes

being along one of America's waterways do consider bringing along a kayak, canoe or one of many inflatable boats on the market today. Many kayak and boat companies have taken RVers and campers into consideration in designing there craft to be easy to transport and handle.

To find out more about RVing and Kayaking I called on our friends Steve and Bonnie Gibons who are avid RVers, owning three Airstreams, and also own Scappoose Bay Kayaking in Warren, Oregon.

"I'm always having RVers asking my thoughts about kayaking and Rving" Steve said, and my answer is, Go for it! " Unlike snow skiees or golf clubs, once you invest in a kayak package, you never have to pay someone for a place to use them like you do with skis and clubs. There are thousands of placesto paddle across the country that cost you nothing but the time to stop, unload, put in and paddle away."

Steve says, the type of kayak you buy depends on several things.... first, do you want a single or a tandem? Even for an RVing couple, do you want to go in your own kayak or paddle with both in just one.

Singles are lighter, usually around 50 pounds, but you need two of them. Tandems are heavier, about 65 to 75 pounds, but you only need one. And space to store them comes into play.

Either style will fit on top of 98 percent of the tow vehicles we use to tow our trailer but storage on a motorcoach gets harder to find. Fortunately there are some good racks designed that attach to the back of your RV or trailer for holding kayaks.

RV Raxx is a company that builds racks specifically for kayaks that will hold two 10 foot kayaks.

They sell for aorund $250. and are relatively easy to install. You can find out more about RV Raxx at their web site RVRaxx.com.

Back to the kayaks.... Steve calls tandem kayaks "divorce boats", because when my wife and I are in one, she wants to go left, I want to go right... I'm rocking the boat while she's looking through binoculars.... I want to stop, she wants to go. We get along much better in our own seperate kayaks, but we both have to do our won work. Sort of like bicycles. You don't go anywhere unless you peddle! "Don't get me wrong" Steve said. " We did a tandem kayak all through Alberta, Canada and lived to tell stories about it." The most important thing to remember is make sure that you fit comfortably in what ever you buy. Don't buy something small so you can carry it and then find out you don't fit in it comfortably and just haul it around for nothing.

This is suppose to be fun, not a torture device.

Once you've decided on the style of kayak now it's time to consider the material it's made of. Most inexpensive "hard body" kayaks are made of polyethylene plastic. It feels like milk bottle plastic when you touch it. They are strong and durable but heavier than the more expensive thermoformed plastic boats or even fiberglass built kayaks. In most cases, price regulates weight. The more they cost... the lighter they are.

If carrying space and storage are a problem, then the answer is an inflatable kayak. They come in single or tandem.... they are light weight and for the most part durable and often called "bag boats".

They come in a strong storage bag which is great for a compartment or trunk somewhere until you

are ready to use it. The paddles come in four pieces as well and fit into the bag also. They take a little longer to assemble and because they are inflatable that means you have to watch out for sharp objects and branches a little more when you use them, but the storage rules over the inconveniences if carrying space is a problem.

Steve's advice, if you plan on using your kayak a lot on your tours, and if you have the carrying capabilities for a hard body boat, it's Eddyline Kayaks. They are a thermoformed plastic kayak that is light weight and very durable and will last as long as you will.

Or if it's an inflaable you want, go with the Hobie inflatable kayak. Both are the best all around choices for RVers. Hobie's are a bag boat that inflates faster than any other on the market, they have a unique "paddle or pedal" system for propulsion....come in single or tandems and are very well made.

With either choice kayak, don't forget the paddles and lifejackets which should be worn at all times.

Once you are on the water and looking around, you'll find the world looks much different from the center of a beautiful mountain lake. Happy Paddling and happy RVing. I'de like to thank Steve and Bonnie Gibons for all the information supplied for this article.