Paddling.com Weekly Newsletter | |
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| When shopping for an affordable recreational kayak, many people assume that any model will do, as long as it floats. However, an important feature is missing from many of these bargain finds: bulkheads. Bulkheads are watertight compartments in a watercraft that add buoyancy and prevent it from sinking. |
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| There are many great long-distance paddling journeys in the US, but there are some that are truly exceptional and worth traveling for. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) in Maine’s wilderness is an iconic and bucket-list-worthy long-distance paddling journey, as is a multi-day trip on the Salmon, Mississippi, Klamath, or Missouri River. The Florida Everglades, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the Boundary Waters of Minnesota all offer incredible ornate long paddling options. |
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| Before you get in the water, make sure you have the most important piece of safety gear - a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Life jackets work only when you wear them, and the law requires you to have one for every person in every boat. Test your knowledge with the Life Jacket Quiz to be sure you know your basics! |
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Message Board of the Week |
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| At home, I cover my boat. But when transporting on trips or in the water, I have wondered if the sun will eventually fade the colors of my boat or cause it’s structure to degrade. I was amazed at how the sun apparently turned the hatches on one of my boats (uncovered back then) to dust after a few years. I’m most interested in composite boats as that’s what I own. Does gelcoat have UV inhibitors built in? I have wondered if there is some sort of compound that you should apply once or twice a season to promote one’s boat’s longevity. I wouldn’t want to apply something that would, in turn, get into the water and cause any ecological harm. |
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