Basic Sea Kayaking Course

This comprehensive and highly-acclaimed Sea Kayaking Basics course is offered once each year by the Seattle Branch, and is designed to prepare you for moderate fresh water or salt water outings. All instruction is offered in single sea kayaks with bulkheads or approved flotation. You must have the physical ability to re-enter a kayak after a capsize (instruction provided) and the ability to swim 50 yards.  You will be introduced to:

1. Equipment used in coastal kayaking.
2. Cold water and how to dress for it.
3. Sea conditions: weather, waves, tides and currents.
4. Charts, navigation, communication and marine rules of the road.
5. Rescues and the importance of teamwork.
6. Paddling skills and the effects of wind & waves on boat behavior.
7. Physical conditioning.
8. Protecting the marine environment.
9. Just how much FUN this really is.

Our course dates this year are:
   April 20: First Class, 6:30-9pm at the Mountaineers Center
                  at 7700 Sand Point Way NE
   April 23: Pool Session at Juanita Pool. Three-hour sessions: 
                  9am-12, 12-3pm, 3-6pm (you will pick one)
   April 27: Second Class, 6:30-9pm
   April 29: Lake Session 8am-5pm.  All day instruction
                  on Lake Sammamish at Tibbetts Beach*.
   May 4:    Third Class, 6:30-9pm
   May 6, 20, 21, 27: Student Paddles for students of this class*
                              (These are just the dedicated ones, there
                                will be many other opportunities through
                               the summer for student paddles).

This is also an open invitation to join us, the Mountaineers Sea Kayakers, on a multitude of (free) kayak adventures around the Puget Sound.

We look forward to sharing our experience and training the next generation of paddlers, and we'll be offering many paddles suitable for beginners over the course of the summer/fall as well as mentoring if you really get into it.

* If you don't have a boat+drysuit both can be rented from
  Kayak Academy for $70+$45 a day, and includes paddle,
  float,sponge, hood, booties etc.