A Paddle Trip to D’Arcy Island – Gulf Island National Park Reserve
A Kayaking Day Trip to D’Arcy Island What is commonly called D’Arcy Island is actually two islands lying about 3 1/2 nautical miles off the east coast of the Saanich Pennisula just north of Victoria. Big D’Arcy is the largest of the two at around 83 hectares and is now a part of the Gulf Island National Park Reserve containing 7 wilderness campsites with picnic…
Paddling Traditional Skin on Frame Kayaks with ‘Made Kayaks’
Not too long ago Ocean River Sports began selling a clever little ‘skin on frame’ kayak called the ‘Squid’. What makes this kayak unique is that it comes as a kit that can be assembled in a couple of weekends with just a few basic tools. The kayak is the inspiration of Ron Crown, an animator by profession and a kayak designer and builder by…
Ocean River Photo Contest Winners
The top three photos from the 2017 Ocean River photo contest It was extremely difficult to choose winners for this photo contest as there were so many amazing images sent in. We had photos of wildlife, photos of people in kayaks, photos of people on paddleboards and even shots of kayaks abandoned on beaches. After much thought, we finally settled on the three photos we just…
Kayak Camping Gear List
All the Kayak Camping Gear You Will Need and Some You Won’t Like everything, choosing what camping gear to take depends on a number of things, probably none of them as significant as personal preference. What you will take and how much will also be determined by how long your trip is, where you are going and the carrying capacity of your kayak. Kayaks, especially…
Kayaking Gear List
The Paddling Gear You Need to Have, the Paddling Gear You Should Have The following gear lists itemize the equipment you need to carry with you whenever you paddle and other items you should consider carrying depending on the route you have planned and the time you will be out. For more detailed information on the basic gear you are required to carry see our…
Footwear for Paddling
The Right Footwear for Comfort & Function when Paddling Shop Paddling Footwear Now What to wear on your feet while paddling is going to depend a lot on the time of year and the weather conditions but you will find that every paddler has their own opinion about what is the “best” thing to wear on your feet. In fact, every time I am on…
Flares – Obsolete or Still a Good Idea?
Should You Carry Flares When Paddling? This question often comes up, do you need to carry flares with you, especially with many paddlers now carrying cell phones, VHF radios, PLB’s and satellite messengers? In fact, the Transport Canada Small Boating Regulations don’t require you to carry any kind of visual signaling device unless you are in a boat over 6m in length, (many double kayaks),…
The Uchuck – A Novel Way to Reach the Remote West Coast
One of my favourite Vancouver Island kayaking trips is from the tiny fishing village of Kyuquot, nestled in a protected harbour in Kyuquot Sound, down the coast to Friendly Cove (Yuquot) in Nootka Sound. What makes destinations like this so special is their remoteness and what makes this a truly unique and special trip is using the Uchuck III to access and depart the coast…
How to Choose the Right PFD
Lifejackets vs Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) First off lets eliminate the confusion between Lifejackets and Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs). A true lifejacket is designed to turn an unconscious victim face up in the water. They have more buoyancy than a PFD, come in two sizes only and must be red, yellow or orange. They are bulkier and lack the comfort for long term recreational use.…
Life Jackets and PFD’s, do you really need to wear them?
Life Jackets and PFD’s, do you really need to wear them? Transport Canada’s Small Vessel Regulations state that: “PFD’s must be comfortable and functional enough to be worn at all times. Highly visible, short models with pockets for distress flares, radio, and whistle are preferable”. You should also be aware that the Transport Canada regulations also apply to stand up paddle boards, even when leashed. …
