As of 1st November 2010, kayaking or paddling any craft such as a kayak, canoe or surf ski more than 100 meters off shore, the paddler must be wearing a personal flotation device or PFD. (The term “life jacket” is no longer used with the new term, PFD, more accurately describing assistance to the wearer in varying water conditions.) Currently, the NSW regulations allow paddlers up to 400 meters offshore before requiring a PFD to be worn. In addition, the names of the different types of PFDs – PFD Type 1, Type 2 & Type 3 will also be altered and a 4th category created.

However, selecting a PFD doesn’t have to be that daunting, because within each water sport, there are specially constructed PFDs for the type of water the activity takes place, as well as the range of comfort and amenities desired. At Paddlecraft, we stock personal flotation devices that suit kayaking and paddle craft, as well as, fishing, sailing and boating pursuits for men, women and children and can advise the best fit and usage for the type of activity. We are now offering a 20% discount off all our online PFD purchases to help the customer get the safest and best package possible.

So starting from the top, a PFD Type 1 provides the highest level of buoyancy, keeping the wearer’s head above and out of water while unconscious. They are required to be used in open waters for all craft, both for children and adults. They are made of highly visible colors, yellow and red, with reflective patches. The design tends to be boxier and includes a neck roll or collar to support the back of the head.

PFD Type 2 are best described as buoyancy vests made of high visibility colors and designed to promote a greater range of movement and comfort. For paddlers, they are required to be worn between sunrise and sunset, operating in sheltered, enclosed or inland waters; or if the craft is not constructed to remain afloat if capsized, and of course by 1st November, being further than 100 meters offshore. PFD Type 2 vests are also suitable for sailing, water skiing and kite surfing.

A close sibling, the PFD Type 3 is generally a Type 2 vest in more subdued colors, which reduce visual contrast against the water. Often in vests designed for paddling, these PFDs are constructed of exactly the same material but in more appealing colors to customers.

Specially designed PFDs are available for all types of activities and participants while retaining their safety guidelines. Vests for women provide a welcomed design with less constriction at the chest. Anglers have PFD’s with plenty of pockets and gear stowage. Children up to the age of 12 years are required to wear PFDs and a wider range of styles promoting activity, as well as, suiting different ages and weights are now available.

Regarding the change in classifications, the terms of the PFDs types currently being used will still be stocked and sold for the next several months, however manufacturers are required to adopt the new terms and design requirements for all fabrication of new PFDs for 2011. The new labels will not require any substantial design changes, and for purchases made now and existing PFDs already owned, all will still be acceptable. A PFD Type 1 will become a Level 100, a PFD Type 2 is a Level 50 and a PFD Type 3 becomes a Level 50S. A new category, Level 150 has been created to reflect inflatable PFDs used in offshore activities requiring greater buoyancy.

How to choose a kayak is probably one of the most frequent questions asked at Paddlecraft Kayaks. The answer is always different, but the kayak selection process always starts at the same place – with the customer! The critical steps in a buying a kayak is to know what is the most important factor to you.

Single or Double Kayak? Clearly an important decision in selecting a kayak is to know if you want to paddle solo or if a tandem kayak is preferred. Sometimes, a tandem is double the fun, but there are those who believe they can become divorce courts! In general, tandem kayaks are heavier than single kayaks and are certainly less expensive than purchasing 2 single kayaks. Most doubles are easily lifted onto car roof racks by 2 people and paddling as a team is far easier than paddling alone. So overall the work is halved, but you are certainly are dependent on a partner. Quite a few doubles come with seats that adjust to the center to allow for one paddler, but as a single paddler, the paddling experience will be less rewarding than being on a kayak built for one.

For a family, double kayaks are a really great choice for family paddling. Most double kayaks have a high maximum weight capacity, and depending on the cockpit or seating layout, can accommodate 2 adults, 1 adult and 2 children, or even a party of 4 paddlers! Stability also becomes an important factor in this situation and the next decision emerges – Sit on top or Sit in Kayak?

Sit on Top Kayaks are very stable, even allowing paddlers to jump on and off without capsizing or even being able to sit on the side of them with your feet dangling in the water. The kayak hull features a wide flat bottom with ridges or “chines”, edges that break the water tension promoting a more stable ride. The sit on top kayak also has water holes, allowing the water to flow in and drain out again, making them suitable for the surf and still water. These kayaks are great for kids and also serve as a dive platform for people interested in snorkeling or scuba diving. Fisherman have also discovered sit on top kayaks because it allows for a wide range of movement, easily accommodate storage and can be paddled many different places.

Sit In Kayaks offer a different paddling experience and suits a paddler with a bit more experience and fitness! The sit in kayaks feature a cockpit that requires some flexibility in the entry of the kayak as well as some covered storage within the kayak hull. The seat generally provides better support, is overall a dryer paddle without water holes and the smooth bottomed hull provides more speed but less stability. Sit in Kayaks vary greatly in length and storage capacity and can be fitted with or without a rudder. Recreational kayaks range from about 3m to 4 meters length and are suited for day trips and still water areas. Touring and sea kayaks boast greater lengths and storage capacity and feature hull designs and other accessories that support ocean going adventures and several day camping trips.

Single or Double, Sit in or Sit On Kayaks – these basic decisions are the first steps in choosing the right kayak for you. Of course, many other factors, like price, manufacturer, transport and weight of the kayak and material of the kayak, will provide further information to finalise your selection and is certainly deserving of much consideration. But one of the best ways to choose your kayak is to have a paddle in various models, after all people come in as many shapes and sizes as there are kayaks! Most kayak hire shops will provide basic sit on and sit in models, which will help greatly in making your decision, and at Paddlecraft, we will also allow you to test paddle the model of choice when you are ready to make a final purchase. Choosing the right kayak can be a rewarding experience with the right advice and match of craft to paddler. So, get out there on the water, do some research and start paddling!

With less people in the shop, (and out on the water), I have been using some of the quiet time to cast about for some more clarity in our reason for being here and have had a few things surface for me. One of the best things about being part of Paddlecraft, is that I still get a big thrill out of customers who start off paddling with us and begin to discover something new about themselves.
I realize that everyone values connection, such as connection with people that like the same things we do and do the same things we like doing, so we seek to nourish those bonds. We have a lot of customers that come back to us to join our groups, or start out hiring the most stable kayak and then move on to buying their own kayaks. We rarely have anyone return from a paddle without a big smile on their face and it is a great feeling to be able to conjure up that magic in a person’s life. I respect those connections!

Getting out onto the water just feels good, and I just always focused on that when confronted with all the lifting of kayaks, unpredictable weather and wind or even fair weather paddlers dropping away, so I am on my own! Generally within a few minute’s strokes, the good feelings come rolling in and I am glad I am off paddling.

I made another connection recently, when I read about research being conducted in the UK studying the impact of water based activities on people’s mental and physical well being. The program is “Blue Gym Research” and has found growing medical evidence that access to the natural environment can prevent disease and help people recover from illness. The statistics of the average amount of time that people spend outdoors is really depressing and I am doubly thankful to be sitting here on the edge of paradise! I am hoping to be able to develop different paddling opportunities for people in need and would like to hear from anybody that knows a group or an organisation that would suit this endeavor.

Our journey from opening Paddlecraft in October 2006 with 6 kayaks and my kitchen table and cash register, till today, has seen us embarking on a path forward that has been completely new to us! We are Helen Morrow & Ross Crawshaw, owners of Paddlecraft Kayaks and we are so proud that our customers took the time to say thanks and got us to the finalists in the Northern Beaches Awards for specialised businesses, out of 92 other entrants.

As any new business does, we have struggled to define ourselves and try to find the right place for our product and service, so it can make a difference. Our message has taken time to come through, but I believe that because we were so new to paddling when we started, we still remember our uncertainty and can relate to customers still growing through the sport. And – we still have the freshness of a new found passion!

From the start, I listened to sales people that seemed to have the best products and were happy to explain “why” to me without condescension – and I told their stories to my customers. Ross and I also began paddling with Jackie Wilson, our trainer who loved paddling as her own personal passion and we caught the bug from her. We struggle to offer the best value and mix of products, but there were times when other places could just offer better deals and we would miss out on some of those customers. But what emerged for me was that we could offer our own best service and attention to every customer every day, in a place like Pittwater which embodies the perfect paddling lifestyle, just here at our front door. So we feel lucky and we thank you for recognising this in us!

Always a busy day for us – This year, Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 9th, so why not treat your mum to a Free Paddle at Paddlecraft! Just mention this offer when you book ahead and we will offer (1) hour of free kayak hire per paddling party. Explore the scenic waterways of Pittwater including McCarrs Creek, Lovett Bay, Clareville Beach, Scotland Island and other lovely destinations with your friends and family. Bookings are required to redeem this offer and are always advisable on our busy weekends.

The Pittwater Classic on 8th May, which is the last race and the final presentation for the HARBOUR SERIES, kicks off at 8:30 am at Bayview Park, just a short skip and a hop down the road from us. Both a Long Course, at approximately 14 Km and a Short Course at approximately 9Km is planned and registration is open now. For more detail, visit Harbour Racing’s website at http://www.harbourracing.org.au/events.asp. Surf skis, Sea Kayaks, Outrigger Canoes, Stand-up Paddle Boards, Plastic Sit-on tops and K4’s can be paddled and you can hire kayaks from Paddlecraft through advance booking and get in to the race. Enjoy the best of the autumn season paddling weather at this classic event!

With the busy beginning of the May month, we have scheduled our May Pittwater Discovery Tour on May 15th for a 9:30 start. The tours have been increasing in popularity and we urge everyone to book in early, so we can accommodate bigger groups and families. BYO kayak and you can join the group at a reduced fee. For more details, check out the Pittwater Discovery Tour under Hire & Tours and get more information regarding time, pricing and what to wear.

We still have a few hire fleet kayaks and second hand kayaks for sale, as well as, some price reductions on overstocked summer models. We are also happy to consider trade ins of Feel free, Wilderness & Perception kayak models against the purchase of a new kayak, so give us a ring or send us some photos of your current craft and let’s get you paddling in the next kayak of your dreams!

Used Kayaks from our hire fleet and demonstration kayak models are for sale, featuring both singles and doubles models, as well as, sit in kayaks and sit on kayaks. The ex hire used kayaks and the second hand kayaks from previous customers represent a wide range of costs and condition and are listed in our for “Sales “ section under “Used Kayaks” and will be updated up through the Easter Holiday. The costs include the kayaks only and are on an “as is” basis. We are happy to provide free test paddles at our beach launch, so you can determine which kayak suits you best! So dress to paddle!

We are also offering a 10% discount off of our currently stocked Wilderness Tsunami & Zephyr ranges, premium touring and sea kayaks, perfect for the cooler paddling weather. Offers extended only on stocked models! And to complete the package, all paddles, personal flotation jackets and kayaking accessories are available with a 20% discount when purchased with a kayak. New featured stock at the store includes our new line of roof rack accessories, Malone Roof Racks and the new Burke EVO thermal wear paddling gear.

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With all this March Madness, don’t forget to sponsor Ross in his 17km paddle this Sunday at the Kayak for Kids Paddle. His sponsorship page is www.everydayhero.com.au/ross_crawshaw and it is not too late to pledge some money to help raises funds for Lifestart, an Early Childhood Intervention Service that helps kids with intellectual disabilities or developmental delays from birth to school age achieve the best possible start in life. It is a paddle challenge from Blues Point to Clontarf – a distance of 17.5 km and it is this Sunday, 28th March.

Despite the yearly sadness I always feel with the official end of summer upon us, the best paddling weather is really just ahead! With the waning heat from the sun, the still warm water temperature and the beautiful glassy waters, the paddling is divine and should be enjoyed before the wooly winter winds of winter roll in. With a few long weekends ahead, there is time to start planning how to manage more time on the water. See you out there soon!!

Icebreaker clothing is a natural all wool clothing line for both men and women that combines outstanding design and functionality. I first saw it at a trade show in Canberra and the look and feel of the Icebreaker product, and the total philosophy just grabbed me and I knew we had to have it. We have been stocking Icebreaker clothing for about 2 seasons now, and I am still so stoked by the brand. Paddlecraft really backs all the products that are stocked, and my retail strategy – if you can call it that (!), is to personally connect with the item, or it doesn’t come in the door.

Icebreaker has that on all levels – the way it supports paddling by keeping you warm when it’s cold & wet and keeping you cool when it’s hot; it’s also lightweight and doesn’t retain any odor; and the design ethos is so compelling from the website, branding through to the actual design of the product. I also just “get” it – not synthetic, sustainable, not itchy, easy to care for, great properties when wet, and all JUST because it’s fine merino wool. In some ways the explanations get too complex when you read all about the Icebreaker brand. I suspect that it is because there are a lot of petroleum based suppliers and manufacturers that have been threatened by this New Zealand wool product and they have had to really justify in the media what is common sense to most people.

We want to share it with more than just paddlers. I have been told that the biggest users are people that aren’t into massive physical activity, but regular fit people travelling, walking, golfing – even babies! Doesn’t it make sense? Children and 100% natural fibers. Long distance flights and wrinkle free, self temperature adjusting clothes. Carry-on luggage with lightweight clothing. The list goes on.

Still to be totally honest, the Icebreaker apparel does come at a certain cost, so you really have to understand the value of it. But if you are trying to limit your product consumption, an Icebreaker shirt that costs $100, that you can easily wear 4 times with out washing and takes up ¼ the space to store can be translated in usage to a $25 value and less. (Women have been practicing this advanced mathematics for centuries!!) So to ease the financial worry, we are offering free postage to anywhere in Australia of all our Icebreaker apparel and 10% off the listed retail price! Let me know how you like it!

A picture is worth a thousand words, so I just couldn’t resist posting these pictures to help raise more support for the fundraising and for fun paddles that are coming up in the next months! It just makes you realise what a beautiful city Sydney is with just amazing waterways, and what wonderful paddling oppurtunities there are waiting if we just go out and get into it!

Here’s the start point at Blues Point park.

In the paddle zone!

Oh what a beautiful morning! Oh what a beautiful day!

There are 3 great paddles coming up quickly!! The first February event is the very popular Pittwater Discovery Tour at on Saturday, 13th February, launching at 9:30. Depending on the weather, wind conditions and tides, we will be choosing from many great spots to visit – Clareville Beach, Mc Carr’s Creek, Lovett Bay and many others! Bookings are essential and tours are kept to minimum numbers. (We had an outstanding response to our January tour and even booked a 2nd tour that month. So if this date doesn’t work for you, please give us a call and we will let you know if there are any other paddlers interested in other dates!) Visit our Pittwater Discovery Tour page at www.paddlecraft.com.au/shop/pittwater-discovery-tour/ for more information.

Registration is also open for the Bridge to Beach 11km Paddle, on Sunday 7th March, which runs in tandem to the Bridge to Beach swim. This is an amazing paddle that starts at the base of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and travels up to Manly with hundreds of paddlers paddling all manner of craft including sea kayaks and surf skis. It combines distance with truly epic sights only found in the Sydney Harbour and coastline. Register at www.bridgetobeach.com.au and if you need a kayak, please book way ahead as we will require advance booking for this paddle!

It is also not too early to also start training for the3rd annual Kayak for Kids, a fundraising paddling event benefitting Lifestart on Sydney Harbour on Sunday, 28 March 2010. This event has been dubbed the “City2Surf on water” and can be completed by paddlers bringing their own boat or by teams relaying the distance on 3-persons sit-on-tops. The overall 17.5m paddle starts at Blues Point and goes to Clontarf, but can be broken into (4) 4.5 km stages. You can go to www.kayakforkids.com.au for more information about the event and to enter, www.lifestart.org.au to learn about Lifestart’s programs, and Everyday Hero to raise fundraise online!

So there is really no reason why you’re not out there paddling – for fun, for fundraising and for fitness!

Happy New Year’s to everyone! Hope you have had a fun filled and happy holiday. We are kicking off the New Year at Paddlecraft with our first 2010 Pittwater Discovery Tour at 9:00 on Saturday, 9th January. Depending on the weather, wind conditions and tides, we will be choosing from many great spots to visit – Clareville Beach, Mc Carr’s Creek, Lovett Bay and many others!

Pittwater area has a long and varied history, with an area known for its lawlessness with escaped convicts and smuggled rum runners at the beginning of the 1800’s. But earlier settlers cleared land and built homes in Elvina Bay, Lovett’s Bay and McCarr’s Creek in the mid and late 1880’s. Fans of Salvation Creek by Susan Duncan are enthralled to see the house, Tarrangaua, built for the iconic Australian poet Dorothy Mackellar. Now with the western bank of land located within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, the area is protected from further homes, however many people still enjoy the secluded lifestyle in the many existing houses.

The Pittwater foreshore area is world famous for its idyllic lifestyle and forested outlook and kayaking Pittwater is a tremendous way to experience firsthand the still pristine ecological waterways, that are a jewel within the Northern Beaches community. Bookings are essential and tours are kept to minimum numbers. Visit our Pittwater Discovery Tour page link found on the home page.

Thank you to all our customers for your great support this year. We had a wonderful Christmas season and saw many repeat customers, as well as, recommendations from people we have helped. In the spirit of Boxing Day, we are prepare to make the big decision of purchasing a kayak for you or a loved one even easier!!
But first, a word on the true meaning of Boxing Day! In our car trip to the rellies on Christmas Eve, many suggestions were made from the back seat but none were on the mark. My research shows that Boxing Day dates back to the mid 1800’s in England and was a day of generosity to thank the community for all their effort throughout the years. The maids, drivers and other service workers were thanked with gifts of food, money, clothing, and other goods and were placed into boxes for easier transportation. So there you go!

For our Wilderness customers, on all our stocked Wilderness System kayaks, we are offering a free Swell aluminum fixed shaft paddle, a RRP value of $79. Or upgrade to a Swell Fiberglass Paddle for just $70 and a Swell Carbon Paddle for $160. For customers that are interested in just PFD’s or paddles, we are offering 20% of all our personal flotation jackets and with a purchase of any split fiberglass or carbon , receive a free paddle bag, a retail value of $79!!

For our Feel Free Customers, we have been advised that all stock has been distributed by the Australian supplier and nothing is left! Unfortunately, the new stock will not be available until mid January. We are very lucky to have a few models in stock, so don’t miss out on the the few remaining left. Call and inquire on stock models and colours.

Paddlecraft’s website is still undergoing changes and I have been asked by my website designer to let you know! She still takes great care to adjust all the details of the site and is greatly pained that we are still missing two icons on the Sales page. (Huh? Icons? The average bear wouldn’t even notice it!)

But Tania Buffin is a wonderful designer and was great to work with, and if you are in need of graphic design services, she can be reached at savage@elastik.com.au. But I would not have this website and the beauty and ease of the navigation without the website master, Arthur Case at http://www.stduio-automatique.com (…Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain…!)

We have had beautiful, HOT weather in Bayview and the weekends have been massive. We are fully stocked and I am escaping dealing with the carnage wrecked on the shop this weekend by typing this blog. I am still struck by how quiet the week days are here, even when I wake up to the same beautiful weather. It just shows how NETTELed people’s lives have become. (Not Enough Time To Enjoy Life!)

There is no denying that Christmas is really right around the corner – less than 4 weeks to go! We have some great Chrissy presents in the shop and available to be posted out as well. (I haven’t yet figured out how to ship kayaks out economically but I always try and sometimes have achieved some unorthodox successes!) But just getting out on the water is an amazing experience and that can be a really unique present for anyone. A gift voucher for as little as $35 will get you 2 hours in a single kayak or double the fun at $50 for 2 hours on a double kayak. Happy Paddling!

What a great success our Paddle for Breast Cancer Research was – and tons of fun too! We had about 3 dozen paddlers participating, and all our hire kayaks were used free of charge and we collected over $3000, far exceeding our expectations. The weather held out for us as well, with a nice calm start and the clouds coming in just when we finished.

The feeling among the paddlers was really special, as there were many different ages and groups, and the whole beauty of the paddling experience reminded us all, how lucky we are to have each other and to be able to enjoy life in such a beautiful setting.

We paddled up and around Scotland Island and staggered the launch to accommodate all manners of paddle craft and the conversations floated between groups, as people introduced each other and spoke on all manners of topics.

Afterwards, we all joined in for a group photo and coffee at the marina café. It was such a wonderful experience that we will certainly hold the event next year again and will raise our expectations to beat this year’s fundraising amount. Hope to see you there!

We are at the same great location, Bayview Marina Anchorage, with best of all, the same great view and access to Pittwater, but just in a bigger shop! For those of you that may not have visited us yet, we are supremely lucky to be sitting on the foreshore of one of the most majestic waterways of Sydney, Pittwater which is bordered by a National Forest, Kuringai Chase National Park and the Northern Beaches Peninsula. We only moved right next store into an adjacent shop, which allowed us to really showcase all the amazing products and kayak lines we have sourced from the recent shows.

We now have a 15m long wall filled top to bottom with kayaks which means we can stock about 2 dozen different models. The new spring line of Icebreaker, a really innovative line of NZ merino wool outerwear, is featured in the front windows, and all of the gadgets that I just fell in love with, like the portable Apollo lantern with LED lighting and the nifty waterproof telephone bags, you can actually find. But my personal favorite is the wall paddle display – no more paddle avalanches while trying to look at the goods!

The shop still needs all the appropriate signage, and the new look of the space is inspired by our great website which we have just gotten up and running. (Many thanks to Tan & Arthur!) We are hard to miss, once you find out about us and head up here. Just past the tennis courts on Pittwater Road, from Mona Vale towards Church Point, the road gets a bit curvy and then we are the second marina on the right, with all the hire kayaks sitting outside the shop. So if you are interested in dropping into the Pittwater journey and want to hire kayaks, or are interested in paddling gear, come around and meet Chili (my dog) and I soon!

Proudly supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation, we are hosting a fundraising paddle on October 24th, in sponsorship of October Breast Cancer Month. Launching at 7:30am, this all weather Pittwater paddling event will be open to all paddlers on either their own craft or Paddlecraft will provide a hire kayak free of charge! We are hoping for the usual gorgeous spring morning weather we have been enjoying lately on our Saturday morning group paddles, but we will paddle in any weather! We are still getting responses from our regulars, as well as, other keen paddlers and are really looking forwards to seeing a floating regatta of pink ribboned festooned kayaks floating around Pittwater.

Paddlers are encouraged to raise money by collecting sponsorship donations for their paddle – sponsorship forms available at Paddlecraft’s Bayview Marina shop or email us at info@paddlecraft.com.au. Participating paddlers needing a hire kayak will be required to book ahead and to submit sponsorship funds prior to the event start. Launching from the Bayview Marina, the paddle will include a 6km paddle around Scotland Island, but paddlers are free to add more distance to their paddle. Also, at the Bayview Kiosk, all profits from coffee sales will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. So, please get your kayak in the water and just start paddling – for October Breast Cancer Month!