Sea Kayaking: A Woman's Guide [Paperback]

Shelley Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ragged Mountain Press Woman's Guides | Publication Date: May 1, 1998

The only complete women's guide to sea kayaking. Shelley Johnson, a professional guide and kayak instructor, takes you through the process of becoming a kayaker, from deciding where you will paddle, to dealing with common fears and stumbling blocks.... .getting quality instruction. . .choosing your boat. . .learning paddling techniques. . .and planning your trips.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Novice paddlers and seasoned veterans alike will find this a highly readable and eminently sensible guidebook to the essentials of safe and enjoyable sea kayaking. Forget the macho approach--this is an instructional for women, written by a woman. Basing her instructive technique on the premise that women hail from the "talk it over and think it through first" school of outdoor learning, author Shelley Johnson's tone is friendly and conversational. Whether discussing useful ways to carry and transport a kayak, getting in and out of it, or staying afloat, she is quick to offer supportive, practical advice. Yes, for instance, proper paddling techniques are difficult to master; but with the easy-to-follow captioned photographs provided, forward, backward, turning, and support strokes are a whole lot easier to understand and ultimately execute. If your greatest fears are the "wet exit" (capsizing) and hypothermia, you'll be pleased to learn there are myriad ways to prepare for and/or prevent such safety hazards. In addition to lending her own expertise, Johnson also includes comments, stories, and instruction from veteran water women of all ages. Chapters on weather/tidal conditions, equipment, and heading out with children all brim with excellent tips and straightforward advice. A resource listing is also included. So if you want the lowdown on how to be well prepared, properly geared, and safety conscious in a sea kayak, this edition of the Ragged Mountain Press Woman's Guide series points the way. --Martha Silano

From Library Journal

This new series is designed to teach outdoor skills to women in the way they learn. Each book includes detailed instructions about each activity and questions specific to women. The topics discussed include locating a backpack designed for a woman's body, getting a sea kayak on and off a car roof, and safety for women while backpacking. In an additional, attractive feature, women of all ages describe how they overcame obstacles, what they enjoyed the most, or just how they felt about undertaking a new activity. Both authors are published experts in their fields; Johnson is a registered Maine Guide, a certified coastal kayak instructor, and the sea kayaking editor for Canoe and Kayak Magazine, and Hall has hiked in the Rocky Mountains, Virginia Blue Ridge, and Europe, as well as the Appalachian Trail, which she described in a newspaper series. Both books are extremely well done and appealing, although Backpacking is more accessible to armchair travelers. Buy for public libraries and watch for more in this series.?Alison Hopkins, Queens Borough P.L., NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 1 edition (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070329559
• ISBN-13: 978-0070329553
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,098,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Kayaking > Sea Kayaking

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine guide for beginners of any gender, September 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Sea Kayaking: A Woman's Guide (Paperback)

I'm a man, and I can say without reservation that Shelley Johnson's book is "not for women only"! I started kayaking a few months ago, and got a whole slew of kayak books along with my boat. Shelley's book has done probably the best job of answering my questions, correcting my mistakes, easing my fears, and increasing my skills.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For anyone interested in sea kayaking, July 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sea Kayaking: A Woman's Guide (Paperback)

I'm a male who bought this book to help introduce a girlfriend to seakayaking. Without a doubt it's the best all around introduction to the sport I've read. Great advice on finding a boat and basic technique. I recomend it for either men or women who are interested in getting started.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of kayaking info for all!, February 10, 2001

By 

Jennifer Miller (Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sea Kayaking: A Woman's Guide (Paperback)

I had been looking for an informative book that covered the many aspects of kayaking when I found this book while on a kayaking/camping trip in Maine. The book caught my eye, because it said it was a woman's guide to sea kayaking. However, it is much more than just a "woman's guide". As the others have said, all kayakers will benefit from reading this book. It is an interesting and easy-to-understand guide with lots of descriptive photos and drawings. It covers a wide range of topics such as:getting to know your kayak & paddle, safety and emergency info, carrying and transporting your kayak, weather and navigation, and much more! I would recommend this book to any person interested in learning more about kayaking!