The Complete Book of Sea Kayaking, 4th (Sport) (Paperback)

by Derek Hutchinson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The 4th edition of a guide to sea kayaking, previously entitled SEA CANOEING, revised to include a new chapter on basic strokes and techniques, as well as current information and equipment and rescue procedures.

From the Back Cover
The Complete Book of Sea Kayaking is a comprehensive guide for the beginner and an invaluable reference book for the seasoned veteran. From basic strokes and techniques to advanced rescue maneuvers, the indispensable information that renowned expert Derek C. Hutchinson presents will benefit kayakers of all skill levels. With this book in hand you will learn about choosing a kayak and paddle, launching, how to outfit yourself, advice on kayak strokes, maneuvers, navigation, equipment, and the newest technology. This new edition contains additional material on the history and origins of the kayak as well as new information on navigation. The chapters on strokes and techniques have been expanded considerably and now present information in a master-class format that caters to novice paddlers.


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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; 4th edition (February 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564407225
• ISBN-13: 978-1564407221
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,678,408 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book With Some Deficiencies, November 8, 1998

By A Customer

The author is one of the greats in sea kayaking expeditions and kayak design, and generously shares the wealth of his experience with his readers. An excellent A to Z book for a beginner, as well as an intermediate kayaker. Very well written, magnificent illustations, great (British) sense of humor. The deficiencies: very vague on correct forward stroke techniques; describes many variations of eskimo roll, but again somewhat vague on how to learn to roll. Also the section on features of different kayak models is 15 years out of date, not updated for this edition. RECOMMENDATION: Buy it by all means, but it should not be your only book on the subject.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Confused Laundry List, August 24, 2000

By	Daniel Smith (Somerville, MA) - See all my reviews

Derek Hutchinson has led kayaking expeditions around the world and teaches highly regarded seminars on the sport. However, he seems unable to clearly translate this teaching ability to print. This book reads like a laundry list of things to do in a kayak: equipment choices, paddle strokes, rescue techniques, rolling, surfing maneuvers, etc.; without rhyme or reason as to their purpose or when they should be executed. The book does cover a complete range of topics relevant to the sea kayaker: all topics just mentioned plus weather, tides, navigation, wind, etc. Unfortunately, many sections are out-of-date, such as the equipment section; a lot of information, such as that on nautical charts and on weather, is specific to kayaking in Britain; and some information, such as that on tidal currents, is just plain wrong. I did learn quite a lot from the sections on turning strokes and eskimo rolling, but not as much as I feel I should have and not enough to know where or when to use a particular technique. Overall, I was disappointed with the quality of instruction presented in this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Updated, November 7, 2006

By	M. Ziebell (prescott, AZ United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Complete Book of Sea Kayaking, 5th (Paperback)

A very good introduction to basic and advanced techniques by an author with tremendous seas kayaking experience. Lots of good diagrams, clear discriptions, nice layout.