The Kayak Companion (Paperback)

by Joe Glickman (Author) "WITH MORE THAN 90,000 MILES UNDER HIS SOGGY BELT, Verlen Kruger is the granddaddy of long-distance paddlers..." (more)
Key Phrases: racing kayak, spray skirt, paddle shaft, New York, Farmer John, Jamaica Bay (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Joe Glickman, one of the premier paddlers in North America, has spent countless hours in kayaks of all kinds, and learned the finer points of paddling the hard way. In The Kayak Companion, he shares his sense of fun along with his knowledge"

Product Description
"You can tell kayaks are cool," writes Joe Glickman, "by the number of times they appear in advertisements for SUVs and beer." Today these sleek, fast watercraft are more popular than they have ever been in their 10,000-year history.

In THE KAYAK COMPANION, Joe Glickman, a two-time member of the U.S. National Marathon Kayak Team, teaches beginners the basic techniques for all kinds of kayaking - sea, touring, and recreational. For more experienced kayakers, he offers expert advice on how to navigate in all kinds of waters and weathers. And kayakers of every skill level will appreciate Glickman's candid assessments of the various types of boats; how to read a compass; troubleshooting in lousy weather; and how to deal with lightning, big fish, and marauding powerboats.

As Glickman discusses kayaking techniques, he interweaves stories of his own adventures as a kayaker, including such magical moments as the time when he saw a magnificent moon rise over New York City's Jamaica Bay and the day he almost made a fatal error during a ferocious 12-hour blizzard in Montana.

THE KAYAK COMPANION not only provides kayakers with essential information, it also inspires enthusiasm for one of the fastest-growing sports in North America.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (May 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158017485X
• ISBN-13: 978-1580174855
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #75,431 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not much to learn from this book, even for a beginner, September 19, 2004

By	Mark Olsson (Wet Side of WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book is 50% watered down information, 50% anecdotes about the author paddling up some river or off the coast of NY or somewhere. Seems to be more oriented towards racing or endurance than just the average person who likes to paddle around. It doesn't have enough information for somebody just starting out, and it has no useful information for an advanced kayaker. Example: He says he's never tried a dry suit, but then goes on to tell you to use a two piece, but that they are probably too hot anyway... As for roll recoveries - he more or less says nobody really does that and it's too hard to explain anyway, so he didn't bother. If you want an excellent book, try "The Essential Sea Kayaker" instead. I got both of them at the same time, and The Kayak Companion is probably going on the shelf never to be read again.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good intro to kayaking, October 25, 2004

By	Steven J. Mcallister "mclstr" (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a fun read.

It was actually this book that got me back into kayaking after 30 years.
It is not meant to be a detailed book on the technic of kayaking, but a fun and entertaining adventure biography with enough detail to educate as well. There is just enough information for someone interested in kayaking to get started.
It's a good read for someone thinking about kayaking and interested in real life outdoor adventure.

steve

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration, good advice, lots of laughs, May 20, 2003

By	ian (Naugatuck, Ct) - See all my reviews

This book helped me a lot. I've been paddling a plastic 16-foot kayak for two years and felt I was ready to advance in the sport. Reading Glickman's book was the next best thing to knowing a really experienced paddler who is happy to answer all your questions - including those you don't know enough to ask. When he listed the common mistakes paddlers make in the forward stroke, he could have been talking about me. I followed his advice and saw immediate improvement. The chapter on choosing a kayak was invaluable, and will save me a lot of money and time when I'm ready to upgrade. Glickman's stories of the trials and tribulations of his epic wilderness paddles were alternately inspiring and very funny. If you love kayaking - or think you might - you'll devour this book.