Kayak Launch Hack - Launch Like A Skier.....

[Crow Horse]

I would find it difficult to believe that this hack hasn't already written about and it's not rocket science. I'm at a point in life that working smarter is more appetizing than bulling through a task. I'm all about making tasks easier. If this is old news,  stop reading here.

 

Back when I first started kayak fishing, the launch site was a funky mud clearing that was quite fragrant. Stepping into the mud and then into the yak wasn't what I wanted to do. The smell of the mud would kill a moose. My workaround was to use 2 hiking poles (can be found cheap on EBay) to launch similar to how a skier would when leaving the gate. Once afloat, I'd give the poles a quick rinse and then set them inside the yak. It also works well when beaching. My feet remain dry and mud free.

 

My yak is only a 10 footer (although pretty heavy with all the gear I carry)  and a larger sit on yak probably would be too heavy to do this. YMMV....

 

Here I was using one trekking pole and my hand paddle. I now use 2 trekking poles.

 

 

[BigAngus752]

Well, I may get my first kayak now.  

 

[MRQturbo]

Impossible for me to launch like how you did.. Mine fully rigged.. Maybe 160 lbs with all my gear... 

[Crow Horse]

9 minutes ago, MRQturbo said:

Impossible for me to launch like how you did.. Mine fully rigged.. Maybe 160 lbs with all my gear... 

 

I'd imagine it would be too heavy to launch like I do.

[The Rooster]

I won’t allow my kayak to drag on the ground that way and be scratched up. I always turn mine around backward, stern in the water and just barely beach the bow. Then wade out knee deep and sit down on it, which often causes the front end to float up and come loose. If it doesn’t then it takes very little for me to push off. I realize this would put me walking in the mud, but often that isn’t an issue for me. 

[Crow Horse]

On 2/8/2025 at 4:11 PM, The Rooster said:

Then wade out knee deep and sit down on it, which often causes the front end to float up and come loose.

What do you do about cold water?

[The Rooster]

I only kayak on days where the combined air and water temperatures meet or exceed 120°, and the water is at least 60° of that. I just wade out. In colder weather I just use my boat instead.

[Cuivre]

When I do to cold weather tournaments I keep two pair of hip waders with me- light weight FroggToggs and a heavier set of neoprene waders.  Which set I use depends on the degree of cold I'll be in.  They help with getting in and out of the yak without worrying about getting my feet wet when launching, as well getting in and out other places around the lake to address issues with gear or bathroom needs.  Plus, they keep my legs from getting wet/cold from splashes.