Oru Kayak BAY ST Owner's Manual page 10

Kayaking 101 & Troubleshooting
8
3. Sit on the coaming just behind the seat, with your hands on the
cockpit handles.
4. Swing your legs into the boat, one at a time (try to clean the sand or
dirt off your feet in the process).
5. Lower yourself into the seat.
6. Start paddling.
8.2 SITTING IN A KAYAK
The proper sitting position will keep you comfortable for hours of
paddling and also will help you better control the boat.
• Sit in the kayak upright, with your back against the seat back.
• Adjust the footrest so that your feet rest on them, with your ankles in a
neutral position. Your knees should be comfortably bent, and your legs
should be splayed apart with your knees pressed against the underside
of the hull adjacent to the cockpit.
8 ORU KAYAK | OWNER'S MANUAL
(continued)
8.3 PADDLING A KAYAK
Paddling a kayak is fairly intuitive, but a few tips will make your
experience more efficient, fun, and relaxing.
8.3.1 How to choose a paddle
Recommended paddle sizes may vary based on the paddle shape and
type, as well as your personal preference. This table offers rules of
thumb:
YOUR HEIGHT
5'0" – 5'5"
5'5" – 6'2"
6'2" plus 225 – 240 cm
On some kayak paddles the blades are in the same plane. On others, the
blades are offset, to cut more efficiently through wind and water; these
are called feathered paddles. Many paddles, including the Oru Paddle, can
be set in either a feathered or unfeathered position.
RECOMMENDED PADDLE LENGTH
215 – 220 cm
220 – 230 cm