Repair, Instruction | Old Town Canoe Co Osprey, XT Tandem Plus, Pack

REPAIR

Your canoe or kayak is built to last. With proper care and maintenance, as described on the previous pages, your boat should give you and your family years of enjoyment.

Though our canoes and kayaks are built to withstand years of use and abuse, mishaps can occur and your boat may at some point become dam- aged and need repair. In the event of a problem, we recommend you contact your local dealer for the appropriate repair kit or parts. These same dealers can repair the boat for you or give you assistance in getting started in the right direction.

Remember that no kayak is com- pletely watertight. It is normal to take on a cup or two of water through rivets or hatches. However, if your kayak is taking on signiﬁcant amounts of water, you may have a pin hole leak. Either locate the leak yourself (by ﬁlling the boat with water and observing leaks), or take it to your dealer for servicing. Contact us any time for assistance, and we’ll see to it you’re back on the water in no time!

INSTRUCTION

Before you set out, it is important to get good instruction. Check with your dealer or local club to ﬁnd out about classes offered locally. You should look for a course that covers basic strokes, braces and rescue techniques. With any outdoor activity, it is also good to be familiar with ﬁrst aid, especially CPR and treatment of hypothermia.

Place the blade in the water near your toes

HOW TO PADDLE A KAYAK The Paddle: Place your hands on the

paddle shaft a little further apart than shoulder width. As a guide, hold your arms out to the sides then bend them to 90 degrees at the elbow. This is about how far your hands should be from each other as you grasp the paddle. Remember you only want to hold the paddle, not choke it. Over grip can tire your arms.

You may notice some paddlers us- ing off-set or feathered blades rather than blades that are on the same plane. Feathered blades are sometimes used to lessen wind resistance, but are largely a matter of personal preference. For beginners a straight blade arrangement is easiest.

The Paddler: Sit all the way back in the cockpit of your kayak. Careful adjustment will make your backrest a comfortable aid in maintaining proper body position.

Also adjust your foot braces before you leave the shore. To properly adjust foot braces on a sit-on-top kayak, straighten your legs all the way then bring them in one foot well. On a sit- inside kayak, foot brace adjustment should provide a snug ﬁt for your knees and thighs. The ﬁt will depend on the paddler and the kayak bracing system. Remember if your legs are too straight, you may strain your lower back.

Some boats are equipped with thigh braces. For boats with easily adjusted