Kayak Country hopping trip.

T1N_T1N
ONLINE
just now
Hey fellas,

I've just been thinking about whether or not this is possible? (or if its been done) Literally just an idea in my head at the moment. Want to know people's thoughts on it before I spend time researching the trip.

From Australia to Papua, using islands as rest stops

The whole trip

That whole trip looks interesting. Will You use a folding kayak?

Yeah that's the one

Which one? I have a Feathercraft Kurrent, originally bought for a Mekong trip, which I gave up.

I actually haven't really gotten that far yet, I just wanted to get some people's thoughts on the trip first. I've had a look at the oru and folbot foldable kayaks and I suppose the weight of them (around 19kg) is agreeable but I don't have a clue how robust they are. How does your one hold up? Have you had it in the open ocean?

The Kurrent is probably the lightest foldable in the world, 9.6 kg alone and 11 kg with accessories and backpack.

I have only had it in light waves till now but its very stiff and some room for luggage but not as much as in my seakayak.

Do you think a foldable kayak could withstand a trip like this? It's really the only option as the trip will involve a large amount of trekking

It only depends on how you treat it. You can't pull it up on a beach or carry it fully loaded. But you can use seaweed or palmleaves on the sand, to protect the kayak

Hmm okay cheers for the input. Putting the idea of whether the kayak can handle the trip or not, do you think they're safe thing to use in the water?

A kayak is intrinsically safe, as it is closed when you sit in it, so it can't be filled with water but you will of course have to stay in it and keep it upright. :-)

Kayaking in open water, of course demands experience with kayaking, including ability to do eskimo rolls and entering, plus a non sinkable kayak or watertight luggage sacks, to keep it floating if you are thrown out. There is a lot of other stuff to learn but that can't be done on a forum, it has to be done in real life.

A kayak has been used for all kinds of expeditions. I have paddled the westcoast of Greenland and and the the Rangiroa atoll in French Polynesia.
A french couple paddled from makemo to Arutua in the Pacific in Polynesia.
A Swedish guy paddled from Northern Russia to Stockholm,
Two Germans paddled from Greenland to Cannada,
A German woman soloed around Australia and around South America.

BUT others tried and did not make it, f.x. Andrew McAuley but his trip was rather extreme: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_McAuley

There are many books about kayaking:
https://www.google.dk/search?q=seakayaking+books&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwistdX1rMvQAhXJ2ywKHeyxB4gQ_AUICCgB&biw=1920&bih=1048

"Keep the scratched side downwards"

Your whole philosophy should be Active Safety. That means capability and equipment to AVOID accidents. You should bring passive safety devices such as PLB satellite emergency beacon but don't rely on any rescue from outside in those parts of the world.

The best safety is achieved using common sense and having a lot of time. get weather forecasts and tips from the local sailors and fishermen and just WAIT on shore if the forecast isn't perfect. Many people on expeditions have died, trying to keep an appointment and therefore taking too big risks to get there in time.

A book that came out in 1992

The Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific
by Paul Theroux

(He did not find them so happy.)

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