The Joy Of (Self-Imposed) Suffering

By

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August 22, 2022

There’s a story circulating about a guy who accidentally zapped his manly bits with bear spray. How these two items came into communion boggles the imagination. Being naked on a campsite is understandable, but being naked with the bear spray safety off? Maybe there was a bear who got left out of the story. Either way, the image of randy chappie doing the danse frénétique about tents and guy wires with a capsicum inferno raging just south of the equator does nicely open the topic of self-imposed suffering and canoe trips.

The joy of (self-imposed) suffering

In 1980, Don Starkell packed up his two sons and paddled 12,000 miles from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to the mouth of the Amazon River. Son Jeff had the good sense to bail in New Orleans, but son Dana went the distance and lived to tell the tale. Along the way, as recounted in Starkell’s classic Paddle to the Amazon, the lads had a dizzying variety of close calls, including a mock firing squad execution enacted by a bunch of bored Central American guerillas.

However, the tribulation lingering in my mind is an ankle scrape, exacerbated over time by saltwater, malnutrition and exhaustion that roiled and festered until Starkell’s ankle bone was visible in the crater.

Lest you get the idea this behavior is a uniquely male predilection, recall the story of Victoria Jason, who had the notion kayaking through the Northwest Passage would be a good idea. In cutting the corner from Naujaat to Uqsuqtuuk in arctic Nunavut—a 450-kilometer drag in winter conditions—her body consumed every scrap of available fat. It then started devouring muscle, which affected her entire frame, including her heart. This left Jason so compromised she had to take a couple of seasons off to regain strength before returning and completing the trip.

[ Plan your next canoe adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

Suffering builds character, right?

Jason and Starkell—I don’t know about fireball guy—have since passed of causes unrelated to their paddling journeys. However, when either wrote or spoke about their expeditions, they both often said tough conditions are the crucible of character formation. And they’re not the only ones.

Wise men and women of every tradition claim suffering can bestow clarity. “If you want to know the truth about the universe, about the meaning of life, and about your own identity, the best place to start is by observing suffering and exploring what it is,” writes Israeli self-help sage Yuval Noha Harari in his book, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century.

Immersed in nature in an unmediated encounter with the weather, the world and your frailties, a canoe trip is uniquely poised to do all Harari says, while also nurturing growth through the many possible trials and tribulations of the trail.

Paddling trips are good for the soul

One of the best things about paddling trips is taking what you think you might need to solve the problems of the days ahead and committing to the process of testing the idea by crossing the threshold between the relative safety and predictability of home to the relative risk and unpredictability of the wild. Often things don’t go quite as planned. Enter discomfort, difficulty, a little self-imposed suffering, and a lot of learning.

This can happen on trips of any length, of course, but the longer, the merrier. Experiencing a variety of topography, watersheds, weather conditions, and even the moods of travel mates all increase your chances of earning a hard-won lesson. But, if ever this seems too arduous or time-consuming, you can get naked, pull the safety pin off the pepper spray and find the meaning of life.

This article was first published in the Early Summer 2022 issue of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

Hurts so good. | Feature photo: David Jackson

Meet The 77-Year-Old Solo Canoeist Crushing 1,000-Mile Arctic Journeys

By

Kaydi Pyette

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August 20, 2022

Polar explorer Will Steger says, “Expeditions have kept me young.” This spring, at the age of 77, he set off on another two-month solo canoe-sled trip above the Arctic Circle.

On thin ice: Will Steger’s solo Arctic expeditions

Traveling by canoe-sled during the risky spring breakup has become something of an annual meditation retreat for Steger in his seventies. “It’s a really beautiful way of travel. On the thin ice, you have to be in the moment at all times. You have to be at your extreme best,” he says.

Steger perfected his canoe-sled system over the last three decades with the help of Ted Bell of Minnesota’s Northstar Canoes. The canoe is an essential piece of kit to get over bad ice and open water, and made possible Steger’s 1995 Arctic Ocean crossing, from Russia to Canada via the North Pole. Modifications are made to square off the entry lines in the bow and stern to lessen resistance over snowdrifts, and removable plastic dog sled runners are bolted on.

person pulls a laden kayak across the Arctic ice sheet — “When you’re on a solo, you see your life so clearly,” says Will Steger, pictured here on the Arctic Ocean in 2019 at the end of a 1,000-mile solo expedition at the age of 74. | Feature photo: Tasha Van Zandt

“My biggest fear is cold water—especially being swept under the ice. I’m working the fear out of my system,” Steger says.

As one of the most renowned polar explorers of the modern age, Steger has a humbling list of accomplishments, including leading the first dogsled expedition without resupply to the North Pole. His 1990 non-motorized crossing of Antarctica—also a first— has brought him back into the spotlight with the release of After Antarctica.

Steger revisits an earlier expedition

The new documentary film features the dangers and tension of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition—a 4,000-mile, seven-month traverse of the frozen continent by dogsled. The expedition brought together six explorers from six nations and captured the world’s attention. Steger was its leader.

“What is so inspiring about the expedition is it was bigger than themselves. It was an opportunity to draw together in international cooperation to ratify the Antarctic Treaty,” says director Tasha Van Zandt. The expedition achieved its goal in 1991, protecting Antarctica from oil and mineral exploration for another 50 years.

“On Antarctica, we set an example that a small team of people can change the world,” says Steger.

The documentary features archival footage from the 1990 expedition, interspersed with modern reflections from Steger on his 1,000-mile, two-month canoe-sled journey in 2019. Van Zandt captured this photo on the final day of the expedition as Steger pulled his canoe-sled on the Arctic Ocean.

[ Plan your next paddling expedition with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

From Arctic firsts to lasts

The solo trips ground and recharge Steger for his work as a climate advocate at the Steger Wilderness Center in Ely, Minnesota. “I was fortunate to do some geographical firsts, but I will go down in history for lasts,” says Steger in After Antarctica. “You can’t do the expeditions I did—the routes don’t exist anymore. Every ice shelf I traveled has disintegrated.”

Yet, he remains hopeful as increasingly the public is seeing climate change firsthand, he says.

“We’re all eyewitnesses now. Whenever I get overwhelmed by climate, I reflect on the Trans-Antarctic Expedition and what we did on that small team. Through international cooperation, we helped preserve Antarctica. Now, we have to look at preserving the world we live in.”

This article was first published in the Early Summer 2022 issue of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

“When you’re on a solo, you see your life so clearly,” says Will Steger, pictured here on the Arctic Ocean in 2019 at the end of a 1,000-mile solo expedition at the age of 74. | Feature photo: Tasha Van Zandt

6 Epic Expeditions To Follow This Summer

By

Conor Mihell

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August 17, 2022

Sticking closer to home this year? Satisfy your wanderlust from afar with these six epic, record-breaking kayaking and canoeing journeys to track in summer 2022. From paddling Canada’s north to circumnavigating the Australian continent, let these far-flung adventures inspire you next time you venture off the beaten path.

[ See also: So You Want To Go North? ]

Frank Wolf tows his canoe on an epic summer paddling expedition — Frank Wolf has covered 25,000 miles on 26 self-propelled wilderness expeditions. | Photo: Frank Wolf

1 Symbiosis: To the Arctic Coast

Vancouver-based adventurer Frank Wolf has an impressive resume of long, self-propelled journeys in the Canadian wilderness. Sticking with his tradition of never repeating the same route, Wolf is plotting a challenging northern canoe route for the summer of 2022.

Wolf’s Symbiosis expedition will start at the headwaters of the Tsichu River near the border of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. He’ll descend the Tsichu to the Peel and Mackenzie rivers, before ascending the Great Bear River and tracing the vast, treeless shoreline of Great Bear Lake. Finally, Wolf will follow a traditional route to the Coppermine River and continue downstream to the Arctic coast.

[ Watch: Polar Bear Attempts To Eat Frank Wolf’s Canoe ]

Like always, Wolf’s vision is audacious. But he has no doubt the 800-mile route has been done before. “I don’t think any canoeists can claim a first,” he says. “People have been traveling these waterways for thousands of years. They were just doing it to live back then with no thought of hedonistic adventure—and they were just plain hardier than we are because the times were harder.”

two women sit bundled up in a tent in front of a snowy cliff — Bethany “Fidgit” Hughes and Lauren “Neon” Reed’s seven-year odyssey finishes this fall. | Photo: Courtesy HerOdyssey.com

2 Across the Americas

The final leg of a multi-year, human-powered expedition spanning the Americas ends this summer with a canoe trip. Bethany “Fidgit” Hughes and Lauren “Neon” Reed’s seven-year, 20,000-mile expedition, aptly named Her Odyssey, will end in early September, after the duo paddle a 17-foot Venture canoe from Jasper, Alberta, to the Arctic Ocean.

The two women started walking north from the Beagle Channel in 2015 and became the first women to walk the length of South America when they arrived in Turbo, Colombia, three years later. The pair then biked, kayaked and hiked through Central America, Mexico and the United States, publishing stories connecting the land and its people along the way.

[ Plan your next paddling adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

3 Freya keeps paddling

Freya Hoffmeister knew her sea kayak expedition around the North American continent would require up to a decade to complete. But she never imagined losing close to a full calendar year due to a global pandemic. Still, Hoffmeister managed to tackle a good chunk of the Alaskan coast last summer and returned to paddle part of Mexico’s Pacific coast in the fall, approaching a total distance of 10,500 miles, nearly 40 percent of the total distance. The tireless German super paddler keeps going in summer 2022 along the northern coast of Alaska and Canada’s Yukon Territory.

man paddles a kayak into the surf — The Northwest Passage has never been paddled in a single season. | Photo: Pam LeBlanc

4 Northwest Passage: Arctic cowboys

After COVID-19 delayed the departure of three Texans planning to kayak the Northwest Passage in 2020 and again in 2021, the Arctic Cowboys are hoping to take a crack at the 1,925-mile expedition this year. West Hansen, a veteran kayaker who organized a National Geographic-sponsored Amazon River expedition in 2012, will be joined by Jeff Wueste and Rebekah Feaster. They will be attempting the first documented single-season kayak journey through the Arctic Ocean islands of Canada’s Far North.

The team plans to paddle from Pond Inlet on Baffin Island to Tuktoyaktuk, near the Yukon-Alaska border. On this legendary water route they will document the impacts of climate change that could reshape global transportation in an ice-free future. Much of the route has never been paddled in modern times and includes crossings of up to 60 miles long.

expedition paddler holds up a paddle in front of a city skyline at dawn — Cyril Derreumaux pre-departure in 2021. | Photo: Teresa O’Brien

5 Another crack at a huge crossing

To date, Ed Gillet remains the only person to complete a sea kayak expedition from California to Hawaii. Gillet made his epic journey in 1987 in a modified Necky tandem kayak—long before the advent of satellite communication. In fact, the adventurer had been given up for dead by the time he stumbled ashore on Maui after 63 days at sea. Multiple attempts to recreate the expedition have failed, except for a 2019 SUP crossing by Antonio De La Rosa.

Last summer, France-born American Cyril Derreumaux set out in a custom-built, live-aboard, solar panel-clad sea kayak, but was rescued by the coast guard six days into the expedition following some equipment failures. Derreumaux, who set a Guinness speed record for rowing the same crossing in 2016, insists 2022 is his year. He predicts a 70-day journey.

person paddles a sea kayak in front of seaside cliffs — Bonnie Hancock set out from the shores of Australia’s Gold Coast on December 19, 2021, in an attempt to circumnavigate the continent. | Photo: Courtesy Bonnie Hancock

6 Circumnavigating Australia

On December 19, 2021, Bonnie Hancock set out from the shores of Australia’s Gold Coast to attempt to become just the fifth person and second woman to circumnavigate the continent.

At the time of publication, Hancock was more than five months into her 10,000-mile, seven-month journey by surfski, and on schedule to break Freya Hoffmeister’s speed record set in 2009. Hoffmeister completed the circumnavigation in 10 months and 26 days unsupported. Hancock has the assistance of a support boat, which gives her the safety net to paddle point to point—she was able to save more than 600 miles of distance by paddling across the Great Australian Bight, at one point 300 miles from shore.

[ Browse the widest selection of boats and gear in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

A professional Ironwoman and dietician, Hancock is fundraising for Gotcha4Life, an organization supporting mental health. She expects to finish the expedition in July.

This article was first published in the Early Summer 2022 issue of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

Freya Hoffmeister started her North American epic in 2017 and has completed roughly 40 percent of the decade-long journey. | Feature photo: Jaime Sharp

Fishing Kayak Review: SeaStream Angler 120 PD

By

Ric Burnley

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August 16, 2022

man pedals SeaStream 120 Angler fishing kayak — Budget doesn't mean cheap. Smart design and sturdy construction for less than $2,000. | Feature photo: Roberto Westbrook

Confidently crossing a choppy bay, I’m heading to my favorite sheltered creek in a rigged-up pedal kayak. I have rod holders, frame seat, gear tracks and a powerful pedal drive taking me to the fish. What’s the big deal, you ask? I still have $1,000 in my bank account—the difference between the SeaStream Angler 120 PD I’m testing and what you would typically pay for an equally equipped pedal drive sit-on-top. In fact, the Angler 120 PD falls well below the $2,000 threshold that we thought no pedal kayak could beat just a few years ago.

Too many moving parts, they said. Not enough sales volume, they said. I say, I’m going fishing in the Angler 120 PD.

Person on sit-on-top fishing kayak with rod

Fishing Kayak Reviews

SeaStream Angler 120 Offers Pedal Power at Great Price

SeaStream Angler
120 PD Specs

Length: 12’3”

Width: 35”

Weight: 97 lbs
(Rapid Drive 22 lbs)

Capacity: 400 lbs

MSRP: $1,699

seastreamkayaks.com

SeaStream is the sister company of long-time New Zealand sit-on-top kayak manufacturer Feelfree Kayaks. Feelfree made it easier to get from truck to the water with their innovative Wheel in the Keel, and created the first pedal drive and motor drive hybrid called the Overdrive. Feelfree also launched the Bass 100 microskiff under the Jonny Boats label and offers the Big Fish series of affordable kayaks badged 3 Waters Kayaks.

Since its inception in 2020, the SeaStream catalog has grown to include seven kayaks. Four make sense for anglers and borrow design and rigging features inspired by its big brother and sister brands.

The Angler 120 PD is positioned as a fishing kayak for beginners. It’s a funny category. Are beginner fishing kayaks for new kayakers or new anglers? Beginner kayaks are often thought to be inexpensive. So, do beginner kayakers have less money? This doesn’t make sense either; I know a few dentists getting into kayak fishing. I leave this conversation for the bait shop coffee counter. Discuss.

Key Fishy Features

The Angler 120 PD is two inches over 12 feet long and weighs 97 pounds without the pedal drive. So, I loaded it on my kayak trailer instead of wrestling it onto my roof racks. After adding the 22-pound drive and a day’s worth of fishing gear, a heavy-duty cart with large wheels is the best way to roll everything down to the launch.

The pontoon-style hull design and rudder system on the Angler 120 PD feel like the Feelfree Lure and Feelfree Moken, while the cockpit layout and seat base pull from the 3 Waters Kayaks brand.

The topside of the kayak features a molded storage area in the bow instead of a hatch. A large, deep tankwell in the stern has space for a standard gear crate or small cooler. A usual spider web of bungees will hold gear in place. The advantage to the well is it’s a convenient place to store gear and tackle you want to keep within easy reach.

The wide EZ-Rider frame seat features quick drying and breathable mesh on the bottom and back. It’s easy to adjust the angle on the water with ladder lock slider buckles. The seat moves forward and back on notches molded into the kayak, and a strap running through the seat base secures the seat to the boat. Simple and functional.

SeaStream Angler 120 Rigging

One of the most contentious discussions behind the scenes at any fishing kayak company, or automotive company for that matter, must be finding the balance of how much to include as standard features and at what price. Straight out of the box, this boat is ready to go fishing as soon as it hits the water.

Two flush mounted rod holders are installed behind the seat. The flush mount rod holders are angled straight back for trolling or bait fishing. I appreciated these flush mount rod holders as a quick place to stick the rod while rigging up or unhooking fish. Two horizontal rod holders with tip protectors run down each gunwale. Horizontal rod holders secured my rods to the deck as I sneaked below overhanging trees and low bridges.

Adding a gear crate to the tankwell gave me a place to carry more rods while underway and expanded storage to include a couple of tackle trays and a bag of gear. Feelfree UNI-Track accessory rails run either side of the cockpit ahead of the seat.

Maybe what makes the SeaStream Angler 120 PD a beginner fishing kayak is the lack of through-hull scuppers and routing for wires and batteries to run electronics, motor or power anchor systems. And that’s okay. Not including these niceties allows SeaStream to keep the kayak simple and the price down. And it doesn’t mean you can’t drill, thread and epoxy them in later, of course.

bow detail of SeaStream 120 Angler fishing kayak — Pedal power in a bargain kayak. | Photo: Roberto Westbrook

The Rapid Pedal Drive

The heart of the SeaStream Angler 120 PD is the Rapid Pedal Drive pedal system.

The drive uses bicycle crank arms to turn a chain spinning the propeller below. Forward and backward. The internal mechanisms are sealed from water and dirt. The prop and crank arms are easily tightened. Remove a bolt to grease the chain and bottom end. If the chain feels sloppy, it can be adjusted via an external hex bolt without having to crack the unit apart.

The Rapid Pedal Drive is easy to install into the Angler 120. The pedal unit slides smoothly into a metal track and clips to the deck with a simple latch. When in place, the system fills the pedal scupper, blocking water and noise. It’s a solid connection to the hull to transfer as much pedal power to turn the propeller.

To enter shallow water or land the kayak follow these steps: Push down the blue prop catch knob on the drive; turn the pedals until the propeller hits the catch; flip the latch holding the pedal drive into the deck and lift the lower unit. To keep the pedal system elevated, turn the propeller perpendicular to the drive opening and further secure it for transport with a little bungee cord. Sounds complicated? It’s not.

The Rapid Pedal Drive is larger and heavier than many other pedal systems. But the Angler 120 PD package is also $1,000 less expensive than some other pedal kayaks. It’s heavy to lug around but, on the water, it’s an easy-to-operate pedal system pushing the Angler 120 PD smoothly and efficiently.

man pedals SeaStream 120 Angler fishing kayak leaving wake behind boat — Our favorite feature is the huge Beaver Tail rudder that makes turning the big kayak easy. | Photo: Roberto Westbrook

On Water Performance

The Angler 120 PD’s strongest point is its stability. The SeaStream’s catamaran hull pushes volume to the outside edges. As a result, the SeaStream stays rock solid for confident paddling and pedaling, whether you’re a beginner or not. I bet you’ll stand and cast with barely a wobble.

The large Beaver Tail rudder complements the Rapid Drive Pedal system and catamaran hull and performs the heavy work of turning the Angler 120 PD. The large rudder is controlled by sturdy stainless steel cables and a long tiller arm left of the seat. The rudder goes up and down with a rope and cleat system located on the right side of the seat. Simple, reliable and effective handling. The rudder allows it to turn on a dime at any speed.

I’ve tested plenty of bargain pedal kayaks. Most brands try to cut corners with wiggly rudder controls, flimsy seats and creaky pedal systems. Beginners don’t want this. Nobody does.

SeaStream’s rich lineage allows the Angler 120 PD to take advantage of all the research and development, design experience, and quality of its predecessors to build a pedal drive fishing kayak at a once-unimaginable price.

Is the Angler 120 PD still too dear for your first kayak? It’s also available in a paddle-only version, the Angler 120, for half the price. That means you can either have the pedal drive or a second boat. Do you know what’s just as great as an efficient pedal system when learning to kayak fish and crossing a choppy bay to a new favorite sheltered creek? A buddy.

Pros and cons

Pros

Less expensive than most pedal kayaks
Stable
Solid construction
Comfortable seat

Cons

Heavy
Drilling to rig with electronics
No hatch

Recreational Kayak Review: Ocean Kayak Frenzy

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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August 15, 2022

Woman paddling orange sit-on-top kayak — Photo: Courtesy Ocean Kayak

Does Ocean Kayak still make the Frenzy? That’s the biggest question around this uber-popular day tripper whose design dates back decades, to the beginning of the recreational kayak revolution. The answer is no, unfortunately.

But if you have a chance at a used Ocean Kayak Frenzy, take a close look. The Frenzy was popular for good reason: this nine-foot sit-on-top is a great all-arounder, equally capable for family kayaking on flatwater, kayak fishing and playing in the surf.

Read on for a full Ocean Kayak Frenzy review.

Kayak Reviews

On the water with Ocean Kayak’s Frenzy

Ocean Kayak Frenzy Specs

Length: 9’0” / 2.7 m

Width: 31” / 79 cm

Weight: 43 lbs / 19.5 kg

Capacity: 325 lbs / 148 kg

Performance

The fundamental trade-off of kayak design is how well a kayak turns to navigate obstacles compared to its tendency to glide in a straight line, known as tracking. Too much maneuverability and not enough glide is annoying—until you need to avoid a rock that appears suddenly! The Ocean Kayak Frenzy strikes a good balance of maneuverability and tracking. It has a pronounced, deep-V keel line that bites into the water to keep the kayak moving straight; while it’s curved side panels add turning capacity when it’s needed.

Of course, at nine feet, the Ocean Kayak Frenzy is not the fastest kayak around, but it’s comparable to other kayaks of this length and plenty capable for recreational use. You’ll feel comfortable aboard the Frenzy: stability is outstanding on flat and choppy water owing to the flat bottom of its hull. This kayak has a maximum capacity of 325 pounds, which is about typical for a recreational kayak.

Education: Get Some!

Take a paddling safety course from the American Canoe Association (ACA), your local paddling shop or outfitter, or other reputable source.
Take a boating safety course from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons® or your own state’s boating agency.
Take on-the-water skills training.

Market and demographics

The Ocean Kayak Frenzy has been described as an SUV, suitable for all sorts of paddling conditions. It’s great for family paddling on calm water; it easily accommodates beginner kayak anglers; and it performs well in ocean surf.

Man and woman paddling separate orange sit-on-top kayaks — Photos: Courtesy Ocean Kayak

Woman paddling orange and yellow sit-on-top kayak

Ocean Kayak Frenzy owners challenge its description as a “starter” kayak and counter that the Frenzy is an equally good “finisher”—that is, a one kayak solution for paddlers looking to do it all.

With great stability and good performance, the Ocean Kayak Frenzy is an obvious choice for beginners. If you’re looking for something more challenging and exciting than paddling around the local lake, Ocean Kayak Frenzy surfing is smooth and predictable, with the boat’s nine-foot hull handling similar to a longboard.

It’s worth mentioning that Ocean Kayak was originally designed for playing in surf waves, and that legacy carries over in the Frenzy: the rockered, or curved, side panels make it possible to carve turns on a wave. Decent speed makes it easier to catch waves and punch through breakers when you’re returning to the line-up for the next ride.

Ocean Kayak Frenzy fishing is adequate, too—though the hull lacks the features of dedicated kayak fishing rigs (like rod holders, tackle storage areas and live wells), it’s plenty stable and will get you to the places where big fish lurk.

Comfort

The Ocean Kayak Frenzy is an older design so its outfitting and accessories aren’t quite as refined as more contemporary designs. Newer recreational kayaks feature more comfortable and adjustable seating arrangements and a wider array of convenience factors, such as ergonomic carry handles.

However, the adjustable back band in the Ocean Kayak Frenzy is still plenty supportive for most users and there’s ample room on board for paddlers well over six feet tall.

About the Frenzy

Design

Design features and details

The Frenzy’s versatile design comes down to its Tri-Form hull: Ocean Kayak combined the straight-tracking of a deep-V keel with curved rails along the sides. The latter feature creates trimaran-like stability and increases turning capacity. True to its ocean surfing heritage, the Frenzy features a bulbous tip to keep the bow buoyant in waves, making for more control in surf and a drier ride.

Stay Clear Of All Other Vessels

Know the “Rules of the Road” Navigation Rules that govern all boat traffic and stay out of the way of all other vessels.
Never assume that power boaters can see you. Avoid high-traffic areas whenever possible. Proceed with caution when you can’t avoid paddling near boats. Dress for visibility.

Material and construction

The Ocean Kayak Frenzy is constructed from single-layer polyethylene, a super durable plastic that resists abrasion and slips easily over obstructions. The Tri-Form hull imparts stiffness to the keel; after decades of use, original Frenzy sit-on-top kayaks are still going strong.

Woman paddles orange sit-on-top kayak beside bushes — Photo: Courtesy Ocean Kayak

Keep an eye out for sun fading if you’re buying an older used model. Fading indicates that the kayak has been stored outdoors for extended periods of time, which can make the kayak’s plastic hull softer and less durable.

Design trends

Ocean Kayak founder Tim Niemier was a true kayaking innovator, inventing the sit-on-top genre to support his interests in scuba diving and surfing. The Ocean Kayak Frenzy’s design became the standard for recreational kayaks. When you purchase a Frenzy you’re buying one of the sit-on-top originals.

Ocean Kayak Frenzy outfitting and accessories

The Ocean Kayak Frenzy has a good blend of comfort and performance. You’ll also find an assortment of molded-in features that are inset in the kayak’s deck, including a cup/bottle holder and a tank well behind the seat, which makes the Frenzy popular for kayak-supported scuba missions. The Ocean Kayak Frenzy seat features an adjustable backband for lumbar support.

Looking for a drain plug or replacement scupper stoppers? Ocean Kayak Frenzy parts are still available from the manufacturer. Wheels are also available from Old Town for easy transport on hard surfaces and sand.

Top down view of green and white sit-on-top kayak

How it compares

The Ocean Kayak Frenzy was replaced by the Ocean Kayak Malibu 9.5, a boat with similar specs. Take a look below at how this classic sit-on-top recreational kayak compares to others.

Perception Tribe 9.5 vs Ocean Kayak Frenzy

Like the Ocean Kayak Frenzy, the Perception Tribe 9.5 is another bestselling kayak in the sit-on-top class. The Tribe is slightly longer, wider and heavier than the Frenzy, and equally suitable for recreational paddling and easy surf.

The main difference between the two kayaks is that the Perception Tribe 9.5 is still available to purchase new from retailers.
Ocean Kayak Yak Board vs Frenzy

The Ocean Kayak Yak Board is more focused for surf use than the Ocean Kayak Frenzy. It’s shorter, lower profile in the water (like a surfboard) and has a much lower maximum weight capacity, at 240 lbs (110 kg). Due to its shorter length the Yak Board is slower than the Frenzy, and lacks the same on-deck accessories.

Like the Ocean Kayak Frenzy, the Yak Board is also discontinued but available on the used market. Look for a Yak Board if you want a cheap sit-on-top that works for all applications, especially waves. Find a Frenzy for more comfort and better flatwater performance.

Ocean Kayak Scrambler vs Frenzy

At 11 feet in length the Ocean Kayak Scrambler is a stretched out Frenzy. More length means more speed and capacity, with somewhat diminished maneuverability and wave-riding performance. The Scrambler adds a six-inch storage hatch in the center of the kayak, along with an oversized tank well behind the seat.

You’ll have to comb Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for an Ocean Kayak Scrambler since it too has been discontinued, replaced by the similar (and upgraded) Malibu 11.5.
Ocean Kayak Mysto vs Frenzy

The Ocean Kayak Mysto measures nine inches longer than the Frenzy, with similar design attributes and performance. The main upgrades on the Frenzy include a paddle holder and updated seat back. The Mysto does not feature a bow storage area on account of a narrower and sleeker profile at the bow (which translates to a bit more speed).

Like the Ocean Kayak Frenzy, the Mysto has been discontinued but turns up regularly on the used market.
Ocean Kayak Frenzy vs Malibu

The Ocean Kayak Malibu is a modernized Frenzy, with updates to increase performance and comfort. If you’re looking for a new Ocean Kayak Frenzy, the Malibu is it. You’ll find similar paddling characteristics between the Frenzy and the Malibu 9.5, including great versatility to tackle all sorts of paddling challenges as well as relaxing family outings on calm water.

Choose the Ocean Kayak Malibu 11.5 for better glide and more on-deck storage, both characteristics being direct functions of the Malibu 11.5’s longer overall length.

Woman dragging sit-on-top kayak in the water toward shore — Photo: Courtesy Ocean Kayak

Where to buy the Ocean Kayak Frenzy

Keep a close eye on the used market if you want to buy an Ocean Kayak Frenzy. Popular search terms include Ocean Kayak Frenzy Craigslist; also search Ocean Kayak Frenzy on eBay.

Follow paddling groups on Facebook to pick up a used Ocean Kayak Frenzy. You stand the best chance of scoring one in hot weather areas where the boat was wildly popular, such as Florida and California.

Wear A Life Jacket

Everyone, even strong swimmers, needs to wear a life jacket at all times when on the water. It is extremely difficult to put a life jacket on once you fall into the water. Even a light wind can blow any paddlecraft away from you, faster than you can swim.
Always wear a USCG-approved Level 70 or Type III life jacket designed for paddling.

Frenzy pros and cons

Pros

The Frenzy’s greatest strength is its versatility—this kayak’s all-around performance and stability have stood the test of time
Well-made, durable and weighs a reasonable 43 pounds

Cons

Slower than longer sit-on-top kayaks like the Ocean Kayak Malibu 11.5, and not quite as nimble as shorter kayaks
Dated outfitting (especially the seat back) compared to modern sit-on-top kayaks
Perhaps the greatest downside of the Frenzy is the fact you can no longer buy a new one. Consider yourself lucky if you manage to find a Frenzy in good condition on the used market.

How Drones Are Revolutionizing The Search For Missing Paddlers

By

Conor Mihell

-

August 15, 2022

drone flies rescue mission over a lake — More rescuers than ever are using drones in missions over land and water. | Feature photo: Karl Greif/Unsplash

Search and rescue veterans could never have imagined the day would come when first responders could use a drone to light up a rescue scene, deliver a life jacket, rope or radio to an individual who’s in the water or stranded on a cliff face, and have instant access to thermal imaging. But this is the new normal in search and rescue, with increasingly more teams of volunteers and professionals across North America using remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS)—also known as drones—in missions over land and water.

How drones are revolutionizing the search for missing paddlers

A search team first used drones in Texas in 2005, well before the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began licensing users in 2013. Data is limited, but Outside magazine reported a survey of the Mountain Rescue Association, an organization of search and rescue teams in the Rocky Mountains, Alaska and the Appalachians, indicating 80 percent of its 106 members employed drones. Uptake has been slower in Canada, notes Paul French, the national prevention coordinator of the Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC), with less than 20 percent of Canadian organizations utilizing RPAS.

illlustration of two hikers being rescued by a flying man in an orange jumpsuit — Drones offer an overhead perspective otherwise impossible to access without calling in a helicopter or airplane. | Illustration: Amy May

The benefits of eyes in the sky are significant. Drones offer an overhead perspective otherwise impossible to access without calling in a helicopter or airplane.

“They’re particularly useful in searching hard to reach creekbeds or ice-covered slopes that drop off or over the edge of cliffs,” says Peter Haigh, the manager of Vancouver’s North Shore Rescue, one of Canada’s busiest search and rescue organizations, which started using the technology in 2017.

Drones in action

444 — Confirmed drone-assisted rescues worldwide

776 — People saved by drone-assisted rescues

36 — Countries where drones are used in search and rescue missions

3–6 mph — Typical flight speed of a drone in a search mission

4–5 lbs — Weight of a typical search and rescue drone

$82 billion — Drones’ contribution to the U.S. economy between 2015 and 2025

2.7 million — Commercial drones in use last year in the U.S.

Drones also offer thermal imaging, which reveals the heat signature of search targets. Thermal imaging works on the water, through dense forest cover or in the dark, extending operations “when we would normally have to wait till daylight,” says SARVAC’s French. Zoom lenses and spotlights to illuminate search areas also allow searchers to stay out of harm’s way while rapidly increasing the range of an operation.

However, drones suitable for search and rescue cost from $1,000 to $7,000, a significant budget line item for volunteer organizations. Operators are also required to maintain a license through the FAA or Transport Canada. Short flight times—usually 30 minutes or less—are another limitation of the technology. They’re also one more piece of kit for teams to carry into the wilderness, besides “equipment for first aid, hypothermia and self-preservation,” adds Haigh.

But French and Haigh agree drones are the future of search and rescue—and many exciting upgrades are on the way. The newest units boast 60-minute flight times and ranges of nearly 10 miles. Already, some drones can transport basic life-saving supplies to the lost and injured, and this capability will only increase.

Still, boots on the ground search and rescue will never become obsolete, French insists. “As effective as drones can be, they are still only a tool in a large toolbox.”

drone flies over water at sunset — “As effective as drones can be, they are still only a tool in a large toolbox,” says Paul French. | Photo: Aaron Burden/Unsplash

Drone rescue case study

Drone manufacturer DJI has mapped more than 400 successful rescues involving drones worldwide, including 231 in North America. In one example, two missing paddlers on the French Broad River in North Carolina were rapidly detected by the thermal camera of a drone last June. The paddlers missed the take-out and were reported missing after nightfall. Whereas a ground search would’ve had to wait until the following morning, Connestee Fire Rescue launched a drone. The missing men were detected after a mere five minutes and 30 seconds of flight time.

This article was first published in the Early Summer 2022 issue of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

More rescuers than ever are using drones in missions over land and water. | Feature photo: Karl Greif/Unsplash

Big Water And Good Times At The Clearwater Kayak Festival

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

-

August 14, 2022

1 of 4

The annual Clearwater Kayak Festival in British Columbia saw rowdy water levels and high attendance on August 5-7, according to organizers.

Since 2013, the Clearwater Festival has been held in memoriam of its original visionary Ben Earle. The event has grown since to feature the Adrian Kiernan boatercross race, a freestyle event on the Pink Mountain Wave, whitewater SUP racing, and clinics for novice paddlers. And there’s the namesake Ben Earle Award, going to a paddler at the event who most embodies the festival.

A portion of proceeds from the annual Clearwater Kayak Festival are also donated to First Descents, the organization assisting long-term survivorship of young adults impacted by cancer and other health conditions through outdoor experiences.

Clearwater Kayak Festival 2022 Results

Adrian Kiernan Boatercross:
Addie Bertoni
Keenan Simpson

Intermediate Race:
Petra Ondrova
Michael Beha

SUP Race Overall Winner:
Reta Boychuk

Freestyle:
Doug Cooper

Ben Earle Award:
Linden Gillman

Find more on the Clearwater Kayak Festival at: https://www.facebook.com/ClearwaterKayakFestival.

Paddleboarder Circumnavigates Great Britain In A First For Water Safety

By

Jessica Wynne Lockhart

-

August 13, 2022

Circumnavigation, a documentary about Brendon Prince’s expedition, was released in March 2022. | Feature photo: Will Reddaway/WR Photography

For many adventurers, the idea for major expeditions starts from a tiny seed. From there, it grows into reality through training, sponsorship, and finally, choosing a cause to align with your mission. But Brendon Prince’s story is unusual because it was the message that came first, before his mission to become the first paddleboarder to circumnavigate Great Britain.

Man circumnavigates Great Britain by SUP

A self-proclaimed “water safety crusader,” the 48-year-old standup paddleboarder has been campaigning for greater water safety in Britain for 30 years. His message took on new gravity in 2014 when he tried to rescue a group of swimmers as an off-duty lifeguard. Three drowned. The event prompted him to leave his job as an outdoor education teacher and found a charity, Above Water, to develop a gamified water safety app for schools. Raising the money to do so would require something attention-grabbing.

Circumnavigation, a documentary about Brendon Prince’s expedition, was released in March 2022. | Feature photo: Will Reddaway/WR Photography

“I thought, if I paddle around Britain, more people will want to speak with me, and I can share the water safety message with more platforms,” he says.

After training for four months—where he paddled for up to 300 kilometers at a time—Prince departed in April 2021, heading clockwise.

By the numbers

$27,000 USD — Raised for water safety

14 — Number of times Prince fell in

75 km — Longest day

1.5 km — Shortest day

10.25 hours — Average time on the water daily

525 — Number of “French Francies” sponge cakes consumed

119 — Days spent paddling

4,000 kms — Total distance paddled

2 records broken — Longest SUP journey and fastest paddle around Wales

2 records set — First person to paddleboard around Britain, and first person to paddleboard from Land’s End to John O’Groats by the coast

Setting off on an epic paddle

Each night, he spent hours planning his following day, although some things couldn’t be predicted. Scotland’s mountains create their own weather and on one occasion, he spent six hours just trying to hold his position. A surprise encounter with orcas caused him to fall off his board. But, he says, it was the human elements that were most difficult to contend with: Huge tankers and shipping lanes; harbor walls running three kilometers out into the sea; and military zones, where artillery would hit the water in front of him or submarines would come up from below—despite Prince receiving prior clearances.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View all paddleboards ]

“Whenever you’re doing something that hasn’t been done before, there’s no road map for it,” says Prince. His biggest challenge, though, was spending up to 16 hours a day alone on his board. “The mind can be a dangerous thing,” he says.

Then, 141 days after departing, he arrived back at Torquay, where his legs started to wobble.

Setting records and furthering the cause

“I’ve bottled up the moment my foot touched the sand, and I’ll open the bottle for a dose every now and then,” says the father-of-three. While Guinness World Records is still confirming, Prince is expected to have broken two records and set two more. In addition to being the first person to paddleboard around Britain, he had also completed the longest journey by SUP, as recognized by Guinness.

Others have attempted the feat before Prince. He says it wasn’t his physical strength or stamina that allowed him to complete the trip—it was that his message always took priority over breaking any records.

“With every paddle stroke, I thought, ‘If I can stop a family from going through the catastrophe of their loved ones dying, that’s my motivation,’” he says. “If I’ve helped a child make the right choice near water, then it’s a success.”

Circumnavigate is an official selection of the 2023 Paddling Film Festival, and available to stream today as part of the Adventure Program.

This article was first published in the Early Summer 2022 issue of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

Circumnavigate, a documentary about Brendon Prince’s expedition, was released in March 2022. | Feature photo: Will Reddaway/WR Photography

An East Coast Paddling Community Needs Your Help Breaking A Guinness World Record

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

-

August 12, 2022

Paddler Sandy Rinderer has a unique idea for an environmental effort — take a shot at breaking a Guinness World Record while fundraising for New Jersey’s beloved Barnegat Bay.

On Saturday, August 20, 2022, Rinderer and a group of fellow paddlers are hosting “Paddle for the Bay.” The event is a one-mile community paddle to best the standing Guinness World Record for a parade of canoes and kayaks. To do so, Rinderer needs roughly 400 paddlers to hit the water on the Tom’s River in Pine Beach, NJ. This would beat the current standing of 329 boats previously set in Poland.

A Guinness World Record Canoe & Kayak Attempt At The Jersey Shore

In an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Rinderer states how rewarding it would be to have the record right on this Mid-Atlantic waterway. “Honestly, I’ve lived on the river all my life,” Rinderer tells the Inquirer, “and I just thought it would be such a cool thing to see all those colorful canoes and kayaks in one place.”

[ Read: Father-Daughter Team Reclaim Mississippi Speed Descent Record ]

Considering the sizeable number of paddlers in New Jersey and the surrounding states, Rinderer may be able to pull it off. They just need your help East Coast boaters. Best of all this isn’t a record attempt just for the sake of it. After covering the fees for the Guinness folks and local permits, the remainder of the $10 participation fee will be donated to Save Barnegat Bay. The organization is tasked with efforts to restore the namesake body of water.

Something For Every Paddler On Barnegat Bay

New Jersey’s Barnegat Bay watershed is home to diverse opportunities for paddlers. There is the annual open water race on the Tom’s River. An archipelago of sedge islands to tour off Island Beach State Park. And popular canoe reaches of the Pine Barrens, such as Cedar Creek. Within the last few decades, development surrounding this watershed has led to increasing nutrients and decreasing water quality for the aquatic life that calls the bay home. As well as make it an exciting place for paddlers like Rinderer to enjoy.

[ Find Your Next Destination in the Paddling Trip Guide ]

According to the Inquirer and Rinderer, there are a few rules to clinch the spot in Guinness. First off, to beat the standing record for a parade of canoes and kayaks, paddle boards are not permitted. Also, everyone must be wearing a PFD, and no motorized vessels are allowed.

If you would like to join in on the Guinness Record attempt, grab your boat and sign up at: https://www.raceforum.com/paddleforthebay.

Kayaker Cyril Derreumaux Reaches Halfway Point On Pacific Ocean Solo Crossing

By

Cyril Derreumaux Press Release

-

August 11, 2022

A little bit more than six weeks have passed since the departure, early morning of June 21st, the kayaker Cyril Derreumaux launched solo and without assistance from Monterey Bay, CA for his second attempt at crossing the Pacific Ocean though 2,700 miles towards Hawaii.

Born in the North of France, Cyril Derreumaux, naturalized American—and world citizen as he likes to call it—has been able to manage during the first few weeks the difficulties that pushed him to give up the adventure last year during his first attempt. Sea sickness for the first few days, lack of sleep, change of rhythm, physical efforts, new diet… Thanks to his previous experience and his patience to pick the optimal weather window the week following his departure, the kayaker has managed with success to take his distances with the California coast. Two steps forward while paddling during the day, one step back at night because of the currents, he had to work with great determination to beat the strong currents and dominating winds pushing him toward the American and Mexican coasts.

The coming weeks were as difficult with the installation of great fatigue, several damages that he had to manage: a leak at the back of his boat started to flood a compartiment that had to be sealed, cabling issues with his battery that had trouble charging, a close encounter with the tropical storm “Estelle” which, thankfully, lost intensity just before crossing path with the kayak, but still required the navigator to stay sheltered in is cabin for 2 days while waves were bashing his boat and winds of 25 knots.

Leaning on his great logistical preparation and a supporting land crew as determined as he is, resolving issues one after the other, Cyril Derreumaux continued his way with a 9-9.5 hours of rowing per day towards the Hawaiian islands while sharing his experience daily the highs and lows of his adventure through a public diary translated in French and English published on Facebook and Instagram. Through the stories of the differents events happening on board, reflecting on his project, life lessons that he retains, and sharing his emotions, it’s an international collectif, built over the years around the various adventures around the world (Cyril can speaks 6 languages), that lives the adventure day after day through the writings and pictures from the navigator.

Arriving halfway after 49 days at sea, the kayaker who is a member of the famous “The Explorer Club” obviously knows that he still has more than 1,200 miles to complete and many more weather challenges, technical, health, that he’ll have to manage. He still wants to enjoy fully the joy from crossing this symbolic halfway point! As he likes to say: “There is no adventurer that has crossed halfway and could complete later on!”

The weather toward the end of the crossing still needs to be checked for logistical purposes. According to Michel Meulnet – the weather router part of the land crew – the end of the crossing will most likely be faster with winds and mainstreams will help the kayak. Moreover, the kayak is much lighter because a good part of the food stored onboard at the start has been consumed. But we still have to be careful, even if the initial time estimation was set at 70 days, and that the navigator left with an extra 10 days of supplies, now at halfway more than half of the supplies has been consumed, so Cyril’s rhythm on those next few days is going to be determinant to identify if he will have to start to ration his food to extend his supplies for a few days if necessary. Long story short, a lot could happen during the coming weeks before Cyril Derreumaux can arrive. The adventure is going to be exciting to follow!

Links to follow the onboard diary:

Official Website: www.solokayaktohawaii.com
Onboard diary: https://paddler.travelmap.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CyrilDerreumauxAdventure
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyrildx

The joy of (self-imposed) suffering

Suffering builds character, right?

Paddling trips are good for the soul

On thin ice: Will Steger’s solo Arctic expeditions

Steger revisits an earlier expedition

From Arctic firsts to lasts

1 Symbiosis: To the Arctic Coast

2 Across the Americas

3 Freya keeps paddling

4 Northwest Passage: Arctic cowboys

5 Another crack at a huge crossing

6 Circumnavigating Australia

SeaStream Angler 120 Offers Pedal Power at Great Price

SeaStream Angler 120 PD Specs

Length: 12’3”

Width: 35”

Weight: 97 lbs (Rapid Drive 22 lbs)

Capacity: 400 lbs

MSRP: $1,699

Key Fishy Features

SeaStream Angler 120 Rigging

The Rapid Pedal Drive

On Water Performance

Pros and cons

Pros

Cons

Related articles

Sit-on-top fishing kayak reviews

Pedal fishing kayak reviews

On the water with Ocean Kayak’s Frenzy

Ocean Kayak Frenzy Specs

Length: 9’0” / 2.7 m

Width: 31” / 79 cm

Weight: 43 lbs / 19.5 kg

Capacity: 325 lbs / 148 kg

Performance

Education: Get Some!

Market and demographics

Comfort

About the Frenzy

Design

Design features and details

Stay Clear Of All Other Vessels

Material and construction

Design trends

Ocean Kayak Frenzy outfitting and accessories

How it compares

Perception Tribe 9.5 vs Ocean Kayak Frenzy

Ocean Kayak Yak Board vs Frenzy

Ocean Kayak Scrambler vs Frenzy

Ocean Kayak Mysto vs Frenzy

Ocean Kayak Frenzy vs Malibu

Where to buy the Ocean Kayak Frenzy

Wear A Life Jacket

Frenzy pros and cons

Pros

Cons

Related articles

Ocean Kayak reviews

Sit-on-top recreational kayak reviews

Sit-on-top fishing kayak reviews

How drones are revolutionizing the search for missing paddlers

Drones in action

Drone rescue case study

Clearwater Kayak Festival 2022 Results

Man circumnavigates Great Britain by SUP

By the numbers

Setting off on an epic paddle

Setting records and furthering the cause

A Guinness World Record Canoe & Kayak Attempt At The Jersey Shore

Something For Every Paddler On Barnegat Bay

Links to follow the onboard diary:

SeaStream Angler
120 PD Specs

Weight: 97 lbs
(Rapid Drive 22 lbs)