BOOK 



MARKET 



The great thing about coastal 

 vacations is that there are endless 

 possibilities for adventure — whether it's 

 exploring quiet tidal marshes in a kayak 

 or sailing along the Intracoastal Water- 

 way. Fortunately, there's an array of 

 books to help plot out what to take, where 

 to go and what to do along the way. After 

 all, being prepared means making the 

 most of every hard-earned day off. 



Some vacationers prefer the 

 adventure of soaking up local history and 

 culture as an aside to soaking up sunrays 

 on the beach. You guessed it. There are 

 books that can lead you to many trea- 

 sures. 



Okay, so some vacationers may just 

 want to sit it on the cottage porch with an 

 endless supply of sweet tea and a stack of 

 novels. But, when a sudden summer 

 storm has the kids running in from the 

 beach, there's even a book for them — 

 one that combines history and adventure. 



Adventure along the coast is just a 

 book away. 



• THE COASTAL KAYAKER'S 

 MANUAL: THE COMPLETE 

 GUIDE TO SKILLS, GEAR AND 

 SEA SENSE, Third Edition, by 

 Randall Washburne, The Globe Pequot 

 Press, OldSaybrook, CT 06475. 240 

 pages. Paperback, $14.95, ISBN 0-7627- 

 0168-4. 



In one volume, Randall Washburne 

 offers a broad range of information on 

 coastal kayaking for the novice and 

 veteran alike. The author provides up-to- 

 date information on the types of kayaks 

 available — their features, performance 

 and design. He doesn't leave a thing to 

 chance in the gear department, listing 

 everything from paddles to roof racks — 

 and emergency radios. 



The beginner will find a valuable 

 lesson in the sections devoted to skills and 

 safety. Washburne has tips on how to 

 carry and paddle a kayak. He even 

 devotes a section to how to fit yourself to 

 the kayak. 



The manual also covers various 

 launching and landing scenarios. For 

 example, "Entry and Exit from High 

 Docks" lets you know that "You will need 

 fairly good arm strength" to make the 

 transition from the dock to the seat. "The 

 key is concentrating your weight on your 

 arms, not your legs . . . Relax your arms, 

 and the boat will move off, leaving you 

 hanging in a dire position." 



Along with his descriptive passages, 

 the manual contains excellent photographs 

 to help the reader visualize specific 

 maneuvers. 



Most helpful is a section devoted to 

 paddling, including how to fine-tune your 

 paddle stroke. He even has advice to help 

 prevent physical problems from paddling. 

 Zinc oxide, he says, is an excellent 

 lubricant and healer for blister-prone areas. 

 Gloves help, too. But, don't forget to pack 

 the Band-Aids. 



Kayaking is becoming one of the 

 most popular forms of outdoor recreation. 

 The trick is to do it right and do it safely. 

 Washburne shares his years of experience 

 in understanding personal limitations; 

 putting safety before adventure; and 

 enjoying the unique and exciting marine 

 world up close. 



• THE KAYAKING SOURCEBOOK: 

 A COMPLETE RESOURCE FOR 

 GREAT KAYAKING ON RIVERS, 

 LAKES AND THE OPEN SEA by 

 Cecil Kuhne, Globe Pequot Press, Old 

 Saybrook, CT 06475. 192 pages. Paper- 

 back, $18.95, ISBN 0-7627-0189-7. 



Cecil Kuhne is a seasoned kayaker 

 who has written five other paddling books. 

 Just as the title suggests, this one is a great 

 resource guide on equipment, techniques 

 and tips. 



For starters, how do you choose a 

 kayak? Did you know there are Whitewater 

 kayaks, Whitewater playboats, surf kayaks, 

 sit-on-top kayaks, folding kayaks and even 

 inflatable kayaks. If not, read this book to 

 find out what kind you really need for the 

 kind of kayak travel you want to do. 



"Kayaks designed for casual 

 touring," the author says, "are asked to 

 do just about everything — maintain 

 good stability, perform well at tracking, 

 carry big loads when needed, endure 

 heavy wave times, and yet remain 

 relatively easy and fast to paddle." 



As kayaking becomes more and 

 more a family activity, children are 

 beginning to paddle at early ages. Many 

 manufacturers now offer boats designed 

 for children. Like a good pair of running 

 shoes, the kayak must be the right size. 



Kuhne provides some guidelines for 

 finding the right boat and includes an 

 extensive list of models, features and 

 prices as a starting point for the serious 

 shopper. But he also suggests talking to 

 experienced paddlers about their own 

 boats. 



And if you think that choosing a 

 paddle is "no big deal." Think again. 

 There are lots of things to consider, the 

 author says. Like blade orientation, shape 

 and size, as well as paddle material and 

 techniques. The author shares experi- 

 enced words of wisdom. 



In the book's promotional material, 

 the publisher says that the sourcebook 

 gives "the unbiased low-down on 

 equipment." And he does that well. But 

 he also refers readers to other books or 

 places for additional information. 



More than simply list and describe 

 equipment and gear, the author fills us in 

 on the history and evolution of the sport. 

 He writes about interesting expeditions 

 and exciting rescues. 



Kuhne also provides a glossary of 

 terms for the uninformed kayaker. 

 There's even a listing of kayaking clubs 

 to contact from coast to coast. 



Knowing where to kayak on the 

 North Carolina coast is getting easier, 

 thanks to North Carolina Sea Grant and 

 partners. A Web-based trail map is being 

 developed to help enthusiasts navigate 

 the state's expansive coastal waters. 

 Click on www.ncsu.edu/paddletrails/or 

 information. 



24 SUMMER 2001 



