Top 5 Handheld #GPS Manufacturers

by Samuel Walker

Handheld GPS units are extremely popular for a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, geocaching, hunting, kayaking, snowshoeing, and skiing. Although there are many different GPS manufacturers to choose from there are five main manufacturers that are extremely popular for handheld GPS units. Each company has their own unique models to choose from.

Below are the five Handheld GPS Manufacturers to consider when searching for a GPS device.

GPS Manufacturers

Garmin
Garmin is likely one of the most popular manufacturers for GPS units as well as many other products. Garmin began its business 21 years ago in 1989. They comprised at that time of a few engineers who got together to develop and construct navigation and communication devices. Today Garmin has offices all over the world and well over 7,000 employees. They design and market units for:

Automotive navigation
Marine devices
Aviation
Fitness
Wireless GPS for smart phones
Outdoor receivers


The Garmin handheld GPS units are well known for offering great quality as well as the latest technology. They are often voted the best in their class.

Magellan
The Magellan Corporation has changed ownership and name several times. The original Magellan Corporation was founded in 1986 but in 2001 they were acquired by Thales, a large electronics company. In 2006 Thales Navigation was purchased by Shah Capital Partners who changed the name to Magellan. Then in 2009 they were bought out again by MiTAC International Corporation. The consumer GPS units are still marketed under the Magellan brand. They have an extensive line of handheld GPS devices as well as automotive navigation devices. Despite the constant change of ownership Magellan still does and always has produced good quality GPS units.

DeLorme
DeLorme has been in business since 1976. They create technology, mapping products, and data not only for consumers but also for professionals. Although they always produced great quality products they really earned a name for themselves in the 1990’s when they pioneered GPS solutions for laptops, Palm OS devices, Pocket PC’s and recently for Bluetooth applications and color topographic maps and aerial imagery. They have a fairly good selection of handheld GPS devices.

Lowrance
Lowrance Electronics Inc. is one of the oldest GPS manufacturers. They began in 1957 and have a pioneer in developing Global Positioning System mapping instruments. They have an extensive line of SONAR and GPS units for outdoor recreation as units for aviation, marine and automotive. They have a decent selection of handheld GPS units.

Bushnell
Bushnell offers a wide range of outdoor technology tools such as binoculars, scopes, rangefinders, trail cameras, flashlights and of course handheld GPS units. They have been in the high performance sports optics industry for over 50 years. They only have a few handheld GPS receivers but they are tailored for all outdoor activities. More basic in design and features than the other GPS manufacturers listed above their units are ideal for any sportsman looking for a GPS device made simple.

With so much choice in handheld GPS manufacturers it is not hard to find a model to suit your outdoor activities and all your needs.

Learn much more about handheld GPS units and find pictures and a comprehensive review of the Garmin GPSMAP 76 waterproof handheld GPS.

Article Source: Top 5 Handheld GPS Manufacturers
Camillus Kayak Shop Demo Day

#Camillus #Kayak Shop Demo Day 

Sunday May 24, 2015
Gillie Lake Park Camillus, NY
The FUN Starts at 10:00 AM

Have you ever attended a demo day? You have the opportunity to try out the kayaks and stand up paddleboards on the water to see which sizes and models are the right fit for you, depending on your skill level and intended use. Here are some thoughts on paddleboarding and kayaking from a recent demo day, sponsored by Camillus Kayak Shop, Camillus, N.Y.
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Cape Cod #Kayaking -- Five Tips to Make Sure Your Trip is Memorable For the Right Reasons

By: Michael Jones

Check Out These Beautiful Cape Cod Kayaking Areas

Scorton Creek in East Sandwich is our local favorite, since it's just a few miles from our home and offers crystal clear waters and views of crabs, snails and even the occasional sea bass. Mashpee River offers a chance to see kingfishers, great blue herons, and osprey, while Grand Island, nestled between Osterville and Cotuit, offers spectacular views of the mansions and gardens of some of Cape Cod's wealthiest residents. Nauset Marsh in Eastham is within the Cape Cod National Seashore and offers shallow saltwater streams that are ideal for bird watching and otter-spotting. You may even catch a glimpse of a seal. Finally, Cliff Pond in Nickerson State Park in Brewster offers the calmest waters and is one location where there is no need to worry about tides. There are lots of places to land, and you can even take a hike on one of the park's many trails.

The 5 Essentials of #Kayaking

by Wilson Tron

You'll find five essential things that you need to go kayaking. This list is especially for whitewater rivers, but in the ocean you'll want the same several essentials. Here are the five essentials:

Kayak

Duh. You can't go kayaking without a kayak. The kayak will be your transportation, carries your gear, and becomes an extension of one's body. Kayaks is usually made of plastic material (most common), fiberglass, wooden, or skin (traditional). Which kind you have depends on your skill and the kind of water you're paddling in.

Paddle

This is what moves the kayak. A paddle will allow you to move where you want; otherwise you might be just drifting. Each person needs their own paddle. It's advisable to bring a break-down paddle along, as well.

PFD (Life Jacket)

Definitely, absolutely required. PFD means Personal Floatation Unit, and does exactly that. It's far better avoid uncomfortable, cheap PFDs and invest in something you will like wearing. Whenever you're around the water you have to wear a PFD. It's also an excellent place to keep sunscreen, snacks, as well as safety equipment such as carabiners and webbing.

Sprayskirt

This is a covering that fits over your torso plus the cockpit of the actual kayak, and will keep water out. While you are wearing a sprayskirt, you can roll the kayak. It also shields against waves stuffing your boat with water. The sprayskirt is why is the kayak a powerful tool: in case you flip in tough whitewater, you can just roll back over and keep proceeding. If you can't roll, you can take the tab on your sprayskirt to release yourself from your boat, known as the a wet exit or swimming. The only kind of kayak that doesn't work with a sprayskirt is the sit-on-top.

Helmet

Mandatory in whitewater or any situation where you might be upside down. There are a variety of kinds from above the ears to full face, depending on your preferences. If you are usually running whitewater, this is another item that is nice to spend a little more on to make certain it's comfortable, because you will almost always be wearing it.

You will likely need to bring more along than these several essentials, but if you were going on a day trip in warm weather with no basic safety gear, it is possible to go kayaking with only most of these five items.

Sea #Kayaking: 10 Historical Facts You Didn't Know

By Simon Madison

Sea kayaking is fast gaining popularity along with the other outdoor adventure sports on the market. It is a venture that boasts a very rich history. Here are 10 interesting facts about sea kayaking and kayaks you might not have known.

1. The Eskimos started sea kayaking in the Arctic region over 4000 years ago. They built the first kayaks to enable swift and easy movement across water using little effort. By adapting to an environment of more water than land and little vegetation or land animals, the Eskimos used sea kayaks as a means of survival to hunt seals, whales and walrus for food, clothing, and shelter. Kayaks were built using animal skin stitched over frames made of wood or whale bones and waterproofed using animal lard.

2. In 1924, kayaking debuted as a demo sport in the Paris Olympics. After 12 years, it officially became an Olympic event in the 1936 Berlin Olympics as the first 10 class Canoe/Kayak Flat-water event.

3. The first solo circumnavigation of Australia via sea kayaking was achieved by Paul Caffyn in 1982. It took him 360 days to complete the expedition, encountering wild surf, cyclones and extreme forces of nature in a 9,420-mile travel. Caffyn's venture set the benchmark for contemporary kayaking expeditions.

4. It took 332 days for the first female to circumnavigate Australia in 2009 by sea kayaking. Freya Hoffmeister from Germany voyaged 13,000 km and finished the circumnavigation 28 days earlier than Paul Caffyn in 1982.

5. In 1980, Birgit Fischer was the youngest canoe winner in Olympic history at the age of 18. She accomplished a total of 12 Olympic medals by the age of 24.

6. Greg Barton was the first US Olympic gold medalist in the kayaking event in the 1988 games. At the time, he was also the only competitor to take home two gold medals for the event.

7. The first kayaking medal of Australia was won by Dennis Green and Wally Brown in the 1956 Melbourne Games. The duo won the bronze in the 10,000m kayak (K2), an event that failed to continue in the succeeding Olympic Games.

8. Clint Robinson a surf lifesaver won Australia's first kayak gold medal in the K-1 1000m finals of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

9. Kayak slalom events pioneered at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, but were subsequently removed because of the cost involved in creating man-made courses. It reappeared as the Slalom Canoe/Kayak event in the 1992 Barcelona Games, where Danielle Woodward won Australia's first medal taking silver. The event was again removed from the games at the end of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The Slalom Canoe/Kayak event did not to return to the Olympics until the 2000 Games in Sydney.

10. German Oscar Speck has long been known as the man who introduced kayaking to Australia when he arrived in 1939. He left Ulm, Germany in 1932 and went on a 7 year sea kayaking expedition on board a foldable kayak. His journey and arrival in Australia was not greatly publicised since during that time Germany was at war with the world. Speck was considered an enemy alien and was detained by the Australian police. The story of his voyage was kept quite for a long time during the era of world adversity.

More than just a great adventure to see beautiful places on earth, sea kayaking has had a history which has shown man's courage, passion and resilience. Man and kayak have come a long way, from being a survival tool to a vessel that brought man to unsurpassed achievements and epic conquers.

Hi, I'm Simon Madison and I enjoy canoeing on the open waters of bays and the ocean in my sea kayak. Sea kayaking can be experienced in groups as a short adventure or a weekend trip with overnight camping, making it the perfect outing for family and friends. If your looking for something a little bit different to do, then sea kayaking will give you a unique and exciting experience.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Madison
http://EzineArticles.com/?Sea-Kayaking:-10-Historical-Facts-You-Didnt-Know&id=6290018

#Paddle floats

Paddle floats can save your life, so make sure that you get an easy to use paddle float.If you're going to be kayaking in deep water (whether this is the ocean or a lake) you may not always be able to

Paddle floats can save your life, so make sure that you get an easy to use paddle float.

If you're going to be kayaking in deep water (whether this is the ocean or a lake) you may not always be able to go to shore if your kayak flips.Paddle floats provide a great tool for you to recover your boat and get back inside if needed. As a result, you should always make sure that you have a paddle float on hand when you are at sea.

There are many different types of paddle floats that are sold at various stores. However, it's understandably hard to tell which floats work better than others. You should always look for floats that are easier to inflate than others. There are two ways to do this. First, you should read the instructions for use of whatever paddle floats you're thinking about buying. If you do not think that you'll be able to use the paddle float then it is probably not your best bet.

You should also check and see how long the manufacturer says that it should take you to right your boat while you're using. You can also read the recommendations of people who have tried that particular paddle float in the past. If they say that it was difficult to use, then that may mean that you're better off looking for a different paddle float.

Most paddle floats are made out of nylon and are brightly colored. That way, if the paddle float is lost, or if it comes free of the paddle, it will be easily found. Considering the types of locations where you will need to use the paddle float, this is very important.

Paddle floats are used to right your kayak after it has tipped over. Essentially, the paddle float turns your kayak paddle into an important tool. Since one end of the kayak paddle will float, you'll be able to use the kayak paddle to push against the water on the other side of the kayak. The direct result is that the kayak will not flip over again, and you'll be able to get back inside.

Since it is not particularly easy to use paddle floats it's recommended that you go somewhere relatively safe and practice using them before you get out on the open water and need to know how.

#Kayak Materials

Author: Marc Fredmen

Over the years, kayaking equipments have undergone a major change. From a simple plastic kayak to better quality materials like rotationally molded polyethylene, fiberglass and Kevlar are all used to make kayaks today. The use of these materials has greatly enhanced the quality and performance of the kayaks thereby raising the overall standard of the sport.

Major Materials for Kayaks

Essentially, kayaks are made of three materials - rotationally molded plastic, fiberglass or Kevlar.

Rotationally Molded Plastic (Rotomold): The most widely used material, rotomold kayaks are the strongest kayaks and perfect for any roughing out. This is just a type of plastic but is tough, flexible and softer than usual plastic. Paddlers can easily take the kayak over a patch of rocks without worrying about any damage to the kayaks.

In fact even if these kayaks are thrown from the roof of the car, they would still suffer only a few minor dings or abrasions. Rotomold is the cheapest of all materials and is hence the most widely used for making kayaks. The only disadvantage of a rotomold kayak is that it is heaviest type of kayak.

Rotomold kayaks are the least expensive form of plastic or polyethylene kayaks. A more expensive form of plastic kayaks is the cross-linked kayak. The cross linked kayaks comprise of thick foam core between two layers (outer and inner) of plastic.

This foam core makes these kayaks very strong and durable than the rotomold kayaks. However, the drawback of these kayaks is that they are very heavier and more expensive than the rotomold kayaks.

Fiberglass: About 15 to 20 percent lighter than the rotomold kayaks, the fiberglass kayaks need to be handled a bit more carefully. Unlike the rotomold kayaks, these kayaks cannot sustain dings, abrasions or a bumpy ride over rocks. They have to be secured even from saltwater and cleaned thoroughly after a sea kayaking session as it spoils the kayak very rapidly. However, if used cautiously, fiberglass kayaks can last for many years.

Kevlar: Known for its great strength and durability, Kevlar kayaks are the lightest available. Kevlar is an extremely lightweight material usually used for making bulletproof vests. The ideal combination of strength and light weight has led to increase in the popularity of Kevlar kayaks.

One of the major disadvantages of Kevlar kayak is that if it develops any defect then repairing it is not very easy. Also, Kevlar kayaks are the most expensive kayaks available. However, Kevlar kayaks need to be handled carefully and cannot be subjected to major roughing out.

Wood: Wood is one of the traditional materials used for constructing kayaks. Wooden kayaks are very pretty and also perform very well in all conditions. However, they lack the variety in designs and sophisticated features that most fiber glass, plastic or inflatable kayaks offer.

Carbon: Carbon is yet another widely used material in making kayaks. Carbon kayaks are lightweight but offer great stiffness.

These are the most widely used materials in building kayaks and it is recommended that paddlers opt only for kayaks made from either of these materials.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/kayak-materials-1206639.html

About the Author
Marc Fredmen is an experienced paddler and author and provides help on basics of kayaking for amateur kayaking enthusiasts. Paddlers can learn more about the types of kayaks here.