One with the water

Anyone who knows me knows I buy, sell and trade kayaks like they’re baseball cards. But, I get questioned about how I decide what, when and why.

For the most part, the sell decision has to do with when I sense there’s someone who will get more enjoyment out of the boat than I am. Other times, I got out of the boat what I wanted and it’s time to explore more alternatives.

I buy when a boat speaks to me. There’s a kayak speaking to me now. Somewhere, there’s a kindred soul who conceived this boat.

Or, maybe not. The goal seemed to be to come up with a craft that would enable you to enjoy the water in multiple ways. But, the description only touts two: paddle it like a kayak or stand up and paddle the boat like a board. I could see laying on it like a surfboard or kneeling as in a canoe. Or just rolling off and floating along with it.

On a recent trip to Florida, our paddling group hit at least four paddling venues, depending upon individual inclination. Most of them seemed to favor the day we snorkeled with manatees. Not me. My favorite was the Rainbow River.

On that day, we paddled upstream about two miles to the main spring that creates the river. There, we rolled off our kayaks and snorkeled back down, our boats floating along with us. If you wanted a rest, snack or drink of water, your boat was right there.

The water was clear and filled with animal and plant life. You were in it, on it and through it. You were one with the water.

That’s what this newly introduced kayak seems to be saying. And, I’m listening.