Bad knees and Ketchikan kayaking?

[ready4alaska]

I'd like to book a combination kayaking/fishing excursion through Ketchikan Kayak ( http://www.yakfishalaska.com/index.html ) for mid-July but am concerned about getting into and out of the kayak.

 

Sitting is no problem, but my knees are fairly trashed for kneeling on (I have to have a pad under them). How agile do you have to be? I would ASS-U-ME that there is a staff member to help passengers into & out of the kayak?

 

TIA -- I love this website!

 

Best,

Nancy

[Budget Queen]

Can you get up from sitting on the floor?? I would not count on requireing someone to have to put a lot of effort into getting you out, with a great deal of lifting. A "hand" can be offered, but the overall effort needs to be yours.

[ready4alaska]

Budget Queen,

 

Can you get up from sitting on the floor?? I would not count on requireing someone to have to put a lot of effort into getting you out, with a great deal of lifting. A "hand" can be offered, but the overall effort needs to be yours.

 

I won't win any awards for grace while getting & and out, but yes, I can get up off the floor. No lifting at all required.

 

Thanks for your post, and for ALL the posts you make! Your advice is excellent.

 

Regards,

Nancy

[CowPrincess]

If your "bad knees" are like MY bad knee, any activity that requires my knee to be nearly immobile for a period of time is a problem. In a kayak, your legs are in front of you in the boat, with footrests. So you can move your legs a bit.

 

See http://overlandresource.com/over-water/canoe-vs-kayak for more info on how one sits in a kayak vs. canoe.

 

Because of my problem with immobile positions, I can't really canoe or horseback ride any longer. But am looking forward to my first kayak trip.

 

Only you know what your limitations are -- it took me a while to find mine (when I got stuck on a horse and had to be lifted down was when I recognized SOME of my limits :) )

[Budget Queen]

OK definately not pretty- but if you do a dock kayak trip, I have seen people just kind of "roll" on to the dock and then get to standing. :) Works well, that I saw.

[ready4alaska]

OK definately not pretty- but if you do a dock kayak trip, I have seen people just kind of "roll" on to the dock and then get to standing. :) Works well, that I saw.

 

Heck, with the way I'll have to roll in/out of the boat, I figure the kayak company ought to pay me for providing entertainment for thr group! :D

 

Thanks everyone!

 

Nancy