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Wake Bodyboarding with the Hönö!

Bodyboarding in Style

The Hönö Bodyboard is so strong and durable that you can use it for a wide variety of boarding options – including wakeboarding!

We had these images sent in from a happy customer who spent a fantastic day out on the Hönö behind a boat!

The Hönö handles are robust enough to withstand the weight of an adult being towed. Could it get better than this?

   

The calm before take off..

This is a great alternative boarding technique for those with access to a boat but might not have the skills to perform stand up wake boarding yet. It is a great entry-level activity for kids and adults alike who might want to wakeboard one day but need to get used to being towed in the wake of the boat first.

Due to it being rotationally moulded out of tough plastic, the board with withstand bumps and high speeds (up to 20mph for this lady!) without the danger or snapping like cheap boards.

The Hönö is an eco-friendly option when it comes to boarding, as it can be used for multiple seasons (Fatyak have a warranty of 3 years on this product). To have fun in the snow, sand and sea, it is one of the most versatile fun boards on the market and worth every penny!

Happy boarding,

The Fatyak Team

Posted on by Fiona

Halloween, and some spooky fatyaking locations

Being an island, and one with a lot of history at that, we’re blessed with our share of natural phenomena and some unexplained mysteries. As its Halloween, we are covering a couple of spooky kayaking trips for you. One in the north, and one way down south!

 

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Hooe Lake – Plymouth

In recent years, Plymouth University students have recorded evidence of over 100 shipwrecks, partial or not, in the estuaries around Plymouth and South Devon. Hooe Lake is an important one, as it has one of the highest concentrations of wrecked boats – between 13 and 20! But there is a lot of reason as to why the situation at Hooe Lake could be considered creepy. Firstly, why such a high concentration compared to other places? And additionally – there is little information about a lot of the boats or their history, and so they remain the subject of much fascination. Perfect for some Fatyak investigation and exploration!
Find out more at hooelake.org

 

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Witches Cauldron – North Pembrokeshire

In North Pembrokeshire there is a labyrinth of tunnels carved by the sea that can be paddled through. Naturally, the accessibility of these caves is decided by the state of the tide! The way the light from above interacts with both the caves and the water creates a very spooky atmosphere. The water even turns an emerald green as you pass underneath low ceilings. And when the tide is right, a room completely cut off by light becomes accessible, with room only for 2-3 kayaks. Eerie indeed – and not for the claustrophobic!

 

Been to any of these spooky spots? Or planning to go to any ? Let us know!

 

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Stand up Paddleboarding Basics

As the stand up paddleboarding scene continues to grow, and with our own Samos paddleboard now launched, you may be thinking of giving the sport a go! Stand up paddleboarding is certainly trending at the moment and offers a fresh perspective on the water for paddlers already involved in kayaking and surfing.

We’ve come up with some hints and tips for new paddlers, which we’ve broken down into 4 sections, so read on!

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We would always recommend buying a leash for your board

Equipment

While the saying “a good workman doesn’t blame his tools” may exist, it’s important to have the right selection of equipment and know how to use it for successful paddling. A leash is important to have on a SUP board, for the safety of yourself and others – as well as being convenient if you lose hold of your board. Additionally, make sure you take care of your paddleboard. While our new Samos is rotationally moulded and designed to last, it doesn’t hurt to carry out some regular maintenance – checking for any deep scratches or other issues to ensure a lifetime of paddling.

Position

Stand in the centre of the board, with your feet shoulder width apart. Hold the paddle with the top hand firm, and the lower hand looser. Stand upright, but with your core engaged and your knees slightly bent. This will help keep you a bit more stable.

When it doesn’t go so well however, you’ll want to know how to fall off the board properly, avoiding injury being the main goal. When you come off, try to fall away from your board – as far as possible, as large boards could potentially injure you in a collision. Not losing your board in this situation is another great reason why we would highly recommend a leash!

Technique

Once you have a stable stance on the board, you can start propelling yourself forward. Place the paddle right into the water at the front of the board (a little out from the board itself) and pull the paddle through the water, finishing no further than your feet. The most important tip is to keep the paddle as vertical as possible. For a more in-depth read on how to paddle your SUP, click here.

Environment

Lastly, a few key pointers to mention about the environment you’ll be paddling in can help you to have a fun, safe, and useful session on your board.

Space

Try to stay out of the way of other paddlers, any debris or coastlines that may cause you issues. Avoid rocky areas that might damage the board. To begin with we recommend lakes as a great place to start off.

Conditions

Be smart and ride waves in the right conditions for your level, ensuring you understand the flow of the water around you. In addition to this, keep an eye on the wind and what it’s doing. If you get caught on the wind, or you end up in difficulties, lie face down on your board, using your arms to paddle (like you would on a surfboard). This will prevent the wind from taking you away, and will give you full control of your board.

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Tidal Forecasting

tidal forecasting
There are many elements to a successful fatyaking expedition – packing correctly, being prepared with what you wear, a well maintained kayak, and of course, the weather. But a factor that can be sometimes overlooked is tidal forecasting – knowing when the tide will be at an appropriate level for your planned activities.

Successfully planning a trip around the tide is great – you’ll know when it is high enough to easily launch your Fatyak without the risk of bumping and scraping your way down the beach. Additionally, some coves and areas that you may have wanted to paddle through may only be available at high, or low tide specifically. Travelling through certain areas at low tide could definitely offer some challenges you may rather avoid – so make sure you have a backup plan too!

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In addition to the benefits that can be taken from successful tidal forecasting, there are some dangers to be avoided from paying attention also. Low tide in general could make it rather treacherous to paddle in some areas, as you may be too low to rocks, general obstacles, and the sea bed itself. It’s also worth considering any gear you may leave on the beach if you have travelled in a group or have somebody waiting on the shore – unexpected high tide could see all that being washed away.

The tide works by the moon’s gravitational force pulling areas of the ocean as the earth rotates – so if the moon is directly overheard as you are on the coast, you will experience high tide. Likewise, if the moon is directly overhead on the opposite site of the Earth, you will also experience high tide as the earth is pulled slightly towards the moon. However, depending on the geography of where you are, tides may behave slightly differently due to the shape or gradient of the surrounding coast and land.

Fatyaks in the Harbour
Therefore, with the tides changing every 12 hours or so, you will get two high tides, and two low tides each day. Other factors come into account though, such as the specific position of the moon and the sun, and the different forces that act on tides making a tide book or another source of guidance a very handy investment for forecasting the tide, and making sure it suits your activities.

The UK Hydrographic Office has a great online tool for tidal forecasting, offering predictions for different areas over the next 6 days free of charge. Additionally, tidetimes.org.uk and BBC Weather both have their own offerings, as well as books and smartphone apps being available, which may be more useful if you’re already out on the water – so see what suits you best and take your pick!

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Balancing exercises for Kayakers

Despite the naturally stable design of our Fatyak kayaks, the importance of good balance cannot be emphasised enough. Our kayaks cater for all shapes and sizes of paddler, but sometimes even the most seasoned kayak users can sympathise about the wobble one might experience if stepping into a floating kayak.

Luckily, there are a variety of exercises and movements that can be practiced in order to help you keep your balance, and they revolve around the 3 main types of movement that the graphic below shows;

Balance Planes

It’s important to include all three planes when training to avoid the possibility of developing muscle imbalances. Some simple balancing acts that will help you to stay stable on a kayak would logically start from one requiring the least amount of compensation in order to retain balance, and would progress upwards and onwards – for example, from sitting on a chair, to standing with feet apart, to feet together, to one legged, and so forth.

Fabio Comana with ACE Fitness does an excellent job of demonstrating some simple exercises incorporating all 3 planes that could really help to develop skills for stable fatyaking!

If you’re interested in some local training and outdoor expertise, our friends at Exmoor Adventure and Channel Training can certainly offer some great assistance!

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Transporting your Fatyak

It’s easy to see how loading large objects to the roof of your car could present some serious issues, but pay heed to these tips and recommendations and you’ll be arriving safely at your nearest Fatyaking spot before you know it.

Transporting a Kayak

There are a variety of ways in which you can safely load and transport your Fatyak, with some ways more accessible than others. Of course, the easy solutions might involve a trailer, a helpful friend to take the kayak on your behalf, or a van such as our own!

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However, for the average paddler these won’t always be an option. You can easily make use of a wide range of safe accessories and equipment to make sure your kayak is securely and safely attached, ready to be mobilised, avoiding situations like this;

 

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In favour of situations like this!

 

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Transport accessories you will need

There are various products available that make loading and transporting a kayak easier to do, such as the foldable trolley that can be found in our store here. We’ve been told our Kayaks are especially easy to carry alone for all shapes and sizes, particularly due to the moulded handles and light weight, but regardless, some tips to avoid injury include lifting with your knees, not with your back or waist, and if you’re wearing your Personal Floatation Device when loading your kayak, this can also provide some padding. If your Fatyak is fitted with the legstraps available here then this can also provide a useful handle!

transporting a kayak

We stock a variety of roof racks and accessories designed to make your Fatyak-loading experience safer and easier. First things first, any dedicated kayak-carrying racks will require that your vehicle is already fitted with crossbars on the roof rack, after which, it is simply a case of clipping on one of the J or T-racks available from our shop – no tools needed, simply thumbscrews, clamps, and clips – making them a great choice for quick loading on the move. The racks are fitted with foam pads and rubber bumpers offering great protection against any damage to your pride and joy during transportation.

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As mentioned, a key benefit of dedicated kayak racks is that peace of mind and simplicity that you might not get with other “solutions” seen from time to time; kayaks hanging out of car boots, windows, or sliding around on the roof! A dedicated rack will offer quick handling of your kayak, while keeping it secure too.

Last of all, ensure that once loaded, if it seems necessary, use appropriate tie-down or ratchet straps to secure the ends of the boat against a tow bar, if your vehicle has one fitted, and any other secure areas. Ensure that your vision is not blocked and that you meet legal requirements such as a working electric light board with indicator buzzer relay for trailers, if you choose to use one, and that all loads are secured, and you’re good to go! Transporting a kayak has never been so easy 😉

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Kayak Security and Theft

Have you asked yourself what you would do if the unimaginable occurred, and your beloved Fatyak™ was stolen? And of course, with Fatyak™ kayaks being so desirable as a kayak, its highly possible – with opportunist thieves targeting roof racks, car parks, and beaches as just a few common targets to be hit.

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One of the first things you should consider doing is properly identifying your kayak. All our kayaks have a unique identification number moulded into the body of the kayak which will aid the recovery of your kayak if it was ever stolen. If your kayak was stolen and recovered, knowing this could help to prove that it is your kayak, so take note of it and keep it safe somewhere, along with any timestamped photos or other unique marks such as stickers, fittings, etc. Secondly, armed with this information, a stolen kayak could be registered on one of a few community-driven databases online, including the Facebook group as well as websites like StolenBoats and SCKD.

Another thing worth doing is checking your home insurance policy to see if your kayak would be covered in the event of theft – while you may imagine it would be covered under the category of sporting goods, a lot of insurers may in fact consider it a boat, and as such, may not cover it. Which would be an unwelcome and unexpected surprise!

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Of course, the best strategy to take would be preventing theft in the first place. Extra special care should be taken in any public locations such as car parks, beaches, and town centres, as well as anywhere you might leave a parked car with a kayak on the roof – parked on the road, on your street, or even on a driveway; anywhere it could be easy enough for someone to slide a kayak off the roof as they walk past. If it’s absolutely unavoidable then lock your kayak securely to the car or something else, use ideally a D-lock if possible, steel cable or something along the lines of a bike lock. And, as we recommend, always try to store your Fatyak™ securely inside away from prying eyes or opportunists – ideally inside your house but otherwise inside a locked garage or similar.

 

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Caring for your Fatyak

Durable as they are, a little TLC here and there during your Fatyaking™ career will help the boat last for a lifetime of enjoyment out on the waves. Fatyak™ Kayaks are manufactured from our specially formulated Medium Density Polyethylene; a very durable material with a somewhat flexible memory, meaning it has a tendency to return to its original shape if it becomes distorted. Also, ours has an ultraviolet inhibitor blended in with it, helping to resist colour fade and maintain strength. Regardless, the occasional once-over will help to nip any problems in the bud before they develop into a serious issue, potentially hindering the performance and the safety of your boat.

 

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For example – check the Neoprene dry-hatch covers for wear and tear; check that they seal properly over the hatch and haven’t become worn or damaged, or your dry-hatch storage could end up being more of a water tank! Cables, buckles, and straps need to be checked for wear and tear, and replaced when necessary, in order to keep you and your equipment safely held on top of the boat when you’re out in the waves. If you need help with replacing any parts, feel free to contact us for some advice!

 

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Give your hull and deck a good, thorough review at least once a year to look for any deep wounds or scratches. A few scrapes, light scratches, or nicks are signs of normal wear and tear that would be expected from use on beaches and in the sea; but anything serious, or anything that looks like it could hinder normal operation needs to be repaired. If in doubt, get in touch.

 

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Lastly, while your kayak is designed to require minimal maintenance, it’s always a good idea to rinse your boat and any hardware after you’ve been in salt, brackish, or polluted water. Use mild soap and water and then rinse when complete. After drying your kayak, store it on its side under some form of shelter from the elements, particularly avoiding excessive heat build-up from the sun. If you can, store it inside for the winter, else use a mooring cover.

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Which Fatyak is for me?

When embarking on an adventure into the world of Fatyaking™, choosing the right craft is crucial to your enjoyment of the sport, as well how comfortable you are in the water. While all our boats share a common theme of being designed and built to a high standard, offering the most fun possible, there are certain differences between different types of kayak, and which one will be best for you depends entirely on your intentions! Below are a few suggestions on what might be best for some different categories of paddler, but remember, the best way is to get in the water and give it a go – perhaps from one of our many rental partners!

The Casual, Tentative paddler

Are you just down for having some fun mucking about in the waves? Not as serious a paddler as others? The Fatyak™ Surf could be the perfect choice for you – its the cheapest of our range making it excellent value for those who are looking to give kayaking a go, and are after an easy introduction into the vast world of paddling. Furthermore the Surf needn’t be limited to one person’s enjoyment; the versatility it offers in its easily manoeuvrable and flexible design means it can be shared amongst the family, suitable for a wide range of ages, and is great for paddling, training, surfing, whitewater, touring, or fishing – whatever you want to make of it!Surf Kayak with Seatback & Paddle Red

The Ambitious, Sporty paddler

If you fancy yourself as a bit more serious about your involvement in the world of kayaking then the Kaafu would make a great match – it’s sporty contours and light weight offer fantastic stability in the water, while making it great for some serious racing action too. Not only is the Kaafu great for sporting applications, but with a wide range of available addons it can be very nicely adapted to make a great solo fishing kayak, with the Kaddy storage hatch, Fishfinder mounts and more. Although, the Kaafu is well equipped straight from the factory with paddle parks and storage hatches as standard.

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The Team Player

The Fatyak™ Mahee is the obvious choice for anybody keen on some help out on the water – capable of seating two paddlers, or three with a small child as part of the team, the Mahee makes a great piece of kit for some social Fatyaking™ as well as family days on the water. Of course, for those more strident in their kayaking abilities it can of course be paddled alone, simply sit at the back of the kayak and away you go. The Mahee’s relatively large size as opposed to the rest of the range makes it great for expeditions on the water, lending itself well to fishing trips and some longer exploring sessions.

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The Sporting Legend

Anybody who is serious about their dedication to the kayak-sporting lifestyle needs to get one of these on their Christmas list. Available in Stealth Black only for silently gliding past the competition, the Adventure S series of both the Kaafu and the Mahee are a serious development of the already winning formula present in the original models – a stronger, lighter and more durable breed of Fatyak™ makes them both a fantastic choice for serious paddlers. As with the rest of the range, we supply a wide range of addons for these boats to fine-tune them even more; including a high quality thermally molded seat, Glass Shaft paddles, and, if that wasnt enough, both the Kaafu Adventure S and the Mahee Adventure S come with a free harnessed drinking bottle.

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PaddleExpo 2015

Not so long ago, the Fatyak™ team travelled, equipped with a supply of our locally made kayaks, to the PaddleExpo trade show at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre in Germany.

The PaddleExpo show is the leading paddlesports-exclusive trade fair globally. With its debut in 2003, all the newest paddlesport products and trends including kayaks, canoes, boards, and inflatables can all be found here amongst a sea of keen buyers, manufacturers, retailers, media, and other associations. Additionally it has come to serve as a key player in the distribution of information regarding rentals, events, and water sports tourism.

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Bearing all this in mind we simply couldn’t say no! The team took to the water with the view to spreading the good news of our fantastic range of paddlecraft to a crowd of like-minded individuals. It was the team’s first time exhibiting alongside premium kayaks and water sports brands, and as such it was fantastic exposure for us being able to show our UK made Fatyak™ kayaks to a global market. The quality of our manufacturing did us proud as we were matched up against many big players – and ultimately our presence was well received!

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It’s always been a tenet of Fatyak’s™ existence that our range is fun, affordable, and family orientated – and such a set of points resonated particularly well with the show; we could see that there was a focused area of interest in our products. Our sledge-bodyboard crossover, the Hono, was a real star of the show however; as there was quite simply nothing else like it there.
As a result of this year’s success at the show, the team can’t wait for a return in 2016 from the 7th to the 9th of October; see you there!

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