How to Track a Kayak

When paddling a kayak, to maximize speed you want to follow a straight line instead of paddling a meandering path. Paddlers call a kayak's ability to go straight "tracking," and being able to paddle a kayak so that it tracks straight takes skill. Every kayaker needs to develop that skill. Even after developing the skill to keep the boat tracking, some situations, such as when paddling in cross and quartering winds, force the boat off course. In those situation, use your skeg or rudder.

Things You'll Need

  • Paddle
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Sit evenly in the kayak and adjust the foot braces evenly in the boat. If you sit slightly sideways in the boat or the foot braces are uneven, you will favor one side over the other during the forward stroke. This causes the boat to turn toward one side.

    • 2

      Rotate your torso forward by swinging your right arm forward and catching the paddle near your feet. Draw the paddle through the water by unwinding your torso until your right hand nears your hip. Lift the paddle out of the water and repeat the process on the left side of the boat. Watch that you catch the water in the same place, apply the same force to both sides and that you take the paddle out at the same place. Any unevenness in the stroke will reduce tracking.

    • 3

      Stare straight ahead over the kayaks bow to a feature on the horizon. Keep the kayak aimed at the feature by subtly adjusting power to one side or the other. If your kayak veers to the left, for example, add a little power or sweep your stroke slightly away from the boat on that side to bring it back in line.

    • 4

      Put the boat up on edge by lifting your right knee and pushing down with your left buttock to correct your course when you wander off a straight line. This edges the boat to the left, which helps turn the kayak to the right. Do the opposite to help course correct to the left.

    • 5

      Drop the skeg or rudder in quartering or cross winds. Both help the kayak track straight.