How to Measure the Distance Traveled When Paddling a Kayak

When measuring the distance traveled when paddling a kayak, there is a handy formula for calculating the amount of space that you have covered that doesn't rely on any expensive measuring devices. Follow this formula, and you can calculate the amount of distance you've traveled no matter where you are.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the distance between the water's surface and your eye level when sitting upright in the kayak (usually this is somewhere around 2 feet).

    • 2

      While kayaking, look off into the distance and find objects that are just appearing on the horizon (because of the earth's curvature, the distance at which objects first appear on the horizon can be reliably calculated).

    • 3

      Take the measurement that you got from Step 1 and find the square root (If you found that your eye level was 2 feet above the water's surface, then the square root would be about 1.5). This number is the same as the number of miles between you and any object that has just appeared on the horizon.

    • 4

      Paddle until you reach the object that you saw entering the horizon in Step 2. Assuming that the object was stationary, you now know approximately how many miles you have traveled.