Sea Kayaking in Florida

by Mark Gluckman

This revised guide to a fast-growing water sport is for both novices and experienced kayakers. Whether you want to fish or just watch wildlife, sea kayaking offers new ways to enjoy Florida's hidden bays and open oceans. You'll find the latest information for a kayaking adventure: boats, camping, clothing, and gear, as well as an expanded list of boat liveries and outfitters. Learn about the birds, wildlife, and coastal vegetation you can expect...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 156164322X
• ISBN13: 9781561643226
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Pineapple Press
• Length: 205 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Take it with a grain of salt

If you're an experienced paddler, already familiar with equipment, navigation, and good safety practices (or a novice with a cautious nature, a stack of other kayaking instruction books, and a strong sense of your own limits), and you want to get acquainted with Florida's coastal waters, by all means buy this book. Gluckman plays down the potential dangers of sea kayaking in Florida. It's a reasonable stance for an experienced outdoorsperson who's seen northern-based kayakers come down with drysuits and rubber boots (and incipient cases of heatstroke) in tow, but not for a book that will likely serve as an introduction for tourists with little on-the-water experience. Novices are likely to catch the overall message that Florida waters are "safe", without paying much attention to the buried disclaimers--if the weather is good, if you have a more experienced person along on more challenging trips, if you stay out of the high-energy surf zones, if you stick with situations well within your level of ability, if you are well-prepared, if you have the sense to come in out a lightning storm, etc. The overall tone and quality of the information is similar to a long chat with a good buddy who knows the area well, not to a lecture by a kayaking or outdoor skills instructor. There is a great deal of useful "insider" information here that you won't find elsewhere--not to mention a really entertaining read--if you keep it in that context. This book should not be your first or only source of paddling information, but it does make a valuable addition to the bookshelf, and a vital one if you plan to paddle long-distance on Florida's Big Bend.

Good read for armchair and real explorers of Florida's coast

Imagine yourself gliding past palm-studded hammocks surrounded by salt marshes teeming with wildlife. An 85 mile stretch of the Big Bend coast makes up the state's first officially designated kayak trail that runs from St. Marks Lighthouse to the mouth of the Suwannee River. A "sea" (the term touring kayak probably better describes the craft referred to here) kayak offers people of all ages a quiet way to explore Florida's protected coastal waters, larger lakes and rivers. A well-designed kayak can readily track through calm waters or choppy seas. The longer, narrower craft also handles much easier than its shorter, wobblier whitewater counterpart. Best of all, touring kayaks allow you to explore waterways without harming the creatures that live in them. Tallhassee attorney and lobbyist David Gluckman offers many tips on kayaking our state's vast coastline. He presents spirited accounts of his adventures in Everglades National Park and the Big Bend Sea Grasses Paddling Trail. He tells how to choose a boat and paddle and touches on safety equipment and learning to read tides and weather. Gluckman discloses how a kayak can be used for camping and fishing. Lastly, he gives us tidbits about early coastal history, critters--including mosquitoes the size of hummingbirds--and Florida geography. The book ends with six appendices that may prove helpful to kayakers. This work should be an invaluable introducution to anyone interested in learning more about the nation's fastest growing water sport. Much of what the author covers also will be useful to general readers whof find themselves irresitibly drawn to Florida's diverse shorelines. Reviewed by Michael Wisenbaker, Tallahassee, Florida