Sea Kayaking Course
Sea Kayak Navigation
Sea Kayak Navigation using traditional charts and compass.
Contacts
- Sat, Jun 7, 2025 - Sun, Jun 8, 2025
- Committee: Tacoma Branch Sea Kayaking Program
- Members: $25.00 Guests: $25.00
- Availability: 1 (20 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Consists of both lecture and classroom sessions, one day each. For Intermediate Sea Kayaker badge requirements, you will not get "credit" unless you complete both. Formerly this was titled Trip Planning and Navigation, but with only one day in the classroom we are limiting the trip planning to that which comes hand-in-hand with navigation.
The classroom session (Saturday) will be all day at the Tacoma Program Center. We will cover tides, currents, weather, compass use, navigational tools, and chart reading in much more detail than the Basic Class. We will show you how to plan a trip involving currents. We will teach the concepts of piloting and dead reckoning but not cover electronic (GPS) navigation.
The on-the-water portion is likely to be held at Owen Beach in Tacoma but may move if weather is an issue.
You need to either be a sea kayaking student or have the basic sea kayaking badge to sign up. Preference is given to those who are already or in the "pipeline" to be a trip leader.
| Course Activity | Date | Availability | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Kayak Navigation - Lecture | |||
| Tacoma Program Center |
Sat, Jun 7, 2025
Registration closes Jun 5
|
3
participants on waitlist
1 instructor
|
|
| Navigation and Trip Planning Field Day | |||
| Commencement Bay |
Sun, Jun 8, 2025
Registration closes Jun 6
|
3
participants on waitlist
1 instructor
|
|
In addition to the 20 essentials, you will need
- MapTech Chart no. 100. These are waterproof, and cover a good portion of the puget sound.
- A hand-held compass- do NOT purchase one with the declination adjustment screw. (If you already have one and want to use it, remove the correction.) We will use an inexpensive baseplate compass, such as a Brunton 7DNL, Silva Explorer, Suunto A10, or similar. Don't use one with a mirror. A deck mounted compass is very handy as well. Talk with the instructor about deck compasses before you buy one.
- string- maybe 18" or so. Dental floss will work. Paracord is too thick.
- Smartphone with tide/current app (or a laptop or tablet to access this data on a website). We won't be using smartphones while on the water.
- A basic calculator (or smartphone).
- You will need a waterproof watch for the on-water day.
- You will need a long billed cap (baseball type) for the on-water day.
- A hand-held compass- do NOT purchase one with the declination adjustment screw. (If you already have one and want to use it, remove the correction.) We will use an inexpensive baseplate compass, such as a Brunton 7DNL, Silva Explorer, Suunto A10, or similar. Don't use one with a mirror. A deck mounted compass is very handy as well. Talk with the instructor about deck compasses before you buy one.
You must register for this course to see course materials.