Sea Kayaking and Lake Superior Q&A
So you want to sea kayak the biggest (best) lake in the world
Sea kayaking is one of those incredible sports that allows you to visit places you can’t reach any other way.
I’ve been exploring Lake Superior by sea kayak for about four years now, and I get lot’s of questions about sea kayaking! Here are some answers to some common questions:
Wait, is sea kayaking different than kayaking?
Yes! Sea kayaking and kayaking are similar in that they both involve a boat that floats and a double bladed paddle, but there the resemblance ends. Sea kayaking and kayaking are about as similar as walking around the park and thru hiking— one of those things can be easily and safely conducted, the other takes much more planning, specialized equipment, and can be dangerous.
Andy at Manitou Falls, the only waterfall cascading directly into Lake Superior.
Although Lake Superior is called a lake, it is functionally an inland sea. Lake Superior maintains an average year round temperature near 40 F, creates its own weather patterns, and can produce waves greater than 30 feet in height.
To paddle on Lake Superior, you really need a sea kayak, or a boat greater than 15 feet in length with sealed bulkheads or pockets of air at the bow and stern to prevent the boat from sinking.
Because of the difference between recreational kayaking and sea kayaking, people transitioning to open water/coastal kayaking can be especially vulnerable to the Dunning-Kruger effect.
What kayak do you have?
I always kind of hate answering this question for a couple of reasons. The first is that Valley, the manufacture of my boat, is no longer making boats. The second is that my boat is not a beginner sea kayak.
The third is that the question is kind of similar to asking someone what pair of pants they’re wearing and in what size— boat fit is highly subjective. You probably don’t want my boat. I actually only know one other sea kayaker who likes the fit of my boat as much as I do.
My boat on a North Shore sandbar.
I paddle a Valley Avocet LV. You probably won’t be able to find another unless you stalk the craigslist pages like I did.
That being said, you shouldn’t just go out and buy my boat, or even go out and buy a sea kayak, without taking a few safety courses and trying out different things. That would be like buying a full kit of mountaineering gear that may or may not fit you before you’ve ever tried mountaineering.
What’s the best kayak to start with?
If your goal is to mess around on the lake in your backyard and nothing more, grab the cheapest thing you can find at Walmart. It’ll float and be easy to transport.
If you’re looking to get into sea kayaking or touring, the answer changes.
If you want to paddle longer days on lakes and rivers, and maybe be able to camp one-two nights out of your kayak, look into a Wilderness Systems Pungo. This is not a sea kayak and shouldn’t be brought on Lake Superior or any of the Great Lakes. That being said, this is great for camping on inland lakes, and can handle longer days.
A Perception Conduit 13 is also worth looking into.
Okay, but what’s the best sea kayak to start with?
I want to stress that buying a sea kayak and a bunch of fancy gear does not make you sea worthy. Practicing your paddling skills, planning ahead, knowing all your rescues, having solid braces, boat control, and good navigational skills makes you seaworthy.
Correct gear is a great place to start; a safety course is a better place. Trek & Trail in Bayfield offers basic safety courses, Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply in Grand Marais offers courses upon request, as do many other outfitters. Google “ACA Coastal Kayaking Courses near me”.
For beginners looking for a stable boat for mostly calm water and trips under 10 miles: Wilderness Systems Tsunami 145. This will be a boat you can trip out of for 1-2 days, is more stable than a traditional sea kayak, and still offers the seaworthiness of a traditional sea kayak.
You can absolutely take this boat on Lake Superior, but you will find it is slower than a traditional sea kayak, and not suitable for open water crossings, high winds, or any more advanced coastal conditions.
For a beginner sea kayak that will give you room to grow, look into a Tempest instead.
Beyond that, boat fit is important. If you plan to tackle longer trips in your boat or become a regular sea kayaker, spend time paddling different performance boats. Current Designs, P&H, and NDK all make excellent performance sea kayaks.
Some stunning, very hard to reach Lake Superior shoreline.
Is an inflatable kayak safe enough on Lake Superior?
Not really. If it swamps, how are you going to get back in?
That being said, I would say that pretty much any and all watercraft is safe on Superior if you are just paddling right next to the beach. If you could easily swim to shore, no big deal.
If you are asking me if your boat is safe enough for Superior, that tells me you aren’t confident in your own paddling abilities and rescues on Lake Superior. I can’t tell you if you and your boat will be fine or not— only you can do that.
Ultimately, your safety and judgement calls are up to you.
What camera do you use for kayaking photos?
Honestly, about 80% of the time I just use my iPhone. For a full breakdown of my camera setup, click here.
How cold is the water?
Depends where you are!
The hypothermia risk when paddling on Lake Superior tends to come not in the shallow bays and beaches you swim in. It’s when you leave that protected cove or bay for cliffs or open water. The water temperature difference can be HUGE between the beach you launched at and where you’re headed, which is why it’s always important to wear a wetsuit anytime you’re leaving the beach.
And I do mean wear a wetsuit; if you end up in the water, you will not be able to put it in the conditions that capsized you.
What size waves should make you turn around?
The second you get that bad feeling in your stomach? Turn around. Ideally, you have plans and backup plans to make this easy.
I’ll refer back to what I said before. Similar to how there’s not a perfect boat that will make you safe, there’s also not a magic clue that will tip you off that you’re about to be in a dangerous situation.
When that situation happens it happens quickly in what feels like no warning at all. The best thing you can do is prepare yourself so that you can answer on your own what wave height you are comfortable and safe in and what the signs of potential danger are.
Where is this?
In general, I will always tell you where something is! When it comes to sea kayaking, I’ll probably make you wade through some safety information before I just give you the answer.
It’s not a matter of me not wanting you to visit a special place; It’s that I personally have rescued a lot of people in really horrible situations on Lake Superior. I’ve watched people have kayaking ruined for them completely because they were under the impression they would have a calm and beautiful day at the sea caves.
While I understand that I am not responsible for other peoples choices, sometimes “where is this?” isn’t an easy question to answer.
Or I’ve already answered it in the caption. Or I don’t have a better answer for you than “on the North Shore”. Sometimes there’s really just not a more specific spot, because heck I was just paddling.
Sometimes though, the comment or dm “where is this” from a stranger comes off a little rude and demanding, especially when the answer is complicated.
My advice, for me and others, is that if you want to know where a place is on Instagram, send a really nice dm! Introduce yourself, say hi, I really like your work, I was wondering if you could tell me where this is, my friend and I would really like to visit, no worries if you don’t have time.
I will always respond to a polite, well-written message.
For a full resource guide on sea kayaking Lake Superior, click here.
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