I'd like to take a moment to thank our Sponsor of this article, the ACA, please remember to wear your lifejacket when enjoying the water. They have a fantastic online course for anyone thinking about getting into paddle sports. Check out the link for the free course!

Setting off on Lake Opeongo

The day started with a sense of anticipation. I am taking the Melker Rödlöga sea kayak on this adventure. As I paddled away from the shore, the weight of everyday responsibilities fell away. Lake Opeongo, the largest lake in Algonquin Park, stretched out before me. It’s not often you see sea kayaks here since the park is renowned for its canoe tripping routes, but Opeongo’s size justifies the use of a sea kayak. This massive lake, about 10 miles long, offers a unique challenge and a chance to cover some serious distance.

The First Leg: Calm Waters and Clear Skies

The initial paddle was serene. The spring weather was kind, with no strong winds to battle against, which was a blessing given the potential for big waves on this lake. The water was calm, and the sky started to clear up, transforming the mood of the trip. It’s incredible how a bit of sunshine can lift your spirits, even after a drizzly start.

For those new to paddling, you might have noticed the unique paddle I’m using in the video. This is a Greenland paddle, a tool I’ve grown to appreciate for long-distance paddling. It’s easier on the body over extended periods, distributing the workload more evenly compared to a traditional kayak paddle. My GearLab Outdoors IPIK paddle is as light as a feather, thanks to its carbon fiber construction—a worthy investment for long days on the water.

A Quest for Wildlife

My primary mission for this trip was to find and observe moose. Spring is the ideal time for this, as the foliage hasn’t fully emerged, making wildlife easier to spot. I aimed to reach the north arm of Lake Opeongo, where a vast marshland is known to harbor a dense population of moose. The journey to this wildlife hotspot was filled with anticipation. As I paddled closer, the landscape transformed into a marshy haven, perfect for moose spotting.

Camping Under the Stars

After a long day of paddling, I found a secluded campsite. This trip was also a first for me in another way: hammock camping. Inspired by friends who swear by it, I decided to trade my tent for an ENO camping hammock and tarp. It was a bit of a gamble, considering the potential for rain and wildlife encounters, but it turned out to be a peaceful and surprisingly comfortable night.The ZenBivy sleep system kept me cozy.

Dinner was a humble affair with a long-shelf-life backpacker’s meal. While it wasn’t gourmet, it was a reminder of the simple joys of backcountry camping—savoring a meal after a day of hard work, with the sounds of nature all around.

Exploring Hailstorm Creek

Hailstorm Creek is a hidden gem within Algonquin, often overlooked, but teeming with life. As I paddled through its serene waters, I marveled at the beauty of the marshland. The call of loons and the sight of waterfowl were constant companions, adding to the magic of the place.

The Long Paddle Back

Despite not spotting any moose this time, the journey was far from disappointing. The tranquility of the marsh, the challenge of navigating through tight, reedy passages, and the sheer joy of being surrounded by nature made it all worthwhile. As I began the long paddle back, the sun broke through the clouds, promising a pleasant journey home.

Reflecting on the Adventure

Every paddling trip offers something unique, and this adventure on Lake Opeongo was no exception. While I didn’t find the moose I was looking for, the experience was rich with the sights and sounds of spring in Algonquin Park. From the solitude of the massive lake to the intimate beauty of Hailstorm Creek, this trip was a reminder of why I love paddling.

For those who haven’t yet ventured into the backcountry with a paddle, I encourage you to give it a try. There’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored, and each trip, whether it’s filled with wildlife sightings or simply the quiet moments of reflection on the water, is a journey worth taking.

Until next time, keep exploring, keep paddling, and stay tuned for more adventures.

Special Thanks

to Ontario Creates for supporting my YouTube channels and blog articles.

The post Sea Kayaking on Lake Opeongo in Algonquin Park appeared first on Hazeadventure.

When to Use a Skeg 

If you paddle a touring or sea kayak on a windy day, you might notice that when the skeg is up, the kayak naturally turns towards the direction of the wind. This phenomenon is known as weather cocking and happens when your kayak has a keel that cuts through the water. The kayak does not start turning because of the direction of the bow. Instead, it is because the wind blows the stern of the kayak downwind faster than it blows the bow. 

To stop weather cocking you have two main options. The first is to paddle harder on one side than on the other. This way, you can keep the kayak moving more or less in a straight line. However, this is not an ideal or comfortable solution for long as it causes you to paddle unevenly. 

The other option is to use something to keep the stern in place, which is where the skeg comes in. 

How to Use a Skeg

When you notice you need to paddle unevenly to keep your kayak straight, it is time to drop the skeg. Skegs can be lowered to different levels. The depth of the skeg will affect how firmly the stern is held into place. If you lower it fully, it is possible that the stern is held too firmly in place. This might cause the kayak to start turning in the other direction. 

The amount you need to drop the skeg depends on the strength and direction of the wind and your kayak's tendency to weather cock. Every kayak with a keel does weather cock slightly. However, a lot of inflatable kayaks do not weather cock. They have a flat bottom, which is why many of them do not need a skeg. 

If you have a skeg, it just takes a little experimenting to see how much you need to lower it. The goal is to be able to paddle evenly on both sides and in a straight line. The depth the skeg needs to go will differ every time you are out on the water. However, using your skeg will make paddling in the wind much more enjoyable! 

Kayak: Melker Ulvon
Paddles:  Gearlab Outdoors Greenland Ipik
PFD:   NRS OSO Lifejacket
Storage: Gearlab Outdoors Deck Pod 2
Clothing:  NRS Short Sleeved Guide Shirt
Sunglasses: Wiley X

The post How to Use a Skeg appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Melker Kayaks

One of the central missions of Melker is to redefine the manufacturing process in the paddling industry. Ultimately they want to make it completely sustainable. The founder is an engineer from the tech world who wants to bring sustainable ideas to the world of paddle sports. 

As part of this, all Melker kayaks use locally sourced flaxweed instead of the standard composites, carbon kevlar, and carbon fiber. Flaxweed is more environmentally friendly and gives the kayak a beautiful wood-like finish. The Melker Uvlon, like all Melker kayaks, is visually stunning. But the real question is, how does it paddle?

Melker Ulvon HV Specifications

Price: $3900 (USD)
Length: 17’ 5”
Width: 21”
Weight: 54 LBS (24.5kg)
Capacity: 165-240 LBS
Best use: Touring

Features of the Melker Uvlon

The Melker Uvlon is a long, narrow sea kayak designed for speed. It has no rocker. It has plenty of volume at the front – although there is no upturned front to help with waves. In general, it has volume. With a capacity of up to 240 LBS, you can take the Uvlon on a real touring trip. 

The Uvlon does not have thigh hooks meaning it isn't designed to use in rough water, rapids, surfing, or rock gardens. It is designed to cover long distances. The benefit of not having thigh hooks is that people who aren’t as comfortable feeling enclosed in a kayak will feel more secure. 

The Uvlon is still rollable. The contour of the deck allows you to grip it with your knees and roll it. It also comes with pads that you can place in the kayak to make it easier to roll. 

Another neat feature of the Melker Uvlon is that it comes with both a rudder and a skeg. You do not need to choose. I don’t typically use rudders as I can maneuver easily without them, but the Skeg is a great addition. With the slight breeze on the Ottowa River, the skeg was helpful to keep my kayak on course. Typically I would choose a skeg but getting the option to use both is fantastic. 

Comfort

After about two and a half hours, I needed to take a little break from kayaking to stretch my legs. The seat is basic but is surprisingly comfortable for what it is. That said, it doesn’t have a lot of padding so my butt needed a little break at some points. Luckily I had to scramble over several obstacles so I got plenty of chances to stretch. 

A Note on Greenland Paddles

For this adventure, as the plan was to cover the distance, I used my Greenland paddles. These are incredibly lightweight and suitable for covering large distances. They took some getting used to when I first started using them as the blades are so small. I constantly had to think about the angle I used to pull them through the water. But nowadays, it feels more natural. 

The Greenland paddle takes more time to get comfortable with than a typical paddle. So if you don’t have the patience to get used to it, it might be a frustrating paddle experience. If you go for a Greenland paddle, you should prepare to spend some time figuring it out and getting to know it. It isn’t as intuitive as a standard paddle. 

All in All 

I didn’t test the Melker Uvlon in rough water, but I did try it in rough conditions. I dragged it over five beaver dams and gave it its first scratches. But, as I always say, a boat without scratches is a boat without experience. And my Melker Uvlon certainly has experience now. Throughout the entire adventure, it was a fun boat to paddle and easy to portage. It really is a beautiful kayak. 

Be sure to have a look at the other Melker review I've done: Melker Rödlöga Review, an Environmentally Friendly Kayak

Kayak: Melker Ulvon
Paddles:  Gearlab Outdoors Greenland Ipik
PFD:   NRS OSO Lifejacket
Storage: Gearlab Outdoors Deck Pod 2
Clothing:  NRS Short Sleeved Guide Shirt
Sunglasses: Wiley X

The post The Melker Ulvon Kayak Review appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Melker Rödlöga Specifications

The Melker Rödlöga comes in a high and low volume version. I tested the high-volume version which has the following specifications:

Price: $3900 (USD)
Length: 16’ 7”
Width: 21 1/4”
Weight: 54 LBS (24KG)
Capacity: 175LBS – 230 LBS
Best Use: All conditions

The Rödlöga features:

• A skeg and a rudder 
• Aggressive thigh braces
• An adjustable, ergonomic seat
• Four hatches
• A recessed area between the bow hatches
• 190 liters storage space

Portability

This is a 16.5’ long kayak that only weighs 54 LBS. That is very light for such a long kayak. This means it is very easy to throw on your shoulder and move it around. 

When transporting or storing a kayak like this you need to make sure you have a padded space for it. Otherwise, you can cause damage to the boat. 

Stability

This is 21 1/4 inches wide. That is a very narrow kayak which means that it is designed for speed but not necessarily stability. However, across the center of the kayak, the hull is quite flat, with a hard chine or edge to the side walls. This means that it has surprisingly good primary stability. At the same time, it easily rolls from edge to edge and into good secondary stability. 

All in all, for a 21 1/4” wide kayak, designed for speed rather than stability, it does have both good primary and secondary stability. 

Performance

Usually, stability comes at the cost of performance, so is that the case with the Melker Rödlöga? Well, the answer to that is maybe a little. There is a slight reduction in speed in this boat. But that is also because it is designed to be used in all conditions. 

The Melker Rödlöga is Melker’s “play” touring boat variation. It has a lot of rocker bow to stern which makes it very maneuverable. You can use it for all sorts of kayaking. But you do lose a little bit of top-end speed when you have a kayak with that much rocker. However, it also makes this a more playful and versatile kayak to use. Exactly my sort of kayak. 

In terms of maneuverability, the Rödlöga turns incredibly well. When you hold the kayak on the edge it starts to turn already. That makes it a lot of fun to play with. Yet, when you drop the skeg down it tracks very well, which is exactly what should happen. 

The Rödlöga has a great combination of stability, speed, and maneuverability which makes it a very comforting boat to take into all conditions from white water rapids to rough conditions on open water. I was very impressed by its performance in the rapids and on flat water. It is a great all-round boat. 

Comfort

I am 6’2”, 195 LBS with about a 34” inseam and I had plenty of room in the Melker Rödlöga. But, as a size 10, I did not have a lot of foot room. So it is worth noting that for people who are slightly taller and have bigger feet than me, you might start to feel a little pinched in the foot area. That being said, if you are much taller than me you will probably be over the weight limit fairly soon anyway. And then this is not the right kayak for you anyway. 

The cockpit of the Rödlöga is very simple. But sometimes simple is enough. There is a contoured seat pan with a thin foam pad on it and some aggressive thigh hooks that also come with foam pads that you can position yourself. The back band on the seat is non-adjustable, but you can move the position of the seat. So all in all it was adequately comfortable. 

It doesn’t come with hip pads, which wasn’t a problem for me as the seat fit me perfectly. However, some people with different-sized butts might miss these. 

Value of this Touring Kayak

The Melker Rödlöga retails for $3900 (USD) which is a lot of money for anyone. But that is what you expect to pay for a composite sea kayak of this nature and quality. In fact, you would expect to pay between $3000-$6000 for a kayak like this, so the Rödlöga is very much in-range. 

You would often expect to pay a little premium for a kayak that looks so good, performs so well, and is environmentally friendly. With the Rödlöga it feels like you are getting all these things without paying that premium. So this is good value for what it is! 

Who is The Melker Rödlöga Kayak For?

The Melker Rödlöga is for somebody who wants a playful, all-condition kayak. You don’t need to be a hardcore paddler to enjoy paddling this boat, but it is great for people looking to progress into paddling in rougher waters. This boat really is an all-round kayak. 

In my opinion, the Melker Rödlöga is a lifetime kayak. If you get this you will probably have it for a lifetime. So the fact that you can grow into this kayak and really use it in any condition is awesome. 

In the big picture, this is not a stable kayak compared to recreational or touring kayaks. So while some beginners could use this boat, however, it is geared toward people with a bit more experience. People who know a little more about what they want out of a kayak. People who are ready to lose a little bit of stability to get some performance. 

Kayak: Melker Rodloga
Paddles:  Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid
PFD:   NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec)
Clothing:  NRS Short Sleeved Guide Shirt
Sunglasses: Wiley X

The post Melker Rödlöga Review, an Environmentally Friendly Kayak appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Types of Kayaks

When you are choosing a kayak there are three big choices you have to make. Do you want a portable or hard-shell kayak? Would you rather use a sit-in or sit-on-top kayak? Do you want a paddle or a pedal-driven kayak? 

Once you’ve narrowed down the options you need to decide if you want a recreational kayak, a touring kayak, or a sea kayak. While this blog post is all about touring kayaks, let’s break down the basics of the different kayak categories of kayak that exist.

Two big factors help determine what type of kayak you are looking at, and that is length and width. The longer and narrower a kayak is, the more effectively it will travel through the water.

Recreational Kayaks

These are kayaks that prioritize stability. This comes at the cost of speed and performance. Recreational kayaks are usually between 9’-12’ long. These kayaks are the widest kayaks available at around 30+” wide. This also means that they are the slowest because they are pushing the most water and therefore create the most resistance. 

Sea Kayaks

These prioritize performance. They travel as quickly and efficiently through the water as possible. Sea Kayaks are usually between 14’-18’ long and about 22”-24” wide. While these were originally designed to be used on the sea, they can be great on lakes, rivers, and ponds too. They are not exclusive to the ocean. 

Touring Kayaks

Touring kayaks fit in the middle of these two categories. They provide a great balance of stability and performance. They are kayaks that are still relatively stable but are also fun to paddle. Touring kayaks are usually between 12’-16’ long and 24”-30” wide. 

Which Different Touring Kayaks Are Available?

There are many different names for touring kayaks. But I typically categorize touring kayaks into three different groups:

• Recreational touring kayaks
• Touring Kayaks
• Performance Touring kayaks

The Recreational Touring Kayak

This kayak is in a class of its own. It is a kayak that is not designed for rough water but is designed to be a fun and efficient kayak to paddle in calm water. It gives up some stability for the “fun factor”. Recreational touring kayaks tend to be a little wider at around 26”-30”. 

You should not take a recreational touring kayak into rough water for a number of reasons. They tend to have big cockpits so that the kayaker doesn’t feel confined. This means that they can not take a kayak skirt. They also often only have one bulkhead in the back. A bulkhead is a wall in the kayak that separates it into different sections. These are important in rough conditions because without them a lot more of the kayak can fill with water if you flip. 

Recreational touring kayaks are also not designed to be rolled. So if you ever want to learn to roll then these are not the right kayaks for you. 

A great example of a recreational touring kayak is the Liquid Logic Saluda. 

Touring Kayaks

The basic touring kayak is a kayak for use in all conditions. They have two bulkheads, one behind the seat, and one just in front of your feet. So if you do flip it is only the center cockpit area that gets swamped. This makes rescues much easier. They also tend to have smaller cockpits that are designed to take spray skirts. You can roll a touring kayak. 

Touring kayaks tend to be a little narrower than recreational touring kayaks with a width of between 25” and 27” inches. 

A great example of a touring kayak would be the Pakayak BlueFin 142 which is 14’ and designed to handle both rough and calm water. It's an all-round and do anything touring kayak. 

Performance Touring Kayak

Performance touring kayaks are the next step up. And truthfully performance touring kayaks and sea touring kayaks are very similar. I tend to use the term interchangeably. 

Perfomance touring kayaks can perform well in any conditions. They travel very efficiently through the water and allow you to travel long distances with ease. 

How are they high-performance? Well, they have the same size cockpit as touring kayaks, they are designed to be used with a skirt and tend to have more conforming seats.

Performance touring kayaks are designed to be as rollable as possible. Usually, you can customize the hip and thigh hooks so you can get support in the right places. This helps with edging and rolling the kayak. 

They also have low back decks to make it easier to roll. 

Performance touring kayaks tend to be narrower, longer, and faster, in general just higher performance. But they do give up a lot of stability for that. Some of them can even feel a little tippy. 

To use performance kayaks safely in all conditions you need to have a guide with you or prior training. This is particularly the case if you are going to be traveling further from shore than you can swim. 

A good example of a performing kayak is the P&H Volan. It is a carbon Kevlar kayak that is a work of art! 

Who Are Touring Kayaks For?

To sum it all up the big question is, who are touring kayaks for?

Recreational Touring Kayaks

These are really for anyone who wants a kayak that will be fun to paddle. They need to be willing to give up some stability for a kayak that will travel through the water a little faster. But they will need to stick to calm conditions. 

Touring and Performance Touring Kayaks

Performance and touring kayaks can be used by anyone from novices to experts. These can be used in calm conditions by anyone looking to paddle a kayak that moves efficiently through the water. 

These kayaks also open the door to rougher water paddling, learning how to roll, and playing around in ocean surf. They allow you to enjoy a wide variety of calm and rough conditions and different paddling activities. But many of these activities will require training. 

The further you go down the road with performance touring kayaks the more opportunities you will have to push your limits and have fun. 

Find Your Kayak

There is a kayak out there for everyone: for each individual body size and shape and for every reason that someone might want to go paddling. Once you find the right boat for you it's amazing how much fun you can have on the water. 

Kayaks: Pakayak Bluefin 142, Wilderness Systems Pungo, Liquid Logic Saluda, Melker Rodloga, P&H Volan 160, P&H Leo
Paddles:  Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid
PFD:   NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec)
Clothing:  NRS Short Sleeved Guide Shirt
Sunglasses: Wiley X

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