Most time in your kayak

[mb4850]

What's the longest time you have spent in your kayak or canoe without getting out to stretch. Mine was 12.5 hours last two Fridays ago. I launched it at 5:15 am and loaded up the boat at 5:45 pm. I plan on beating that when the days get longer.

[HsvToolFool]

That is a very unhealthy practice! Not only don't do that,
do the exact opposite. Make yourself stand and stretch every
2 to 3 hours regardless if you're in a boat or kayak.

When I got my kayak early last Summer, my enthusiasm caused
me to spend 6 to 8 hours on the water without standing or stretching.
I then began to notice slight numbness and tingling in my left foot
at the end of the day. I suspected poor circulation, but the symptoms
lingered for a week or two after I stayed off the water.

I was diagnosed with sciatic nerve compression. The sciatic nerves
leave the lower back as a large bundle, routes under the large butt
muscles and hamstring, then down your leg through the knee and
ankle.

After a very unpleasant Nerve Conduction Study (dozens of
needles with electricity added for extra fun), they decided
I didn't have Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome in my ankle and my
knee was also okay. The X-ray indicated that my spine and
disks were okay. Since an MRI would be required to confirm
muscle compression in my back, the doc and I decided to try
a regime of stretching and strength exercises first.

I quickly discovered that my calves and hamstrings were
compressing the sciatic nerve. These muscles had grown
extremely tight from sitting 9+ hours a day in an office cubicle.
By focusing my stretch regime on those big muscles (plus
adding a Hunt Comfort FatBoy pad to my kayak seat),
the symtoms quickly resolved and haven't returned.

[kb2112]

Ive spent long hours in my yak during striper contests, and crawled out a pretzel. As Hs said above, you need to stretch every couple hours. I'll often collapse the seat in my yak and lay down just to stretch out while on the water. I also sit sidesaddle and dangle my feet, just to change positions (advantage of a sot (sit on top) as opposed to a SinK (sit in kayak).

[slabsrus]

I spend a lot of 10 - 14 hour days in my kayak every summer. The longest was 4th of July 2 years ago. I put in at 7am and pulled out at 9:30 pm. I have no issues with these long days as my kayak allows for plenty of movement and body and leg repositioning. After almost 25 years of kayaking I have figured out what works for me. As I am sure most of us avid kayakers will agree that how we kayak is as personal and varies just as much as the kayaks we use. Just don't over do it for your own personal level is the key. It's great to see this new forum topic and I am looking forward to sharing with all the other kayak enthusiasts.

[chmee213]

HsvToolFool,
I have done the sciatica thing, not from a kayak. What helped me the most was spinal traction. Its a sort of benign, benevolent rack which alternates a firm stretch and relax sequence for about 15 min. per treatment. Every other day for about two weeks works wonders.

[aznflycaster]

After a period of time I finally have my sea legs and stand in the canoe and kayak so I can stretch my legs, Try to keep from getting out as often because of the large lizards that live around here.

[mb4850]

All I can say is of the seven othe guys I was fishing with 2 were fishing from a boat 5 were mostly wade fishing. I was in way better shape at the end of the day than they were. Like most things you need to work up to doing anything. I think the Hobie Outback is very well designed and with the constant pedaling your butt gets a lot of exercise. I agree that everyone should be careful and I thank you guys for your alerts. I'll make sure I stand and stretch more often.

[SoonerBorn74]

10 hours for me, but I stand almost as much as I sit on my Malibu Stealth.

[Nick]

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good one. I remember on the movie The Adam's family when the girl asked the Girl Scout if th cookies were really made from ' Girl Scouts'