: Okay, from what I gather so far, the "speed" of a kayak is listed
: in two ways, cruising speed and top speed. It seems to me that these
: speeds would be relative to the paddler. What could be
: "cruising" for one person may be "top speed" for
: someone else. How then can they list numbers (waterline and wetted
: surface) to describe these speeds? If the terms "cruising speed"
: and "top speed" are not relative, what is the exact speed (or
: thereabouts) where cruising speed ends and top speed begins? If I want to
: be kayaking for the purpose of getting a good workout most of the time
: should I be more concerned with "cruising speed" or "top
: speed?"

: Thansk for putting up with a newbie,
: Ken

Hi Ken

Well, after all of that, let me say that almost nothing about the boats speed has anything to do with a good workout.

C R A S H

Opps! Did I hear a few chairs hit the floor?? Sorry guys!!
If you want a good workout, just paddle until your heart rate is up to around 135 to 140 and hold that speed for anything over 12 to 15 minutes. It doesn't take that much speed, just a lot of activity. That will get the carbs/calories burning and use up some of the fatty tissue in the muscles.

I like the idea of getting permission to use a pool or just a pond or small area in a lake and tying a rope to the stern of the Yak and paddle to your "HEARTS" content, and after a few days of that, it will be. Probably an hour a day, three to four times a week and you'll need a smaller kayak in a couple of months.

The more 'in-shape' you get, the longer and/or faster you will have to paddle to reach and maintain that optimum heart rate. Course, the larger the muscle groups you use, the faster it will get there, which means that you may get more of a workout by walking around the block in a quick walk for 30 minutes to an hour. Using the thigh and buttocks will burn off much more than the arms and abs. but they don't do as much for getting you into that optimum kayaking shape...

yeah, I know, not what you had in mind....
Just a passing thought.........

Rehd

P.S. ( anyway, as I mentioned, the boats speed doesn't have anything to do with a good workout. Although the more you push it, and for a longer time, the better off you will be. Mostly it's the time that works for you. Anything under the 12 minutes at your training heart-rate and you are not getting a good workout. )