loading kayaks on the De Anza trailer

Below are photos of the steps to load the trailer from a trip to Stevens Creek reservoir for some beginners’ practice.

The trailer is 22′ long (including the tongue) by 108 inches wide.

The trailer will fit all ten tandem kayaks. On the trip pictured below we had some no-shows so we only unloaded and used nine of the kayaks, and there was one on top as we started the reloading.

The trailer has a built-in metal padlocked box big enough for the paddles and at least some of the lifejackets. Start by putting the paddles and not-too-wet lifejackets in the bin first. (Or on the Grand Teton National park trip we pack, cable and padlock the lifejackets in the ends of the kayaks so they can do not dry out more completely.)

loading paddles:

Load from the top down so you can stand below the top ones more easily as you put them on.

loading kayaks nov 2:

A strong man might think he can lift one on by himself, but it’s just not safe. We require at least two and prefer to have three or four people under each as they are lifted up on the trailer. Yes, you will be supervised while you are doing this and might be asked to slow down as needed.

loading kayaks 2004 1:

loading kayaks nov 3:

loading kayaks nov 6:

loading kayaks nov 7:

And when they are all on, they are lashed and locked on.

loading kayaks nov 8: lashing kayaks:

The kayak strapping is always double-checked after they are put on.

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Links to info about trips we take these kayaks on are below

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The De Anza College Outdoor Club offers a kayak day trip with a paddling lesson,
at Baylands Preserve in Palo Alto
each October and May.

 

Baylands Preserve in Palo Alto is 16 minutes from the De Anza Campus.

Read details at: https://marydonahue.org/baylands-kayaking

You must sign up in advance and we have limited space for people.

tandem kayak in race

 

 

Kayaks are used on the between-summer-and-fall-quarter trip to Grand Teton National park,
Grand Tetons kayaking

Going kayaking at sunrise on the Grand Teton National Park trip requires getting up while it is still dark to hook up the kayak trailer for towing:

Mila and crew move kayak trailer: people pulling a kayak trailer into posistion to hook it up to a S U V

 

(Links to all Outdoor Club Coming Attractions are here.)

and also perhaps of interest:

Road trip advice and etiquette

Why you should wear a lifejacket.