Big Banana Adventures

We can instruct and teach in the following areas.
 

Boat Design and Features

  • parts of boat
  • design features affecting boat performance
  • singles, doubles
  • flotation (bulkheads and hatches)
  • construction and materials

Boat Repair and Maintenance

  • field repair of boats and equipment
  • repair kits - supplies and tools

Chart Interpretation

  • chart preparation and accessibility
  • scale/ distance
  • shoreline features
  • land features and topography
  • sea floor bathymetry
  • common symbols and hazard symbols

Compass Use

  • types of compasses
  • parts of compass
  • deviation and variation
  • orientation of chart with compass
  • taking a bearing from landmarks
  • taking a bearing from the chart
  • planning a route with bearings
  • paddling a bearing
  • drift compensation
  • triangulation

Currents

  • current tables
  • current speeds and effects
  • eddies
  • narrowing and swallowing effects
  • ferrying
  • wind opposing current
  • predicting slack and maximum flood/ ebb

On Water Navigation

  • awareness of sea state, recognizing developing seas
  • recognizing landmarks
  • dead reckoning
  • piloting

Surf Management

  • on shore evaluation of surf
  • refraction, diffraction, diffusion, concentration
  • sets
  • launching in surf
  • landing in surf

Tides

  • tide theory
  • tide tables
  • seasonal variations
  • consequences of high/ low tides
  • prediction of tide height
  • low pressure and storm effects

Communication Device

  • licensing
  • emergency use
  • weather reports
  • storage, accessibility and care
  • pros and cons of different devices (area specific application)

Weather Forecasts

  • obtaining marine forecast
  • update times
  • terms and language
  • importance of constant monitoring
  • using local knowledge to interpret forecast

Weather Interpretation

  • recognizing wind direction and speeds
  • recognizing fronts and system changes
  • effects on sea state
  • daily wind speed variations
  • lee and windward shores
  • combining forecasts and local observation

Weather Theory

  • atmospheric pressure
  • high pressure systems - characteristics
  • low pressure systems - characteristics
  • fronts
  • local effects - funneling and bending
  • onshore/ offshore winds
  • fog

 

Launching and Landing

  • packing and unpacking boats
  • beach surfaces
  • methods of launching and landing
  • order of launching and landing 
  • boat stability while launching and landing
  • assessing sea state and weather conditions
  • near shore hazards

Paddling Mechanics

  • holding the paddle
  • body position
  • paddle position
  • feathered and unfeathered techniques - pros and cons

Propulsion Strokes

  • forward stroke
  • reverse stroke

Maneuvering Strokes

  • sweep and reverse sweep
  • draw stroke

Stability Strokes

  • low brace
  • high brace
  • sculling brace

Capsize Recovery

  • prevention
  • ongoing contingency planning
  • assisted
  • solo
  • rolling (an exposure to rolling only)
  • managing the group
  • post-rescue assessment
  • use of flares, emergency equipment and clothing

Equipment

  • Coast Guard Requirements
  • paddle design and styles
  • spray skirt styles, design, and use
  • care of equipment

Towing

  • pros and cons of towing
  • systems for towing with one/ two kayaks
  • tow rope design

Judgment and Decision Making

  • importance of forethought
  • identification of factors involved in decisions
  • probability and consequence
  • deferring to the conservative decision
  • awareness of group and environment
  • stress as a factor

Group Travel

  • pod formation and spacing
  • lead and sweep positions
  • group communication
  • travel hazards
  • recognizing and balancing individual strengths and weaknesses 

Minimum Impact Camping

  • familiarization with minimum impact practices
  • campsite selection
  • cooking; site, use of fires
  • harvesting
  • visual impact
  • inter group etiquette

Pre-Trip Planning and Contingency Plans

  • reviewing medical and personal information
  • route and schedule planning
  • alternative routes and schedules
  • familiarization with local weather and sea state
  • evaluating route hazards
  • assessing food and equipment
  • creating evacuation plans
  • keeping a log
  • continual condition assessment
  • reassessment of pre-trip plans

             Campsite Selection

  • exposure, access
  • drinking water
  • size and group suitability
  • minimizing impact

 

BBA/03/29/2007