Save Energy with the Stutter Stroke

Use less energy in propelling your kayak by using the "stutter stroke." This stroke allows you to capitalize upon the "glide" component of your kayak. Of course, the amount of glide you get is dependent upon your kayak's design, construction, and condition.

Suffice to say a long, sleek kayak with a smooth hull will glide much better than a short, wide kayak. Regardless of the design, your kayak will generally still maintain 75% to 85% of its velocity when you pause between strokes.

So rather than"stroke right", "stroke left", repeating the cadence continually, replace your style with "stroke right", pause, "stroke left" pause. While your momentum falls off temporarily by 15 or 20%, you minimize your effort by 50%. Sounds to me like a good strategy for those long trips.