If you ever wondered whether kayak navigation is just a scaled-down version of coastal navigation as practiced by yachties, then this book will give you the answer: it's not. As kayakers, we are sorely limited by the available space... the range of tools is pretty much what can be stuffed in pockets or bungeed on the deck (and our hands are too busy paddling to use standard charting techniques). Kayaks are also slow-moving and hard to see from the bridges of Mighty Vessels, so we tend to be much more vulnerable to currents and shipping lanes than the Big Boys. This book is essential for serious kayakers, as it takes a paddling perspective on the critical issues of passage planning, crossings, currents, piloting, ranges, night paddling, tools, weather, and generally staying alive out there. A must, and well-written too.
This is a fun one if you happen to be in the state of Washington... a collection of well-documented paddle routes on the rivers of our state. Normally I just pick a place and wing it, but Huser has done an excellent job of detailing river accesses and other details, and accurately describes the conditions that can be found throughout the year. This is mostly flat-water stuff (up to Class II), and is a way to get those salty Puget Sound sea kayaks a fresh water bath now and then. The temptation is to check the trips off as you do them and try to collect the whole set... there's some amazing stuff around here! (My own local paddles are documented in these maplets.)
Another with a Pacific Northwest local angle, this delightful book describes most of the kayaking hot-spots around here... but does it in a general enough sense that you don't feel like you're being urged to follow someone else's itinerary. Each area is discussed in terms of planning and logistical issues, launching and camping sites, recommended charts, and route options. Randel makes it very clear when there are significant safety issues by giving each trip a "rating"; one of the problems around here is that the scenery out there looks placid and alluring, but harbors all sorts of interesting hazards including wicked tide rips. The author knows this area extremely well, and his writing is clear and engaging.
Every beginning sea kayaker needs to study at least one general book about the whole field to establish a good understanding of the basics (I started with the classic Sea Kayaking: A Manual for Long-Distance Touring by John Dowd, first published in 1981). I'm not going to try to compare the books of the breed; Dowd has been updated lately and I haven't read the original in 10 years, Derek Hutchinson's highly regarded The Complete Book of Sea Kayaking is in its 5th edition, and there are at least a half-dozen others that I haven't read. But this book is clear and packed with good advice, and it will be a solid addition to your kayaking library. Heck, buy all three and maybe get free shipping from Amazon!
Homelands by Byron Ricks
I love this book. One of the most important resources for anyone planning an expedition is some decent "armchair sailing" material, and this is among the finest: Byron and his wife Maren paddled the Inside Passage in 5 months, all the way from Glacier Bay to Seattle (1600 miles). But the resulting book isn't a macho travelogue by any means; it's an enduring and insightful exploration of the concept of home, not only from their own perspective but from that of the people who have historically populated the coast. The author speaks with clarity and passion, and also possesses substantial knowledge of the waters through which they paddle. The net effect is a book that adds to your kayaking education while touching you on deeper levels, a rare combination. Highly recommended. I've read it twice, the second time with charts of the area on the table before me.
You might also enjoy Jessica Hahn's Spirited Waters: Soloing South Through the Inside Passage; she approaches paddling the same area with a lone female naturalist perspective... which is enchanting. She made me want to learn more about the wild edibles Out There.
This is the essential magazine of sea kayaking, edited by Christopher Cunningham. You can get an idea of the content with a peek at their website (opens in new window); every issue has substantial destination pieces, detailed kayak and equipment reviews, articles on technique, gear discussions, and profiles of various luminaries. Always something of interest here! Clicking the link at left will automagically set you up with a subscription for the same price as going direct through the Sea Kayaker website (but if you buy through Amazon, I get a few nickels in the process... izzat cool, or what?).