There’s no doubt it’s a big step in going from paddling teams boats to finding yourself all at once the captain, steerer, engine room and stroke of a single craft.

At the same time there’s no doubt it’s a very rewarding one in that it will open up a whole new world of fantastic paddling experiences!

PDs are very lucky to have four OC1s and an OC2 all stored at the water’s edge in Kirribilli. We also have a fantastic OC1 Intro Course to make taking that first single craft step as easy as possible.

If you’re completely new to single craft paddling or have only ever jumped on a borrowed canoe or kayak then signing for the next Intro Course is the place to start. To do so just email the Single Craft Coach, Todd.

About the PD OC1 Intro Course
Apart from it being awesome fun you’ll learn everything from how to assemble and look after our canoes to managing safety through P.W.E.P., basics about the weather, recovering after a capsize and tricks for wwweloping your balance so you can go fast! The course involves two 90 minute sessions from Kirribilli run over consecutive weeks.

On completing the course you can sign-up for any of the organised Kirribilli single craft sessions appearing on the Training Schedule page. If you have access to transport you can also take some of the craft to races and ocean sessions.

Those With Previous Single Craft Experience
If you don’t feel the need to do the OC1 Intro Course but would like to use the club craft please contact the Single Craft Coach. Within one of our regular single craft sessions they’ll get you familiar with the PD approach to safety as well as do some huli practice.

PDsingle
No it’s not the PD dating service. Even if you’re yet to do the Intro Course you can stay in touch with all single craft happenings in the club by subscribing to the PDsingle email group. Just send a blank email to PDsingle-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Buying Your Own Single Craft
The best place to start is to talk with as many single craft owners in the club as possible. Everyone has different opinions on what goes fast and in what conditions as well as what’s reliable and well built. With the help of the Single Craft Coach you can weigh up all these opinions together with the kind of racing/paddling you’re intending to do to come up with the perfect craft for you.

For new craft you can also check out the various manufacturer websites via our Links page.

For second hand craft have a look at our Tips for Buying a Secondhand OC1/Surfski article.

Before You Pick up your First Single Craft
Make sure you do two things:
– Insure the craft. You can do this through the club’s policy by contacting the Secretary
– Get some advice from current owners on how to handle and transport your craft. Like most things with single craft there is a knack to it and a few tips will make life a lot easier for you. Number 1 tip is don’t over-tighten the roof rack straps as the hull can crack.

It’s also a good idea to paddle your first time on it with others in the club. That way they can help you get started on the right foot.