Category: About us

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Equipment

Participation on club trips will provide you with the opportunity to assess and discuss the equipment used by other paddlers who may, at their discretion, let you try their gear so that you can make informed decisions regarding your own purchases.

To join a club paddle in sheltered waters you will need the following basic equipment.
• Seaworthy sit in sea kayak, complete with watertight bulkheads, hatch covers and a spray deck.
• A suitable paddle which must be secured to the kayak with a paddle leash.
• A bailer or sponge.
• An approved Personal Flotation Device ( PFD ).
• At least 2 litres of water, snack food and (perhaps) a hot drink. A social morning tea on the beach is the norm, mid paddle.
• Paddling attire to suit the prevailing weather conditions plus a change of warm dry clothes in a waterproof bag.

Sea kayaking takes time and perseverance to master. The road can be both exciting and rewarding. Western Australia is an excellent place in which to enjoy sea kayaking activities because of the variety offered by our coast line, islands and inland waterways and the sort of weather conditions that allow us to paddle year round. We look forward to helping you get started on your sea kayaking experience. If we can help you by providing additional information on our club or sea kayaking in general please do no hesitate to contact us.

Kayak buying guide – the best way to determine which kayak is best for you is to come and meet members. Opportunities exist at Hillary’s’ or come on down before a trip leaves the beach to see the extent of our sea kayaks. Go to ‘Contact us’ to find out more.

Risk warning

Sea kayaking is a high risk recreational activity which can expose participants to known, unknown or unanticipated hazards and risks that could result in serious physical or emotional injury or, in extreme cases, death. It could also result in damage to a participant’s own property or the property of others. Such risks cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of this adventure activity, taking place as it does on open waters subject to the vagaries and forces of nature. Sea Kayak Club WA Inc. promotes and coordinates a variety of sea kayaking activities with emphasis on safety and minimization of the hazards and risks involved. The club enables like minded individuals to take part in these activities in a supportive group environment, to share their accumulated skills and experience and provide support and assistance to new paddlers all within guidelines laid out in the club’s operating policies and procedures . The club and it’s members and officers do this on a voluntary basis however and those taking part in club activities or acting according to club policies and procedures or on the advice of a club member or officer do so at their own risk.

There will no doubt be additional questions that you would like answered if you are contemplating taking up sea kayaking. It is suggested that initially you contact one of the club officers listed below who will attempt to answer your questions and will provide you with the information and documentation needed to join the club should you decide to do so.

President –  Email president@seakayakwa.asn.au

Secretary –  Email info@seakayakwa.asn.au

Following registration as a new member, our Instructors will assess your skill levels and training needs and ensure that you have the necessary skills and safety techniques to ensure that you can enjoy your entry into the club’s activities with safety and confidence. 

All new members are required to complete a club induction. Inductions are held on the first Saturday of the month.

The Sea Kayak Club WA uses JustGo as the platform for registration of members. 
Go to https://paddleaustralia.justgo.com/Account.mvc/SignIn to register.

Membership fees 2021-22

* If you live outside the area of map coverage in the current UBD Perth Street Directory (approximately Two Rocks to Dawesville, and east to Chidlow), you qualify for Country membership at reduced rates.
** PWA element shown in parentheses. If you already belong to another Club affiliated with PWA and therefore have already paid PWA fees, subtract the PWA  element from the usual joining fee. For example, a Standard membership fee for a member of another affiliated club would be $30.  This is done automatically within GoMembership.

The club committee, elected at an annual general meeting of the members, manages the activities and business of the club. The club’s paddling activities, meetings and social functions are conducted to a pre-determined schedule and a copy of the program is emailed to all members and posted on this website every two months. A general meeting of members is held periodically at which a guest speaker usually addresses the group on a subject relevant to sea kayaking. An Annual General meeting is held at the end of each club year. Members are encouraged to contribute constructive comments and ideas, relevant to the clubs’ activities and business, at these meetings.

The basis of the club’s on water activities are the paddles scheduled every weekend. Some of these trips are more leisurely 10 to 15 km paddles on sheltered estuary or river waters or along the coastal strip, weather permitting. Other trips travel up to ten kilometres off shore and can involve round trips of up to forty kilometres in variable weather conditions. Long weekend camping trips are often scheduled as are 5-7 day trips to various locations in the north west of WA, usually during the less windy April – May period. Weekend paddles take place within the boundaries of Two Rocks to the North, Mandurah to the South and offshore islands and reefs to the West. Club trips are led by experienced and qualified Trip Leaders appointed by the club.

Areas frequently visited by the easier paddles include the Swan, Canning, Murray and Serpentine rivers, the Peel Inlet and Yanchep Lagoon, Penguin Island, Point Peron, Little Island and most stretches of the coastal strip between Two Rocks and Rockingham. The more adventurous paddle areas include Rottnest, Garden, Carnac, Mewstone and Mandurah Island (through the Dawsville Cut). Venues for long weekends include Jurien Bay, Margaret River, Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Albany and the Walpole – Nornalup Inlet. Expeditions to the NW visit areas such as Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Coral Bay, Shark Bay and the Dampier Archipelago.

• We promote sea kayaking as enjoyable, social and environmentally respectful.
• We provide leadership for each activity and assistance is offered to any paddler.
• We use only seaworthy sit-in sea kayaks (not sit-on-top kayaks).
• We ensure safe sea kayaking practices.
• Our workshops support you to gain Paddle Australia qualifications. Each of these awards align with our level of paddling events.
• We represent sea kayak members in consultation with Government departments.