Instructor
Sean Michael, PhD
435-881-7590
Instagram: thegeardoctor
Description
From beaches to lakes, watercraft expand the overland experience. This class covers the full range of boats and other paddlesports to compliment any type of vehicle. From packrafts to paddleboards, surfboards to canoes, and motorized vessels like Zodiacs and “tinnies”, we will discuss the advantages and limitations for each category. Experiences from the instructor’s boating in saltwater and freshwater will provide tips on selection, transportation and safety, and will highlight how different outfits can let your exploration continue once the tires reach the shore.
Class Type
Visual aid-based presentation
Category
Set-up
Level
Beginner
Focus
None
Class Flow
Objectives/Approach
- Discuss historic roots of boats and overland exploration.
- Highlight types bodies of water and categories related to safety.
- Breakdown categories of watercraft
- Breakdown application and limits of watercraft types
- Review limitations of costs, transporting and usage
- Sean E. Michael, PhD, 2024
- Share case studies of past trips and boats that we and other travelers (e.g., Jonathan
- & Roseann, Shawno, Chris Scott) have used for different trips over the decades.
- Intro -- 1min
- Boating background of the audicene? -- 2min
- History of boat use in overland travel -- 5min
- Types of watercraft -- 8min
- Uses and limits of watercraft types -- 8min
- Safety considerations -- 3min
- How to choose -- 12min
- Water body destinations
- Paddle or motor?
- Transport
- Skill
- Costs
- Storage
- Freshwater vs salt -- 5min
- Base camping/shuttling -- 5min
- New products releases -- 5min
- Q&A -- 5min
- Links to Resources -- 1min
Outline
Additional Info
This new class addresses a long-standing gap in overlanding instruction. Although boats have long been a staple of overland travel in Australia and parts of Europe and Asia, in N. America this perfect pairing has been a blindspot. I am excited to offer this class to help OX continue to offer new and relevant instruction. I have personally owned and used watercraft of many types during our offroad travels. These includes Zodiacs, sea kayaks, whitewater rafts, SUP's.
Bio
Sean Michael, PhD is a professor of Outdoor Product Design & Development at Utah State University, and a writer and product tester in the off-road market for over two decades. His articles have appeared in ADVrider, BMW MOA, Offroad.com and other magazines. He lectures on and researches the history of vehicle-based adventure travel when not out exploring.