Welcome to my kayaking website.  I have created it as a way to share my passion for sea kayaking and wilderness, and to tell you about some of the places I have visited.  I came to kayaking late in my life, after early years as a power boater and many years as a great lakes sailor.  My wife, Lisa and I were looking for a different kind of vacation in 1994, when I stumbled on an advertisement for a three day, wilderness kayaking trip off the coast of Maine.  Neither one of us had been in a kayak before, but we gave it a try and loved it.  The rest, as they say, is history. 

        We have owned our own boats since 1998, starting with a large open double kayak.  Currently we each paddle Impex composite boats.  When not paddling with Lisa, I travel with the Adirondack Mountain Club and my buddies Bruce and John.  My current interests include further developing my own paddling skills and extended expedition style wilderness kayak trips.  I hope you find this site entertaining and useful.

Why YackMan?

       Where did this name (YackMan) come from?  It’s not hard to figure out. 

My last name (Yackel, with a long “a” sound “Yake-l) is often mispronounc-ed with a short “a” sound (Yack-l).  That, combined with my love of kayaking (ka-YAK-ing) gives me the nickname YackMan.