Getting my first kayak - need advice

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Reznik572

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Nov 15, 2009
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I wasnt sure where to put this and gadgets and gear didn't seem like a good fit. If the mods see a better place in another area please feel free to move it.

So like the title suggests I'm looking to purchase my first Kayak! I live in Southern Ontario, between two Great Lakes (Erie and Ontario), with rivers all around so I decided today a kayak would get me outdoors a lot more and add a great experience to my hiking and off roading. I have zero experience being in a kayak itself but I'm certain I can pick it up, regardless of what type I get. I've spent plenty of time in canoe's etc. I'm looking for some advive from other experinced memebers on what I should be getting. Budget is $1000-$1500, as I know I'll need some extra gear after - lets keep the grand total under $2000.

As I see it right now, a lot of the kayaking I will be doing will fall under "recreational" as I see myself spending a lot of the time in small calm rivers, although I'd eventually like to get myself out on the lakes which tend to be rough at times, which then I'd likely be better off with a sea kayak?

Lets hear your input. This is intially the one I was about to go out and get but after doing more reading and watching some online videos I feel I need your input!:

http://www.wildernesssystems.com/pr...al/recreational_pungo/pungo_140_recreational/
 
The boat you posted a link to looks nice. The length and hull shape look like it would track well with just a bit of rocker for manoeuvrability. It looks like you sit down inside it and skirt in but I also see drink holders?
The first boat I ever had was sit on top style and I sold it after a few months. I've owned boats with cockpits that you skirt in to ever since. Your center of gravity is much lower, and your paddling performance and enjoyment is much greater.

If I was going to be buying a kayak right now, with your intended use I would probably get a Perception Carolina 14. It's very similar to a Perception boat that I had for years and was very pleased with.

http://www.perceptionkayaks.com/product/index/products/touring/carolina/carolina_14/
 
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Both of the ones suggested have an optional rudder, I would definitely recommend whatever you end up getting have a rudder or drop skeg for bigger open water. Also, don't forget to take into consideration that while you will get wetter with a open top, it can not be swamped and sunk if you flip it like an enclosed boat can. A big plus if you are way off shore on one of the big lakes. 14' is also the minimum length I think you would probably want for larger water. Mine is only an 11.5, but I went up from initially just wanting a 10, now I wish I would have got something even longer.
 
If you're running rougher rivers you might as well just get two of em, you can get an allwater kayak from LiquidLogic or Jackson for 400 bucks used if you do your shopping right.
 
I would suggest buying something used such as a Ocean Kayak, Malibu, or a Cobra kayak. Why buy new, even though you have a wide budget make sure to buy a kayak with a nice paddles and a awesome seat, a great seat will factor out if you have a good time or not.
 
Probably the best advice I can give,,,is try everything!!! Don't rush out to "buy" something.

Not sure where in Ontario you are but try to find a "Kayak Symposium", there are a couple in Ontario annually (I think one is in june?), and this will allow you to try a number of styles by numerous manufacturers. Along with lost of top notch local instruction.

Sit on tops are great to start out on, thats what my wife and I started our kids on 9 or so years ago, sit on top tandems, we slowly kept moving up... 9 kayaks later and we are immersed in sea kayaking. It grows on you pretty fast, so with that said, you mentioned starting out on lakes , flat water etc. , but then getting on more exposed water (ocean, larger exposed lakes etc.).

At that point the sit inside sea kayak will give you the most for your money, and there is nothing wrong with starting used. Look for and support your local paddlesports shop, most will offer demos so you can try some different brands/sizes, and may offer discounts on lessons etc with a purchase.

For touring, multi day trips on any "exposed" body of water, you are going to want 16' or longer, with sealed "bulkheads" front and rear with hatches for your gear.

Composite boats will give you a stiffer platform, be lighter in weight, therefore easier to load/unload, and accelerate a little quicker. Rotomolded, or "poly" boats are less expensive, heavier, but also good as you are learning since they tend to take a beating better than composites.

Most importantly, find some good instruction before you venture out on exposed waters either solo or with someone, make sure you have the skills and tools needed to get you and your partner back into the boat,,not if but when you end up overboard:D:D,, Safety first, and if you get hooked,, join me next February in San Francisco:

http://www.ggsks.com/

Have fun!!!, and remember ,,,its a water sport,, you will get wet:thumbup::thumbup:
 
Hi Reznik572.

I don't live near you, in fact I live in South Africa, but I do have a bit of experience with kayaks and kayaking, as I also live very near to one of SA's major rivers, the Vaal. I bought a plastic, sit-on-top kayak, mainly because I intended using it for recreational purposes, more than for exercise. It wasn't a mistake, I love this kayak - unfortunately the one I have is made and sold only in SA. Having said that, I don't know if you enjoy fishing at all, but if you do, or if you think you might like to give it a try, consider a fishing kayak. I have seen many great examples of these and they also come in the "sit on top" configuration. If I could change but one thing on my kayak, I would want it to be a fishing kayak.
 
Most reputable dealers will have a rental fleet that that you can rent and and some will let you " demo" a number of boats if you're buying. Paddle as many as you can. There are hybrid type boats now that have the white water rocker for running rivers but also have a drop down skeg for straight line tracking. A drop down skeg is a handy feature but a steerable rudder is just one more thing to break. Particularly on the river. Once again, paddle as many as you can before buying.--KV
 
This is exactly why I love this forum! It's starting to become my one stop shop, I come to a knife forum and start a topic about kayak's and get lots of good advice!

Thanks for all the input everyone, very much appreciated. I'm going to a local shop this weekend, they seem to have a good variety with lots of clearance and demo models on sale. For whatever reason I was set on a sit in model but the on top seem to be recommended as well so i'll be testing those out as well.

Also, when/if buying used, what things should I be looking for, besides the obvious damage or missing parts etc.

I'll let everyone know how I make out this weekend – i'll do my best and try and actually get into a few.

Thanks again,
 
Reznik572 said:
This is exactly why I love this forum! It's starting to become my one stop shop, I come to a knife forum and start a topic about kayak's and get lots of good advice!

Thanks for all the input everyone, very much appreciated. I'm going to a local shop this weekend, they seem to have a good variety with lots of clearance and demo models on sale. For whatever reason I was set on a sit in model but the on top seem to be recommended as well so i'll be testing those out as well.

Also, when/if buying used, what things should I be looking for, besides the obvious damage or missing parts etc.

I'll let everyone know how I make out this weekend – i'll do my best and try and actually get into a few.

Thanks again,
Click to expand...

If you buy used you really need to paddle it first to be make sure it isn't even a little warped. I've never experienced it first hand, but I've always read that even a small warp that you can't see can cause a longer boat to pull. Also, if you buy used, don't sweat some hull scrapes, it's going to happen anyway, you just don't wanting anything really deep, but really even those can be fixed. I rented a boat once before I had my own that looked pretty ugly where it had been repaired in the rear, but once in the water you couldn't tell at all.
 
Reznik572 said:
This is exactly why I love this forum! It's starting to become my one stop shop, I come to a knife forum and start a topic about kayak's and get lots of good advice!

Thanks for all the input everyone, very much appreciated. I'm going to a local shop this weekend, they seem to have a good variety with lots of clearance and demo models on sale. For whatever reason I was set on a sit in model but the on top seem to be recommended as well so i'll be testing those out as well.

Also, when/if buying used, what things should I be looking for, besides the obvious damage or missing parts etc.

I'll let everyone know how I make out this weekend – i'll do my best and try and actually get into a few.

Thanks again,
Click to expand...


Resnik?

Be vewwy vewwwy careful when you go to your dealer's this weekend. It is a little like "just going to look at the puppies." :)

Things to keep in mind:

You gotta carry the sucker. You don't just lift it up on the car/truck and go your merry way. Weight counts, even with a trolley.

Very few "do it all" boats exist. With rocker, you can turn and maneuver easily for getting near fishing spots, avoiding branches, dislodging yourself from jams. The downside is they don't track like a long boat. You can spend a lot of time correcting direction just crossing a small lake. If a strong wind comes up, you find yourself like this "/" trying to go straight.

Short boats are handier, but much more limited. Long boats will track and cruise, but inhibit tight turns in crooked creeks.

Short boats may be going down one wave as another crests over the bow. This loses its charm after a while.

Personally, I don't like sit on tops, they are climate limited, but that is just me. You actually have greater stability with the lower center of gravity of a closed boat--you are actually sitting BELOW the water level.

Tests at dealers: you can't tell what you have until you've had it for a while. The simple fact that you didn't drown in the demo does not mean that it is the boat for you. Rent some boats for a weekend. Borrow if you can.

There might be a canoe/kayak club near you. Contact them and tell them your considerations. Most will at least TRY to help. Good folks,mostly.

Last: always, always, always wear a pfd, no matter the climate. When I was active, the DesPlaines River would annually claim some young guys (usually), who had a fatal introduction to roiling waters. Even over a low dam, the water circles in a tumbler effect and prohibits a person from escaping up to air.

It can be a lifetime pursuit. Enjoy and be safe.

edit: Get Nanook of the North from Amazon. 1923 documentary that every outdoorsman should have. Lot of deep water boat work, doing stuff that boggles the mind.
 
Good luck finding the right one. I would definately recommend trying them out before you buy and try a few so you can compare. Usually any demo boat will show normal wear and tear like a scratched up haul but the poly boats R super tough and its just cosmetic. You might not run into this but in the heat of the summer some poly boats will experience some deformation to the haul if stored or tied down improperly. Its pretty obvious if the seller has not done anything about it and in some case its to far gone. Its not ideal but it doesn't render the boat useless and in some cases can be reversed to a certain extent. It might just mean a better deal. I haven't work in that industry in a few years so this might not be an issue with the plastics they are using now.
 
Be mindful that "rec" boats will limit your ability to become a better paddler, as they don't really do anything very well. If you think kayaking is something you think you'll be inclined to want to improve in, you might want to look at a genuine sea kayak. Your budget will allow for quite a few options, especially if you look at the demo/used market. I'd check out www.mec.ca in the "gear swap section", as there are always boats on there for some pretty good prices. If you're looking at plastic boats, check out how the boats have been stored. Ideally, inside and stored on their sides where they are strongest. Look for boats with bulkheads (non foam preferred) as they provide structural stiffness, dry gear space , and most importantly, bouyancy in the event of flipping your boat. Missery is trying to dump a boat full of water without them. Deck rigging is also very important from a safety point as well. They make it easier to right the boat as they provide anoher paddler to grab ahold of your boat. Look around and try as many as possible, but it's better to "a" boat over getting the "perfect" boat at first.:thumbup:
 
I've been kayaking for about 18 years now with almost all of my experience
on Lake St Clair, Lake Huron, Lake Superior and inland lakes.
They don't make my kayak anymore, but I love her anyway.
Its the Aquaterra Chinnock.
main_148805.jpg
Thats not my paddle, just a stock picture off the net.
She handles like a dream on the big waters, but not too cumbersome on the
smaller, gentler waters either.
I love the built in rudder that you steer with your feet. Don't really need it for calm water, but almost a necessity on big water.
These kayaks are called sea kayaks. Most have 1-2 dry compartments to
store your gear. Do NOT get cheap on your paddle!!! I bought a carbon fiber
paddle for $200 back in 1992! That was a TON of money, but it is so
light and comfortable! Remember that you'll be attached to that paddle for
hours and hours on end.....sometimes you'll find yourself in huge waves and the last thing you'll need is a cramping shoulder or arm muscle because your paddle is too heavy! Go LIGHT, you'll thank me later!

Don't get hung up on brands, they are all made good for the water they are designed for. I think you'd be very happy with a sea kayak. I bought a Prijon
kayak for just rivers, but I tended to go back to my sea kayak because they track in the water so well because of their length. Sure you can't turn very fast in them, but who cares.....I mean your not doing rapids right!

Just for your info to....I just did a bit of research on in catalogs (no internet yet back in 1992) and went to a store and sat in it and bought it.
I have NO REGRETS! Demo days are great if they have a large inventory of kayaks, but typically they only have1 or 2 brands they carry.
Find a local outfitter and the kayaks they carry and then get back home and research them on the net. They are a bit heavy, so don't get too concerned with weight because most are 15-17' long.

Feel free to pm me any questions you my have...I'd love to help you get going in this wonderful sport!
 
+1 on the carbon fiber paddle. They seem ridiculously expensive, but you must try them out and compare to a less stiff bladed paddle. 5-10 percent better propulsion per stroke may not seem like a lot, but it adds up believe me. The Native had hands down the most comfortable seat I've been in. Try several models out. I personally liked the Native 12 cause it didn't track as well as the other 12 footers. I wanted mine for small winding rivers as well as large lakes and I wanted a compromise. Seems to me you'r elooking in the right direction in the 14 foot range for your stated purposes. Just make sure you know how hard it is to turn those suckers around.
 
I'm fortunate enough to live right on a river in Northern California. I've got an older 14' Wilderness Kayak. It has seen more than it's share of use and abuse over the years and is still in great shape. I would recommend it without reservation.
 
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