kayaks?

ryan9977

ryan9977

Joined
Feb 16, 2006
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hey anyone here into kayak's?.....i was looking at this one http://www.mysportboats.com/PelicanApex130TDLX anybody here an expert...it is for a couple....it will see light use....one is very comfortbale with kayaking and white water rafting.....the other is not....i wanted to get them something that will last and be enjoyable.....any ideas if this is a crappy model?....places to buy? etc?.....thanks for any info.....ryan:thumbup:

it'll be used in places mostly around the jersey shore....ryan
 
Sit a tops are great for people who are a bit claustrophobic in a "regular" kayak, or new to the sport. Plastic kayaks like this one are good because you can beat up on them and they last. My plastic kayak is 10yrs old, lives outside and except for some discoloration is still sound. I would look for used or leftover models. Best to rent one first to see if you two like it as two person paddling can be a challenge.
Good Luck!
 
My experience with kayaks is that, when you go buy a kayak try to find a kayak that has a nice well padded seat and back support. Also, all mine were used i look at it is if they have no cracks or patches its good to go. Lastly, i stress the seat and back support because kayaking is not fun when your back is sore during the first 15 minutes of paddling. Sit- on -top kayaks are more user friendly. But sit- in kayaks are more comfortable i think, i never had sit in kayak.
 
Thats a decent model and about a regular price. What kind of use are they likely to get? Where? cold or warm climate? lake, river, ocean?
Check around for a used one, save a few bucks. Sit on tops are easier to get in and out of but ya get wet. Sit ins are drier, a bit more difficult and more versitile
 
SIXFOOTER said:
Thats a decent model and about a regular price. What kind of use are they likely to get? Where? cold or warm climate? lake, river, ocean?
Check around for a used one, save a few bucks. Sit on tops are easier to get in and out of but ya get wet. Sit ins are drier, a bit more difficult and more versitile
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thanks guys....sixfooter...it'll be used only in warm weather and in a bay and rivers.....i'll check out some used ones.....gotta start lookin!....it's for xmas....no big deal if it ain't here by then but i wanna buy somethin by then.....thanks again....ryan

p.s.-sixfooter-what do u mean by sit ins being more versatile-also can one person use a two person kayak??
 
I don't know if Pelicans have improved, but I remember them as having thinner plastic than some other brands like Wilderness, Ocean Kayak, Malibu, etc.

For a tandem yak, there are good choices for both sit-on-tops and sit-insides. If there are any stores or organizations that will let you paddle different yaks, that's a good way to see what you might like. I know that a fishing club down in GA has events where they let new paddlers try out a variety of different boats. Same goes for a local paddling meet-up group in my area. You might find similar events in your vicinity.

It's a good time of year to look for used kayaks. A lot of folks find they don't really like them so much in the winter time. :p It's true too, however, that folks get upgrade fever in the spring and will sell off their old kayak to buy a new one. Try craigslist.

Sit-on-tops are stable and are versatile in the sense that they make good platforms for recreational paddling or for other activites like snorkeling/diving or fishing. They are not the fastest boats though.


I like kayaks. :thumbup:

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Couple of points I would add about buying used...

Ask if you can put some water in the hull and check for leaks. Don't fill the boat up; this move would make the kayak way too heavy and possibly warp/damage it. Just put in enough water so that you can see if the dry underside suddenly gets a wet spot or drip.

Ask how the kayak has been stored. Sun will fade a kayak's coloring and, over time, make a plastic kayak more brittle--and therefore more apt to crack if you bang it. I store my poly yaks outside, but they are covered with a tarp to provide protection from the sun. I also use 303 Protectant on my boats to reflect some of the UVA rays when they're out on the water.

Look for used package deals. A lot of times, you can pick up a kayak, paddle, PFD (personal flotation device / life vest), and maybe even a car rack--all at the same time. Keep in mind that if you buy a new kayak, you have to factor in the costs of these necessary extras.
 
ryan9977 said:
thanks guys....sixfooter...it'll be used only in warm weather and in a bay and rivers.....i'll check out some used ones.....gotta start lookin!....it's for xmas....no big deal if it ain't here by then but i wanna buy somethin by then.....thanks again....ryan

p.s.-sixfooter-what do u mean by sit ins being more versatile-also can one person use a two person kayak??
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For me, I get more use from my sit in Tesla 16 than a sit on top. A sit in can be used all year, and a sit on top ya get cold in the winter and bad weather. Mostly tho it depends on how ya plan on useing it
 
well a couple of things i guess.....why i would love to buy a nice used one(did find a ton on cl) it is for a present and everyone already thinks i'm a cheap ass so i probably would have to buy a ne wone......it is definately only getting used in the summer .....

six-what is the deal with all the different lengths?....what is the differenec in using them?.....also can one person use a two person like the one i linked?
 
ryan9977 said:
six-what is the deal with all the different lengths?....what is the differenec in using them?.....also can one person use a two person like the one i linked?
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Shorter lengths turn faster, but generally go straight slower. A long, tapered design like you will see on ocean kayaks can get going pretty fast, but you will not be doing any quick maneuvering in it. Plus, you can't put as much crap in a short one, if they will be using it for overnight trips (or lots of beer).

The short, squatty designs are for fast moving rivers/whitewater. The shorter, wider flatwater kayaks (~12-14') are good for slow rivers and lakes and are going to be more comfortable and probably easier to use for novices. The longer, narrow kayaks (16-17') are generally for oceans and take some getting used to since they are harder to maneuver and you have to sit inside the kayak, usually with spray skirts and all that fun stuff. Those aren't hard and fast rules, but that is what you will usually see people using them for. Those lengths are for single person kayaks, by the way, so add a few feet for tandems.

I personally do not like sit on tops because when it rains, you and the inside of your boat get wet. Think of being in a canoe during a downpour. With sit inside models, you can wear a spray skit, wet top, etc. to keep you and your boat dry. For day outings, it does not matter because you can just turn around and get out, but on multi-day outings, being wet in a wet boat for several days gets miserable really quick.

Same as a canoe, one person can use a two person model just fine. It will be harder to maneuver because of the extra length, but one boat is cheaper than two...
 
Some repetition from storl's post, but when I think kayaks, I think of four basic types:

1) Whitewater - These are short, extremely maneuverable kayaks. Really only good for moving water, including white water. I don't do whitewater kayaking, but I know folks on BFC that do.

2) Recreational - I refer mostly to sit-insides here. These kayaks are short (~9-12 feet), so they turn easily, but they are wide. Because of their width, they are stable, but the trade-off is that they're slow. I have two of these yaks--a Wilderness Pamlico and a Perception Swifty. I use them for river paddles on Class I and Class II water. I also use them for river fishing.

3) Touring Kayaks / Sea Kayaks - These yaks are longer, usually in the 12 to 20 foot range. They are more narrow and therefore faster, but because of length they do not turn as easily. Many of them utilize a skeg or rudder for aiding with tracking and/or turning. Also, many of them have bulkheads that compartmentalize the boat for storage (some recreational yaks might have one bulkhead). I have a Perception Essence 16.5 that I use for touring and for overnight trips.

4) Sit-on-tops - As mentioned before, these are stable platforms for recreational paddling, scuba diving, or fishing. They come in various sizes, from short/manueverable/slow to longer/faster boats.
 
thanks for the extra info guys...i really appreciate it....i got some thinkin to do....i got a local place that sells kayaks around here....i'm gonna go check em out in person....ryan:thumbup:
 
I prefer Packrafts to kayaks.

Kayaks usually involve having to drive to the put-in, paddle, then return to the put-in, Packrafts go wherever you go, be it on water, on land or in trains, planes or cars, to wherever you want to paddle.

This is my larger Packraft, which is light enough to carry on my little finger (as shown) yet has been tested with 4, 200lb guy's. It can be paddled kayak or canoe style, or rowed, and the supplied paddle and oar frame configures to whichever is preferred (backrest and additional seat not shown).

It packs about 8" x 24" and is made (in Colorado) from the material used for space suits, and weight 5lb 8oz! Alpacka Raft, here.

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Try Craigslist in your area once you figure out what you want. I see them in there all the time.--KV
 
so i went down to the local kayak place....i was lookin at a pungo 120 i think....the guy really recommended it and it seemed ok...any thoughts on the brand or model?......it came out to a little under 8 bills with paddle and stuff.....ryan
 
The Pungo is a good sit-inside for recreational paddling, but that's a single-person yak, right?

If you got a paddle and yak for under $800, that's pretty good considering the Internet prices I saw in a quick Google Shopping search.
 
Dude, what are you talking about? I fished that stretch last week.

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yeah guyon.....i actually changed my mind to a single person one.....i don't think his wife is really gonna be goin out too much with him....anyway yeah it came to like 760....i think i'm gonna go for it....he can always return it for something else....ryan
 
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