Can I take my walden vista kayak on the river?

Question

I'm brand new at kayaking and have done a little online research, but still know next to nothing about it. I've got a used Walden vista kayak, the online reviews say it is a "recreational" kayak, it's 12.5 feet long and ways about 40 pounds. I'm just wondering if it's to long to try to maneuver down a level 1-5 river? Or if it's...to something else to take on the ocean? I'm not talking about anything to risky and I, of course would do more research before I attempted either of these situations, i just want to know if it would be possible with my kayak and I can't seem to find this info on and web pages. This and any other tips/advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Your experience and ability is most important.  Take your new boat out on a calm lake and practice falling out and getting back in.  Practice different paddle strokes.  Practice beaching it.  Practice getting in and out from the beach, docks etc.   Make sure you paddle with someone who is experienced or take lessons.  Most "recreational" kayaks aren't designed to handle heavy rapids.  They can bend and trap you inside.  But for class I of II they can be a blast.  Find a place that runs trips and see if they will let you use your own boat.  In the ocean you have to be careful of the weather, wind and currents.  A 12.5' kayak will only go a few miles an hour no matter how strong you are, so you may not be able to get back to shore against a strong wind.   But for Bays and protected coastal waters you can't ask for a better way to go.

Answer 2

Do you mean class 1-6 river rapids?  I wouldn't take it on anything over class 2, especially if you're inexperienced.  Class 3 begins the moderately tougher rapids, maybe too risky from what you've said.  You can take it on any calm water, it would do better on a lake than the ocean.