Can you use a whitewater kayak on open lakes and slow moving rivers?

Question

Can you use a whitewater kayak on open lakes and slow moving rivers?

Answer 1

Sure.  I went kayaking for the first time on an open lake with my son's Boy Scout troop.  The main difference is that, rather than having the river move you along, you have to rely more on your paddling as the impetus to get you moving.  But it does work and if the kayak and paddles are properly designed (i.e., good quality) then you don't have to paddle as hard as you may be imagining.

Answer 2

You can use it, but good luck with the tracking. True whitewater boats are made for turning - so they are short and have a high degree of rocker.

Unless you are extremely experienced in paddling, I guarantee you'll spend most of your time fighting to make the boat go in the direction you point it.  You'll be spinning in circles most of the time.   If you have no particular destination, and just want to float around a little bit, you'll be fine.  

If, by some strange chance, you've come across a cheap whitewater boat and think you'll just use it on lakes and slow rivers and that you'll just get used to it because the price is right....  All I can say is, don't do it.  :)  Your foray into kayaking will be shortlived, and you'll think it isn't the sport for you.  Thing is, it won't have anything to do with you, it'd be the boat.

Here's a post from my favorite paddling message boards, where a new paddler is apparently using a kayak for a purpose other than it's been designed for:

http://www.paddling.net/message/showThre...

Says it all, don't you think?

Answer 3

It's possible, but not suggested.

For lakes and rivers (with no or few rapids) you would probably want a recreational kayak. I'm assuming the river doesn't have big rapids. If it does you really should wait until you have somebody more experienced with you and can help you out. They can be pretty dangerous if you not trained for them.

Answer 4

yes you can.

Answer 5

Yes, but they are not very fast since they are designed to be maneuverable.  An "old school" boat (usuallu >9' long( would work well.