Thinking about getting a kayak...?

Question

Well, I'm thinking about buying a kayak. I have been kayaking a lot of the summer for the past two years with my aunt and I really like it. Problem is, I don't have my own kayak. I don't know what I'm supposed to be looking for in a kayak but I defianatly do not want a sit on top kayak. What is the best kind of kayak in your own experiences and about how much do they cost? What kind of kayak is the best quality for the price? What kind of things should I look for when I go to buy one and what type of store should I get it at?

Thanks guys!

Answer 1

All kayakss are compromises! No boat can do everything well. This is important because people will swear to you that they have the boat that is the best at everything.

The longer the boat, the faster and straighter it will go. This is great for lakes & slow water. It is bad for whitewater because of rocks that pop up out of nowhere and need to be dodged at the last second.

Shorter kayaks go slow and can turn on a dime. This is ideal for the sharp moves required for white water. Short boats don't have any desire to go straight, so they require more practice to learn to handle.

Thinner boats go faster, but can be tippy for beginners. Fat boats are more stable, but slower.

Lots of people do take short white water boats on slow moving rivers. They just work harder than everyone else to keep up. If you are only paddling flat water a few times a year, this makes sense.

Rocker refers to the shape of the bottom of the boat from front to rear. If the boat is shaped like a cigar it has no rocker and will resist turning. If it is shaped like the bottom of a rocking chair the boat will turn much faster than a boat of the same length with no rocker.

Borrow or rent boats until your boat finds you. Most people are very willing to let you test drive their boats for a little while. They found the perfect boat and want you to know why theirs is the best. Lots of boat stores have demo sessions on lakes. Specialty outfitters don't usually advertise that they rent boats, but they do if you ask. Outfitters generally have a discount for club members (10-15%).

http://www.gapaddle.com