What is the best kayak?

Question

What is the best kayak for a beginner who is going to use it for long trips on relatively calm rivers, lakes, etc.

What qualities should I look for as far as sit in vs. sit on, seat placement, narrow vs. wide, etc?

Answer 1

Ok the general rule with kayaks, is the longer and skinnier the faster your going to go, but with lenght you sacrafice your ability to turn easily, with tighter turns. Also if the boat is skinnier its also more tippy to start, once you get going, its better (like a bike). The wider the boat the more effort your going to have to put into your stroke due to the drag, also if its a short boat and your going to be dealing with any sort of wind or current, you'll be struggling against it. Short boats are easy to manuver but the boat will go wherever the wind/current is going, and you'll be paddleing to one side having to constanly correct your tracking to go straight.  If you want to kayak year round, i'd suggest the "sit in" kayak, because as it gets cooler you can put a spray skirt over the cockpit, which will keep the cooler water out, and will keep you warmer. Sit on tops are only good in the summer when the water is warmer. I would reccommend for what your looking for the wilderness systems tsunami 120 or 140, if your taller the 145. They come with or without rudders, the rudder makes it easier when your trying to go through tight turns in smaller rivers etc. and to help keep you tracking straight. Its a great begginer/intermediate boat and has plenty of cargo room for longer trips. But for what you'd want look for a boat no shorter than 12' and a cockpit no wider than 25" (your basic day touring/trasitional touring boat). Necky and perception kayaks are also nice and easy to find. Hope this helps ya, and good luck, kayaking is awesome!!