What is the fastest new touring kayak I can get for about $1200?

Question

There are so many boats out there and every dealer says they have "The One". The one I want has the following: 1) Fast as possible... speed is the most important factor but also 2) Touring kayak, maybe with a skeg, for 1200 (give or take 200), 3) Weighs 45 pounds or less, give or take and 4) Fairly stable.

Anybody have something close to that? Can you tell me how fast we are tallking? 8 mph would be great.

Answer 1

I use a dagger crossfire and love it. There are newer hi tech, but for all around fun, fishing, camping, touring it works perfect for me. At your price range think about used.

Answer 2

First, the speed of the kayak depends on you.  No kayak manufacturer on the planet will tell you that their kayak can go a specific speed.  Second, hitting and holding an 8 mph paddling session is in the elite athlete range.  (Think Olympic paddlers like Greg Barton, Robert Clegg, or Jeff Smoke.)

For the 45 pound weight limit, you'll have to go with Kevlar or Carbon Fiber, and that will be near impossible to find for less than $2,000 in a new boat.  

Is the speed important because of racing? Or is it just for covering long trips in a shorter amount of time?  Are you paddling merely for the workout or are you paddling on expeditions with gear?

If you're merely out for speed, a faster option than a touring kayak would be a surf ski.    Look at some of the Futura racing skis, or the Epic V10.  But for your price, you'll need to find used ones.  New they are in the $2500-3000 range.  You can find decent used ones on the Pacific Coast for around $1000.  I've seen them as low as $500.  

If you need to take gear with you, and truly need a touring / sea kayak, then I'd look for a used QCC.  http://www.qcckayaks.com

Or, look for an Epic or Seda kayak.  They have some of the longest waterlines in touring kayaks.  

Good luck!

Answer 3

If you're merely out for speed, a faster option than a touring kayak would be a surf ski. Look at some of the Futura racing skis, or the Epic V10. But for your price, you'll need to find used ones. New they are in the $2500-3000 range. You can find decent used ones on the Pacific Coast for around $1000. I've seen them as low as $500.

If you need to take gear with you, and truly need a touring / sea kayak, then I'd look for a used QCC. http://www.qcckayaks.com

Or, look for an Epic or Seda kayak. They have some of the longest waterlines in touring kayaks.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Great answers. I just want to suggest that you try out whatever you're thinking of buying. The rental place near me has a bunch of boats available. They will give you 15 minutes in any boat you're thinking of buying. I'm boat shopping just now and decided that 15 minutes was not going to cut it, so I got a season pass and have been getting there once a week to play for a few hours. This gives me a chance to see what the boat is really like.

I can tell you that a friend paddles a Necky Eliza - a fiberglass 16'6" K1. I hugely out speeded her in a cheap plastic Inushtuk (16'). It just happened to fit me perfectly.