Kayak choices

JeffN

JeffN

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I'm living up to a belated birthday gift for the admiral and we're choosing a kayak for her(and one for me no doubt too). Anyone have any experience with good/bad brands? It's for ICW use only and maybe some ocean use for me eventually-and I'm talking a kayak for each of us, not just for her...
 
Great question. I am going to buy a kit and build one. I want to spend about $1000 and it should not be too complicated.

Any thoughts?
 
We're going for a plastic fantastic job that will last until the 23rd century w/o any maintenance. There are some cool kits available though. I'd be too nervous about my own craftsmanship while gliding through gator infested swamps.
 
I have two rotomolded ones. I got one from west maroon and the othe from dicks sporting goods. Both were the lowest priced 10 ft models. The west one has higher freeboard around the seat and is therefore drier. They are also easily moved off course by breezes. So when looking get high freeboard and as long a boat as you can afford. And don't let them talk you into getting speed paddles. Get good sized cupped blades for power.
 
I have a small Walden that I rarely use, and a larger Old Town Loon 16T. The Loon is a tandem kayak, works well for me and my oldest son, or me and the dog. Served me well for lobster diving on the jetties for a season, too, until I caused (what I thought was, at the time) minor damage to my shoulder chucking my gear back into it from the water. Turned out to be / turned into major damage - so I recommend AGAINST diving from kayaks. But, back to the point, the boat handled well in a good breeze with two people, or me and my dive gear, took a little chop well, very stable. They make a non-tandem version that handles much the same.
 
So the higher freeboard ones actually have windage, Paul? That's why they blow off course?

And are yours sit in or sit on?
 
You also might want to take a look at where you are going to store them, these things can get very heavy.
 
We have a new PVC rack at the condo for kayaks but we need to slide it over the bulkhead on a carpet and then move it down to our dock at the other end of the building, maybe 200' Seems like 50# is light and 65 is heavy...
 
Do you want a true sit in kayak that you wear a skirt with or just a sit a top for paddling around? Unless you plan on doing rougher water and know how to roll in the skirt, you can't go wrong with a sit a top. I highly recommend the 'yaks made by "Wilderness Systems." We have had ours for 5 years or so now and use it all the time in the summer (it has always been kept on our swim platform). Very durable, extremely stable, tracks well, etc. I have paddled a lot of yaks and I have been extremely impressed with the stability and handling of the wilderness systems yak. Comparing it to the ride you get from the cheaper sit a tops is a joke. You will spend a hair more but they are very comfortable and really handle great.
 
Thanks Tony, just what we needed to hear. they have a big dealer locally here so sounds like the right way to go.

Any thoughts on Hobies or foot propulsion on any kayak? Wilderness makes the drop in prop system.
 
A boat I used to run had the Hobie foot propelled ones on board. They worked great. But in salt water you had to stay on top of the maintenance of the propulsion units.

On the boat I'm on now we have two totally clear ones made by Clear Blue Hawaii. There are very cool in clear water and have held up well for the last year or so stored outside 24/7. I'm a dealer for CBH so if you have an interest in any of the ones they sell I'd be happy have them drop ship to you for my cost Jeff.
 
I've not played much with the foot propulsion set ups. Like Bill said- in salt water corrosion would be an issue.
 
Thanks bill, will have a look and let you know-no smuggling in one of those.
 
We have four Perception Swifty 9.5's. Very stable, easy to paddle, great on flat water and moderate rivers. Lightweight and not too expensive, they fit our family very well.
 
I'm a big fan of Ocean Kayaks, they claim to be the originators of sit on tops. We have a Malibu Two, it's bulletproof, stable, tracks well, and is just plain fun.
 
I own an Ocean Kayaks Prowler 14. Very stable. Alot like Malibu Two, but only one seat.
eric
 
The Perception "Swifty" and the "Streak" (almost identical) from Worst Maroon are great for beginners or just goofing around. They're roomy, stable and have large cockpits that are good for carrying a dog, fishing tackle, or small cooler. The short length makes them fairly lightweight (40#) and easy to handle in and out of the water. Around $329 plus a paddle.

Downside they're SLOW, but for gunkholing that doesn't really matter.

I started out with longer, faster, heavier kayaks but gave them up in favor of the short ones.
 
quote:
Originally posted by JeffN

So the higher freeboard ones actually have windage, Paul? That's why they blow off course?

And are yours sit in or sit on?

Click to expand...


Mine are sit-in type kayaks. THe freeboard does affect the windage, but the biggest factor was the short length made for tracking errors.
 
On tha bay, you can probably get away with a sit-in, like Swifty. On the ocean, you really need a sit-on.
 
I have the Advanced Elements inflatable two person kayak. I really like it:

ae1007-07.jpg
 
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