View Full Version : A couple of Kayaks
My wife and I bought a house on a creak and want to try kayaking but want to see if there are any used options.
Any advice on getting into kayaking would be greatly appreciated
Thanks!
Are you interested in whitewater or flatwater kayaking. I know a lot about whitewater kayaks, less about flatwater.
Miguel
1.Check with kayak rental places, they get rid of a bunch every year. They're not great kayaks, but they will do.
2.Check Craig's List
3.Join freecycle and post a request with them. Everything is free.
Are you interested in whitewater or flatwater kayaking. I know a lot about whitewater kayaks, less about flatwater.
Miguel
Flatwater....... at least to start:D
1.Check with kayak rental places, they get rid of a bunch every year. They're not great kayaks, but they will do.
2.Check Craig's List
3.Join freecycle and post a request with them. Everything is free.
Craig's list has a few for sale in my area that I am going to contact.
Freecycle, never heard of it before thanks for the tip! I will be sure to check it out.
It is usually best to try before you buy. Borrow from friends and neighbors when you can and try as many different kinds as you can before taking the plunge. Renting from an outfitter is also a good option. Hull types and styles can vary greatly and they are designed to do specific tasks well. No one type does everything well.
Just starting out, stability may be your major consideration. General recreation types usually fit the bill in that situation. They are generally shorter and have a wider beam (width). Their weight capacity is also generally less than say a touring type. A small creek may require a shorter more manueverable boat.
Renting may be enough to let you know whether or not you even like paddling. If you do, keep trying different hull types until you find a good fit.
Take-a-knee
05-03-2008, 21:39
I would start with a 16 foot royalex canoe . You can carry more gear and it is a dryer ride (hopefully).
Lone Wolf
05-03-2008, 22:48
I have been kayaking for years. Rivers & streams mostly. Unlike most on this site, I am not aN avid backpacker any moredue to lame knees. I do my traveling in my yak. Plus I have a fishing addiction.
Anyway, in my opinion the first thing to consider is the type of water you will mostly float. There are 3 basic types of yaks. Touring, recreational and whitewater. If you plan to primarily float lakes and plan on covering alot of distance, a touring yak is best. These yaks are long 14' or longer, very narrow and have average initial stability and good secondary stability.
Basically they may feel a little tippy, but recover well to the center line and typically cost more than a recreational yak. They glide well in the water and are made to reduce fatigue since your planning on doing a lot of paddling.
Most folks use some sort of recreational kayak since they can do a decent job in most waters except classIII and above waters. Normally they have a large cockpit and excellent initial stability. They are made of plastic and take a lot of abuse. They are very forgivable to the new paddler. They are wide(around 30") and have either a flat bottom(good for turning in moving water) or a keel ( makes the yak go straight when paddling). Most are 10' to 12' in length and will weigh around 50lbs depending on length.
I have limited experience with whitewater yaks so I will leave that topic to others with experience. From your post, it doesnt seem that whitewater is what you are looking for in a yak.
I have used the following brands. I primarily float moving water.
Old Town otter & loon- My opinion is that they are heavier than other yaks, the seats are not that comfortable and they are not as forgiving as other yaks. Quality is good and they are bomb proof. Good manuverability. I did a 2 nighter with an otter before I purchase my current yaks. My complaint was comfort.
Perception Swifty- A basic yak with a good turning radius in moving water. Very forgiving and was overall fun to paddle. Down side was low on features.
Spent 10 hrs fishing out of one and again butt comfort was an issue.
Dagger Blackwater- This yak is a little more narrow than the other recreational yaks I have used and it had a flat bottom for manuverability and a drop down skeg for calm water tracking. I liked this boat due to the cockpit was raised more than the other which helped in keeping water out of the yak when going through rapids. Seat was not that comfortable. I spent about 6 hrs fishing out of this yak.
Wilderness Systems Pamico(10') - After using the others, I settled on this yak. Flat bottom for manuverability and they have the best seat(phase 3) out of all that yaks I have used. Large cockpit is nice for getting in and out. Excellent construction. I have spent 4 days in this thing and my butt didnt mind. I have modified mine to include 2 fishing rod holders, bungie paddle holder,drain plug, bow and stern anchors for fishing and I added a workdeck that goes over a part of the cockpit. Old town makes the work deck.
The down side to most of these yaks is they will take in some water due to the large cockpit when running classII rapids.
I can pack in my 10 footer for a 4 day float trip. Being a backpacker, I had all the small gear. I even take a small cooler, lantern and chair.
I spent countless hours researching yaks before deciding on the WS Pam100. Since then I bought 3 other yaks. WS Tarpon-Sit on top yak(10'), Dagger BlackWater(11.5') and a Perception Sundance (12').
Just like tarps and hammocks, I have yaks based on different applications.
My suggestion to you is to locate an outfitter like Blue Mountain Outfitter in Duncannon, Pa and find out when they are having thier demo day. It is a good way to try different yaks.
I frequent a website very similiar to HF but for river smallmouth fisherman. Its called Riversmallies.com.
You can find a wealth of info on that site about kayaks. Just like this site. A knowledgable group of folks who are happy to share thier knowledge.
The bulk of members on that site use kayaks and you can find all you would want to know about kayaks and thier uses from folks you use them regularly. The site also has a classified and I have bought 2 good yaks from the site for a great price. You have to routinely check the site since yaks dont last long once they are posted.
My passion for fishing drew me to thier site and ultimately to yaks.
Once you fish from a yak, you will never walk the bank, float in a tube.
Just like this site- Once you camp in hammock, you will never want to go back to a tent.
The best place I found to purchase kayaks(believe me I spent a ton of time looking) is Appomattix River Company in Va. I can buy online and have delivered a yak cheaper than any retail/outfitter I could find.
Bottom Line- Riversmallies.com for a library of info on kayaks, paddles, PFD, etc & ARC for experts to purchase your yak.
Also- Dont get sucked into the thought of needing a keel to go straight. A good paddle stroke will keep you going straight. If you are floating small narrow creeks and doing alot of rock hopping & dodging, being able to turn on a dime is critical. You will gain paddle experience rather quickly to make you boat go straight in slack, open water.
I just noticed that you are located in PA. I would be happy to let your borrow a couple of yaks and float my local waters here in the Harrisburg Area.
I'm an avid paddler as well. I was big into whitewater until I almost drowned and ended up in the hospital. Long story.
Read Lone Wolf's post above. Then re read it. Study it. He's telling you a whole lot of wisdom in a small space. The only thing I can add is that I have an Old Towne Loon 138 now, and I love it. The Loon 138 is the right size boat, with the right characteristics for what I do and how I do it.
The most important thing is to to actually paddle a boat before you buy it. Everybody's different, and so is every boat.
Also, don't forget the paddle. Never forget that your paddle is your motor - don't go cheap. A few hours with a cheap paddle will kill your arms. I use a Bending Branches paddle and give them 5 stars.
I'd say Lone Wolf has pretty much covered it. Unless you seriously want to get into whitewater I'd strongly suggest something in the 10 to 12 foot range which will serve you very well in both lakes, moving rivers and streams. I've seen many Rec boats of that length do quite well in class 2/3 whitewater. I'd lean toward the shorter side if you plan on spending time in smaller streams. I'd also want one that will accomodate a sprayskirt.
If the whitewater bug grabs you I would seriously suggest you find professional instruction and/or join a club. I'm a certified instructor BTW.
This my club and is located in Bradford County PA.
http://groups.msn.com/BradfordCountyCanoeKayakClubPennsylvania
Happy hangin' and paddlin'
Miguel
kayak karl
05-04-2008, 06:29
My wife and I bought a house on a creak and want to try kayaking but want to see if there are any used options.
Any advice on getting into kayaking would be greatly appreciated
Thanks!
There are a couple of places in NJ. about an hour and a half from Langhorn.
Belhaven Canoe and Kayak on rt 542 between Batsto and Bass River sell used. http://www.belhavencanoe.com/ They let you try them out in the lake
Theres a place in Brick, NJ http://www.jerseypaddler.com/index.html
And even closer is Wilderness Kayak on Concord Pike In Wilmington Delaware. http://www.wildernesscanoetrips.com/index.dws they offer a nice day trip on the Brandywine
hope this helps
Check out a Necky Manitou Sport. It is a 12 foot boat. It is a hybrid design which places it inbetween a rec. kayak and a touring kayak. I use it on the New River and in big lakes. Cost around $600, weighs 35 lbs. Be careful about the weight of your yak, you have to carry it to and from the water, not to mention loading the boat on top your vehicle or in the bed of your truck. Quite stable, tracks well, a bit more responsive than a rec. kayak, not as efficient as a touring boat. Try mutliple boats before you buy.
Greg Dunlap
05-04-2008, 08:27
If you don't mind traveling a little, Mountainman Outdoor Supply is hosting their paddlefest just 350 miles away from you soon. You can get information at their website http://www.mountainmanoutdoors.com
They take every boat in their inventory, plus get the manufactors reps to bring all their boats, place them on the water and let you try them out.
I went to the one in my area and found just the right kayak to fit my frame in. When I sat down in it, it fit me perfectly!! I've since spent many happy hours in the one I bought just one month later
me and my 2 sons are kayaking fools,cant get enough of it.:cool: neo
THANK YOU all for the great info! The links to events and retailers are especially helpful.
Lone Wolf I learned more from your post than I did in all the web research I did. If I'm in your neck of the woods I may take you up on your offer!
Wilderness systems keeps popping up in searches and conversations I have had with a few people as the most comfortable Kayaks out there. I have heard several people tell a story similar to Lone Wolf's where they start out with a couple different kayaks and eventually end up with a Wilderness Systems.
Once again thanks for all the great information!
Take-a-knee
05-04-2008, 22:52
THANK YOU all for the great info! The links to events and retailers are especially helpful.
Lone Wolf I learned more from your post than I did in all the web research I did. If I'm in your neck of the woods I may take you up on your offer!
Wilderness systems keeps popping up in searches and conversations I have had with a few people as the most comfortable Kayaks out there. I have heard several people tell a story similar to Lone Wolf's where they start out with a couple different kayaks and eventually end up with a Wilderness Systems.
Once again thanks for all the great information!
Wilderness Systems sit-on-top kayaks are highly regarded among kayak fishermen. I still say a canoe is the most useful boat for freshwater.
If you want a cross between the two, try a Native Ultimate 12 or 14:
http://www.nativewatercraft.com/
Here is a review from a friend of mine:
http://www.georgiariverfishing.com/GAarticles/Ultimate12/Ultimate12.htm
Went to a local shop to do a bit more research.
As of now it looks like my wife is going with the Necky Manitou sport.
I have it narrowed down to two, the Necky Manitou 13 and the Wilderness Systems Pungo 120.
Hopefully I will get sometime to test both boats out in the next couple of weeks and then make my decision.
Greg Dunlap
05-12-2008, 17:29
Be sure to deal with a shop that will let you try the boat out for a period of time before you buy it. I bought blindly the first time around and hated the boat. It squeezed my knees together resulting in cramping after about an hour of sitting in it. And the place I bought it from would not take it back so I ended up selling it and buying the one I have now. I recommend a Prijon Kodiak, it flares a little from the position of the seat forward allowing you to spread your legs out, is fairly stable in the water, is 17 foot long so you can load up on camping gear and even bring firewood if you wanted to. Fits me like my lounger at home.
We got our Kayaks yesterday.
We went with Wilderness Systems Tsunamis, a 120 for my wife and a 125 for me.
After a few hours on a local lake and were sold.
As Lone Wolf pointed out Wilderness Systems had the most comfortable seat by far.
Thanks for all the advice! I cannot wait to float to a hang.
Lone Wolf
05-27-2008, 20:45
Now comes the fun part....outfitting the yaks to your personal preferences. Things like paddle holders(dont buy the rubberr ones, a simple bungie with a hook), rod holders, workdecks, dry bags, etc.
PA is a great place to float and you will definately enjoy yakking and hanging.
I would also suggest the Perception Prodigy 10 also. Ten feet long, stable, light and a huge cockpit. $300.00. I have one and really like it. Mostly I use a Perception Carolina 14 and lend out the Prodigy to others. Mule
SuperTroll
06-03-2008, 13:22
paddling? you want paddling? go here:
http://www.paddling.net
canoebie
06-03-2008, 16:31
Paddling.net is a great suggestion. I have been part of them for years. You could enter their sweepstakes and win a yak or a canoe. I have done both and prefer a canoe. It simply is a personal preference, and they are not real good for true "creak running" unless you get a short play boat with lots of rocker.
I would suggest also trying to find the buyers guide issue of canoe and kayak magazine. Many of the technical aspects of craft such as skegs, rocker, initial and secondary stability are discussed. For someone new this is a great way to learn about what considerations one must make in considering what is best suited for specific use. Just know that there is no one boat that is perfect. You must choose which compromises you want to make. Then just as in hammocking, you tweak the hell out of them to make them your own.
A fun event with nearly every gear option and boat option available is in Madison WI. each year the first weekend in March and is called "Canoecopia" however it is not just canoes. Every clothing, waterproof bag, rack, canoe, kayak, and all related accessories along with great authors and outdoorsman such as Cliff Jacobsen are part of it. It is sponsored by Rutabaga sports, and is one of the premiere water sport shows in the country. What I enjoy about it is that it is not extreme sports type of folks, but rather true wilderness travelers and people with appreciation for LNT techniques while canoe and kayak camping. We have gone the last two years. My wife goes with me and it makes a nice "date" weekend. Course she loves to paddle as well.
I also want to affirm the idea of rentals and "trying out" as many different options as you can. We all have personal tastes that are different. I am married to my Old Town Tripper.
Have fun, the earth is made up of 70% water, all ya gotta do is find a boat. (and a good hammock)
David
I have been kayaking for years. Rivers & streams mostly. Unlike most on this site, I am not aN avid backpacker any moredue to lame knees. I do my traveling in my yak. Plus I have a fishing addiction.
Anyway, in my opinion the first thing to consider is the type of water you will mostly float. There are 3 basic types of yaks. Touring, recreational and whitewater. If you plan to primarily float lakes and plan on covering alot of distance, a touring yak is best. These yaks are long 14' or longer, very narrow and have average initial stability and good secondary stability.
Basically they may feel a little tippy, but recover well to the center line and typically cost more than a recreational yak. They glide well in the water and are made to reduce fatigue since your planning on doing a lot of paddling.
Most folks use some sort of recreational kayak since they can do a decent job in most waters except classIII and above waters. Normally they have a large cockpit and excellent initial stability. They are made of plastic and take a lot of abuse. They are very forgivable to the new paddler. They are wide(around 30") and have either a flat bottom(good for turning in moving water) or a keel ( makes the yak go straight when paddling). Most are 10' to 12' in length and will weigh around 50lbs depending on length.
I have limited experience with whitewater yaks so I will leave that topic to others with experience. From your post, it doesnt seem that whitewater is what you are looking for in a yak.
I have used the following brands. I primarily float moving water.
Old Town otter & loon- My opinion is that they are heavier than other yaks, the seats are not that comfortable and they are not as forgiving as other yaks. Quality is good and they are bomb proof. Good manuverability. I did a 2 nighter with an otter before I purchase my current yaks. My complaint was comfort.
Perception Swifty- A basic yak with a good turning radius in moving water. Very forgiving and was overall fun to paddle. Down side was low on features.
Spent 10 hrs fishing out of one and again butt comfort was an issue.
Dagger Blackwater- This yak is a little more narrow than the other recreational yaks I have used and it had a flat bottom for manuverability and a drop down skeg for calm water tracking. I liked this boat due to the cockpit was raised more than the other which helped in keeping water out of the yak when going through rapids. Seat was not that comfortable. I spent about 6 hrs fishing out of this yak.
Wilderness Systems Pamico(10') - After using the others, I settled on this yak. Flat bottom for manuverability and they have the best seat(phase 3) out of all that yaks I have used. Large cockpit is nice for getting in and out. Excellent construction. I have spent 4 days in this thing and my butt didnt mind. I have modified mine to include 2 fishing rod holders, bungie paddle holder,drain plug, bow and stern anchors for fishing and I added a workdeck that goes over a part of the cockpit. Old town makes the work deck.
The down side to most of these yaks is they will take in some water due to the large cockpit when running classII rapids.
I can pack in my 10 footer for a 4 day float trip. Being a backpacker, I had all the small gear. I even take a small cooler, lantern and chair.
I spent countless hours researching yaks before deciding on the WS Pam100. Since then I bought 3 other yaks. WS Tarpon-Sit on top yak(10'), Dagger BlackWater(11.5') and a Perception Sundance (12').
Just like tarps and hammocks, I have yaks based on different applications.
My suggestion to you is to locate an outfitter like Blue Mountain Outfitter in Duncannon, Pa and find out when they are having thier demo day. It is a good way to try different yaks.
I frequent a website very similiar to HF but for river smallmouth fisherman. Its called Riversmallies.com.
You can find a wealth of info on that site about kayaks. Just like this site. A knowledgable group of folks who are happy to share thier knowledge.
The bulk of members on that site use kayaks and you can find all you would want to know about kayaks and thier uses from folks you use them regularly. The site also has a classified and I have bought 2 good yaks from the site for a great price. You have to routinely check the site since yaks dont last long once they are posted.
My passion for fishing drew me to thier site and ultimately to yaks.
Once you fish from a yak, you will never walk the bank, float in a tube.
Just like this site- Once you camp in hammock, you will never want to go back to a tent.
The best place I found to purchase kayaks(believe me I spent a ton of time looking) is Appomattix River Company in Va. I can buy online and have delivered a yak cheaper than any retail/outfitter I could find.
Bottom Line- Riversmallies.com for a library of info on kayaks, paddles, PFD, etc & ARC for experts to purchase your yak.
Also- Dont get sucked into the thought of needing a keel to go straight. A good paddle stroke will keep you going straight. If you are floating small narrow creeks and doing alot of rock hopping & dodging, being able to turn on a dime is critical. You will gain paddle experience rather quickly to make you boat go straight in slack, open water.
I just noticed that you are located in PA. I would be happy to let your borrow a couple of yaks and float my local waters here in the Harrisburg Area.
:)great yaking pics,i cant get enough of yaking:cool:neo