Im sitting on the beach here at Padre wishing I had kayak. I want something that is fun to paddle, that I wont outgrow in a single season and wish I had bought something else.
It needs to be comfortable enough for extended use, light enough to go on the camper shell of the pickup and INEXPENSIVE as possible? Who has recommendations of what I should be looking for, good models, even local purchasing recommendations would be good. Thanks.
__________________ "If a man does not have an ideal and try to live up to it, then he becomes a mean, base and sordid creature, no matter how successful." Letter to his son Kermit, quoted in Theodore Roosevelt by Joseph Bucklin Bishop, 1915
I recently bought a high-end sea kayak through Craigslist - I'd keep an eye out there.
Is there a local place that rents them where you could try a few out? That can help out a lot - you figure out what fits well and what feels good to paddle. (We did this for my wife recently - after trying more boats, I found out also that I'd rather try and lose a bit of weight to fit my boat a bit better, since it paddles so well, than to get something else.)
Picking the right boat can be tough as like everything else there are compromises. I decided I needed a kayak last year and finally decided on a Native Kayak Ultimate 14.5. It's long enough for open water, it's stable enough to standup in and use my flyrod. It's a hybrid that you sit in not on. The down side is it is relatively heavy 60lbs yet easy to get on my truck's rack. I have a two wheel cart with fat tires that slips on the stern that takes it anywhere I need to go.
I've been drooling over the Native Watercraft Kayaks for a while myself. They are comfortable to sit in, roomy for your dog or gear, and stable enough to stand up in. They look to be well made. I got to check on out in person last year but didn't get to take it out. Unfortunately they are not inexpensive. For inexpensive I bought a used Ocean Kayak sit-on-top off CL. It was cheap, but uncomfortable and hard to paddle. I sold it and got my money back out of it. I'll hold out for when I can afford a nice comfortable kayak I will actually enjoy using next time.
Before you start reading, this does not fit the INEXPENSIVE part.
My wife and I each have one of these. Hobie Kayaks - Mirage Sport
It is so great to just sit back and pedal. I hardly ever paddle any more unless I'm in a tight spot or shallow water. I go way faster peddling than paddling. There is also a sail kit available.
As far as loading, Yakima has some good aids for loading boats. Yakima Products - HullyRollers Yakima Products - BoatLoader
for a couple.
Regards, Ken
An option worth looking at is a 'folding kayak' (do an internet search on these words). I've used the Klepper brand for 20+ years and they are still like new condition - high quality of materials, etc. The big advantages of folding are they can be stored easier, transported inside your TV or trailer (no wind drag, and secure from theft), don't need to be lifted on top of the TV, can be carried in smaller & lighter bundles (and assembled at the edge of the lake - a really nice feature as I've gotten older), etc. My Kleppers assemble in about 15 minutes - taking them apart can take longer depending on how much cleaning & drying you do so they're ready for the next outing.
Any way you go - kayaks are a blast and add a great deal of enjoyment to any camping trip that takes you by a lake or river.
Im sitting on the beach here at Padre wishing I had kayak. I want something that is fun to paddle, that I wont outgrow in a single season and wish I had bought something else.
It needs to be comfortable enough for extended use, light enough to go on the camper shell of the pickup and INEXPENSIVE as possible? Who has recommendations of what I should be looking for, good models, even local purchasing recommendations would be good. Thanks.
I was looking at purchasing a Dagger 10.5 this fall. A good all around boat.
I have a Wilderness Systems 14.5 I bought several years ago. I use it for ocean,lake and wide rivers.
I've had a Dagger Approach 10-a good all around boat. Fairly comfortable. This past season I paddled a Liquid Logic XP10. A great all around boat and very comfortable. The retractable skeg works well and makes the boat well suited to lakes, class 2/3 whitewater or the local pond. It's rugged and easy to load/unload. It is, however, not as fast on flat water as my Current Designs Kestrel 140--but the Liquid Logic is a much better all around boat.
I also have been using Kleppers(both in the military and as a civilian),a folder with a wooden frame for over 20 years. Check out the US made version at Long Haul Kayaks (they supply to the military) Long Haul Folding Kayaks Ute
If the Long Haul Kayak Ute had a wider beam, I would have purchased it. I currently own a Folbot Yukon. Folding Kayaks & Folding Boats from Folbot
It is a folder with an aluminum frame.
Both kayaks can be used with a sailing kit. They are both quick to assembly and fun to paddle and sail.
Any idea what folding kayaks typically sell for used? I know they're not cheap new, at least the Feathercrafts I've looked at.
I really like my Valley Avocet RM, but it's not cheap and not the most stable for a beginner (we've done a lot of whitewater kayaking and now are trying the more mellow side of things.)
I'd check with the usual suspects(Craigslist, Backpage, Ebay) for used boats.
Long Haul Kayak has a classified section under 'Community'.
Here links to Folbot's Forum and a floating boat forum. Folbot Forum • Index page http://www.foldingkayaks.org/
We got some good advice from our boat dealer, if you are going to let the gkids use don't get a sit in but do get the sit on. Turns out kids like to do anything but paddle and if they fill a sit in it is impossible for them to empty.
Im sitting on the beach here at Padre wishing I had kayak. I want something that is fun to paddle, that I wont outgrow in a single season and wish I had bought something else.
It needs to be comfortable enough for extended use, light enough to go on the camper shell of the pickup and INEXPENSIVE as possible? Who has recommendations of what I should be looking for, good models, even local purchasing recommendations would be good. Thanks.
We tested several kayaks and settled on a Hobie Outfitter, mainly because we have pedaling legs from our tandem bike riding.
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