Since this kayaking and canoeing group has been around for a while now this topic reappears from time to time...
The concepts do not really change so here are two messages from the archives about "Choosing A Kayak".
EditStephen Miller's Take on Choosing a Boat
There are many choices... it just depends on what type of paddling you
want to do.
If you are looking to poke around a lake or slow stream - a recreation
kayak works but I'm not convinced you would like it after a season or
two. Most folks skills grow and a recreation boat quickly shows its
limitations.
If you are looking for a kayak that provides more opportunities as
your skills grow - a day touring kayak will fit your needs. Day
touring kayaks although not as initially stable as a recreation kayak
provide excellent secondary stability, allow for faster paddling due
and provide advanced features such as skegs or rudders, hatches, etc.
If you are looking for a whitewater boat... you are probably stuck
like me using a whitewater canoe as we are not likely to fit in one of
the little whitewater kayaks.
For most of the paddling we do (Class I-II rivers and creeks, small
lakes, and open water lakes, bays, estuaries) I would recommend a day
touring kayak in the 14 to 16 foot range.
A Wilderness Systems Tsunami, Necky Zoar Sport, Necky Manitou,
Precision Carolina are all boats that have the capacity and cockpit
room that fit the bill.
I recommend that you go to a paddle sport shop or paddling show and
try the boats out before you purchase. Bell Haven in NJ will be
having their annual show on July 14. Kelly's Canoe and Kayak allows
you to paddle in their pool. Others such as EMS will allow you to
rent boats for an outing.
I'm a average height, but heavy person (over 250lbs) who fits into all
the boats listed above. I currently have a beat up (over 2000 miles)
Necky Zoar Sport and a new (less than 50 miles) Old Town Cayuga 145.
If I'm planning to be out on the water and you would like to try one
of them give me a shout and I bring a second boat along.
"Paddleator" Steve
EditSusan Williams' Take on Choosing a Boat
First step: decide what you want to do in a kayak. Is it downriver? Whitewater?
Fishing? Ocean? Bays? Lakes? Quiet streams? Moving water? Racing? Bird watching?
Surf zones? Going fast for fitness? Going slow to relax? Where will you spend
most of your time? You would not take my Old Town Castaway (12'9" long, no
bulkheads, no floatation) out into the Chesapeake Bay, ever. You would not take
my Laser (an ICF flatwater racing boat) down Class III rapids, nor would you
take it on an 8 mile open water crossing of the Chesapeake, ever. You would,
however, take my Current Designs Solstice sea kayak across the Chesapeake quite
easily. Each boat is designed to do something totally different. You must decide
first what you want to do.
Once you are clear and realistic about where you will be spending 90% of your
time on the water, then try out boats in your chosen category (recreational,
touring, white water, racing, sea kayaks, etc.). Take notes, take your time, and
compare. Rent a few to test them. Ask others what they think. Ask others if you
can try theirs. There is a lot of boat sharing that happens among kayakers. One
night, I swear it was the middle of the night, Jeff Pringle was in my back yard
sitting in my Solstice to see what the cockpit felt like. Who knows how many
other yards the man has nocturnally visited, HAHA! Seriously, you gotta try
before you buy, just like cars and jeans. Otherwise you likely won't have the
optimum boat for you.
The best advice I got when I first started was to get in and try as many as
possible before buying one. Take a small notebook and note what you did and
didn't like about each one (otherwise there are so many that you forget, or at
least I forget). Find out who your local dealers are and go to their "demo days"
where you can get in a dozen or so boats and just check them all out. There is
no one boat that anyone can recommend for you that is best, because much like a
pair of jeans, they are all different and people like different things about
each one. When you narrow your choice down to a few, rent each one for a day
trip, so you get more butt time in than you get during a demo day to be sure
that's the one you really are comfortable in.
I know people like "answers" and I know that I was looking for "the" boat when I
first started looking for them too. But it doesn't work that way because it is
such an individual choice. The answer is to go out and try them, and besides,
it's a whole lot more fun that way anyway. By the way, your age is not a factor,
my coach is 60 and still whupps my butt in races. Your height and weight are
factors in fit (my husband is 6'3" and has size 13 feet, that's a big factor in
deck height in a kayak, some boats he just can't fit into, he has to sit in them
to see if he can get his feet in there) that's why we can't tell you which boat
to choose.
When you narrow your category and use down, keep asking questions, chances are
that someone here has, or has had, the boat you are interested in and can tell
you more about it and probably even let you try it out.
Susan