Way OT, but I respect the opinions of everyone here…
My wife Charlene and I are considering getting a pair of kayaks. We plan on occasional use, on lakes, ponds, still rivers, maybe salt marshes,etc. Nothing really wild. Since we are totally new to this, we want to start out as inexpensively as possible. Ease of transport is a MAJOR factor, and we have been considering inflatables. A roof rack is not totally out of the question, but it would have to be a locking one so we could travel with the boats and not have to take them into our hotel room at night…
Any and all suggesstions/comments welcomed. Is there the Kayak equivalent of Chiff and Fipple out there? TIA
This looks like a good place to start:
Far better to make contact with a club and get some hands on, person to person advice.
I have 2 kayaks and a Canadian open boat…and that prob qualifies me to say that I don’t know enough yet [and I’m too far away] to give you any advice…I wouldn’t take an inflatable on anything other than the smallest of flat waters, by the way.
A good club will organise trips, lend you the boats, and be there to save you if you have a nightmare on the water [which happens to us all at some time or other]…and you get some new friends to share the wild places with.
Paul,
To cut down the expenses, and considering the still, shallow waters you target, I’d suggest you forget the couple of kayaks in favor of a single canoë (open skiff). They’re fun, they’re a team boat (two single oars), and convenient to carry the camping goods.
Also, it’s easier to carry one canoe between two, than hauling each your kayak especially if it’s they’re the inexpensive, injected plastic kind.
Clubs are a good suggestion for starters, but many (most?) are partial to either the open or closed (kayak) kind… So don’t expect objective advice there. Think of whistles and r€©:x®?œrs.
However, a shortcut could be trying out both kind of boats, by joining a couple of over-the-weekend beginners’ training workshops.
Don’t try whistling going down rapids!
It’s totally unreasonabubble,
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With apologies to Sam!
We’ve done a fair amount of kayaking, also canoeing.
Mostly we go to places on rivers that rent
kayaks. They take you upstream, let you
loose, and you come in a couple of
hours later at the landing. the river
does the work. Anyhow if you’re totally
new to this, it’s a good introduction.
Nice, placid river, of course.
There are two person kayaks that
work nicely. Also kayaks that steer with
an inboard rudder that a person
in the back steers with footpedals.
We did a lot of kayaking on
Lake Union in Seattle, in ocean
going kayaks where you lace
yourself into a spray sheet.
Some of these are very fast
and graceful. Lovely paddling
along near docked Russian
trawlers, etc.
Zubivka’s suggestion about a canoe
is worth considering, too. Canoes
are fun and very practical.
Giver your preference for inflatables, Paul, maybe you should set up your own forum - “Puff and Paddle”. 
i studied this for some time and came up with the canoe. for me they are more comfortable to sit in for hours,easier to get in and out of, they carry alot more weight, and your bottom can stay dry , which is very nice in the winter which is when i use mine the most. i love kayaks also but am very happy with my solo canoe. should you choose a canoe,study up on size, for after a certain length you cannot solo well 
Paul,
If you haven’t already done so, I would recommend taking a course. They usually go over the rudamentaries of safty and it would also give you a feel for the type of kayak that you would like. As Jim mentioned, I definately would recommend one with a rudder, but beyond that I wouldn’t be any good with names, prices or features.
I did my kayaking on Puget Sound and just had a blast. I’m looking forward to doing some here… summer’s just around the bend.
Erik
I concur with those who’ve suggested a canoe, if you’re really going to stay in very calm waters.
That said, I paddle a sea kayak, a semi-custom one built by a guy in British columbia, and it’s great fun, and very seaworthy in rough and unforgiving seas.
Points to consider (general rules, all boats are different):
–In general, longer is faster.
–Wider boats have higher initial stability, but are harder to maneuver and have lower secondary stability – that is, at a certain point of lean they’ll almost always dump you, and are harder to right, whereas a boat that feels slightly “tippier” initially is both more maneuverable and better able to handle lean, and easier to right.
–Plastic is cheaper than fiberglass, but heavier, and fiberglass is easier to do field repairs on than plastic (rotomolded) material. Plastic boats can also become deformed if you leave them on your roofrack in the sun, as the plastic softens, so you shouldn’t leave them up there in full sun if possible. With proper care, either plastic or fiberglass boats should last many years.
–Also portable, but more seaworthy and elegant than the inflatable kayaks, are folding kayaks, with wood or aluminum frames and canvas skins. They are more expensive than inflatables, though. Feathercraft, Klepper, Folboat, and others make these types of craft. When disassembled, the boats pack into a couple luggage-sized bags that you can throw in the back of your auto.
–A cheap and beautiful option – and maybe attractive to you, since you have woodworking skill – is to build a wooden boat from a kit. Takes time, but they are gorgeous, not very difficult to build with the prefab kits; very strong craft, and very light, too. Check out the kits from Chesapeake Light Craft and from Pygmy Boats. Quite affordable, if you have a couple weekends to put into their construction. . .
Good luck. Kayaking can become addictive; it’s a beautiful way to see the world, quiet and unobtrusive.
–Aaron
Paul theroux, the travel writer, has a folding kayak
that he takes with him on his travels. It features
in many wonderful adventures. Sounds wonderful.
Aaron is dead on. There are only a couple of things I would add. Stay away from bulkheads and hatches. Stupid idea. Probably invented by some bilge pump maker. I have built a couple of the kits Aaron mentioned and they truely are superb boats. I have spent about 30 years sea kayaking so I have my own unbendable rules. For what you seem to be contemplating you realy dont need a long boat. Mine were 18-19 feet long but shipping lanes can be wide and the faster you get accross them the better I felt. Also long open water stretches are best done in a hurry so I always liked long fast narrow boate. Very easy to paddle at a stedy pace. You should be able to get away with something under 15 feet which means that if it is well designed you dont need a rudder. Always remember Murphys law. It is very true. So the less there is to brake the better your travels will be. Please check out the Chesapeake Light Craft. Great boats. http://www.clcboats.com If you order their catalog though I can not be held responsible for your actions.
Tom
PS: What can I say. I love these things. The most perfect water craft
I want to go kayaking now. It would probably be easy to do here, too… :roll:
I just returned from a weekend canoing trip down the Juniper Springs run in Ocala, Florida. It starts from the source of a wonderful cool spring, 3.5 foot wide sandy bottom stream with fresh water bubblingup and 7.5 miles later ends up in a savannah. Had to duck under fallen trees 38 times, avoid gators twice, and only took one wrong turn.
I’ve been kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico for two years now with a 16 foot Wilderness Systems Sealoution II rotomolded plastic kayak and Love It. I’d stay away from inflatables. The longer boats are nice, as stated by more experience folks above, for open water stuff, but I GOTTA SAY that a very cordial and happy gentleman passed our canoe in the narrow twisty currents yesterday quite deftly in a very cute fiberglass kayak that couldnt have been longer than 12 feet…and right then I was struck with…you guessed it…Kayak Obsessive Acquisition Disorder.
So, as said above, find a club, talk things over with them, rent a kayak or two for a while, and try different TYPES of kayaking depending on your area to decide what you really like to do before you buy something. It tookme until very recently to venture into the rivers of Florida, and if I’dknown how fun it is, I might have gotten a shorter kayak than what I bought originally.
All that being said, I am now seeing the joys of canoing, and am torn whether to irresponsibly fantasize about getting a shorter kayak or a canoe. Both are very fun.
DAZED
Well…Some long-ago experience in both white water and sea kayaks, so here’s my two cents: Your best boat is the boat for your purpose. You already know what you want the boats for, so you’re sitting pretty. A few caveats apply regardless.
#1-Don’t overbuy. Most general-purpose knocking-around type kayaks can do a little of everything, but do best what you described, knocking around in sheltered waters. You won’t need kevlar, and you won’t need a kayak which can carry you plus 340 lbs. of gear. Keeping your boat choice appropriate will pay off in cost, weight, tranportability and performance on the water. Sea kayaks track much better than white-water boats, which are designed to spin on a dime. There are quite a few rotomolded “pond” kayaks on the market now which might interest you-meant just for knocking around in not-too-threatening water and weather.
#2- Get boats with large cockpit openings. This allows easy entry & exit
(for both water and you) and comfortable use. When lolling about languid waters in a large cockpit, you can take legs out from under the deck and drape them over the front deck, -difficult or impossible with a small cockpit. This will feel really, really good after a few hours on the water without landfall. A smaller opening might be a safety factor in open water, but probably not in the use you describe. A spray skirt is a good idea when the water kicks up or you choose to go out in exposed water. Spray skirts are easily stitched up at home or glued up out of neoprene, and many fine skirts are available ready-made.
#3-As Blackbeer noted, you likely don’t need hatches and bulkheads.
#4-Do purchase and use float bags to fill bow and stern. These do two things: -add positive flotation, and occupy areas which could fill with water in capsize or swamping. Float bags are available which open and reseal to provide dry stowage of food, spare clothing, etc.. -Controlling a kayak filled with water is difficult, and a water-filled hull is difficult to lift or empty without damaging you or the hull. A baling can & sponge is the last resort if this happens, as picking up the boat to flip and empty water may be impossible. FLOAT BAGS PREVENT most of this from happening as much less of the boat can fill with water. -Be careful on hot days with float bags, though, as they expand in a hot hull and can distort the hull or worse. -Not a bad idea to let air out while the boat is on your car rack or sitting unused, then reinflating for use. They don’t need to be inflated real tight to do their job. Some kayaks come from the manufacturer these days with bow and stern foam-filled or foam-braced for water displacement/hull reinforcement.
#5-Get some good instruction. You may or may not want to learn eskimo rolls, but good paddling, navigation & self-rescue skills will expand your choice of trips dramatically and increase your confidence on any trip.
#6-If at all possible, go to a paddle demonstration day-often sponsored by outdoor retailers like L.L. Bean, Eastern Mountain Sport, R.E.I., etc. and try as many boats as possible in the water. You’ll have a good time & a good idea by end of day which boats and paddles you like. Generally, inflatables aren’t as quick on the water as hard shell boats, but you might find other advantages offset that for you. (easy storage & transport) I don’t know much about current inflatables, but once had a cheap Sevylor inflatable canoe with Rasputin-like durability, and a K-Mart inflatable raft as a poor student’s boat in college.
-Two posters have mentioned Pygmy kayaks (three now). I paddled one once for five minutes and was stunned. Fast, light, nice handling, strong enough and good looking to boot. For kayak & canoe inspiration, read George Dyson’s “Baidarka” or John McPhee’s “The Survival Of The Bark Canoe”.
-Hope you’ll post your choices when the time comes.
I’ve been keeping an eye out for a kayak myself, though I haven’t been able to justify spending the money. Depending on where you’re at, you may be able to find someplace that can rent you kayaks (including most other equipment you need) by the day. The first time I rented was from an EMS that would rent for a fraction of the cost of buying one for a whole weekend, and the rental included a car mounting kit (basically foam blocks and tie downs). I’ve moved since, but with a little looking around I’ve not had trouble renting, often times for as little as $15 for the better part of a day. Unless you plan on getting a lot of use, seriously consider renting.
If you do want to buy, well, I’m looking for a similar experience (flatwater, recreational), and have been eyeing the Perception Acadia, Corolina, and the the Dagger model that falls about midway between the two (can’t remember the name off-hand). I’ve been itching to take a good safety and rescue course first though, and the on that I want to take is a full-weekend affair costing about half as much as the boat. The models I’m looking at run from about $600 - $900. FYI, I looked at folding boats… a decent one starts around $2000, and it’s all uphill from there. A few makers have sail kits as well, which sound really fun, but I imagine you could get those for a rotomolded boat as well.
Look into Canoe and Kayak magazine. They do a gear issue every year that’s worth picking up, don’t know when it comes out though. I also have an issue that lists paddling schools… I’ve been told it’s a worthwhile investment if you plan on spending time on the water. The magazine lists quite a few schools aruond the US. If you drop me an email, I’ll send you info for the ones in your area, I’m not going to try to list them all here.
If you’re ever in the Seattle area, drop me a line and I’ll join you for some time on the water! My email is in my profile.
Happy paddlin’!
- Ben
Hey Ben you should head over to Dear Cove an Orcas Island. I think thats the name of the cove. They have a huge campground there and do kayak trips around the islands. I was camped one day on one of the islands and about 20 kayaks apeared on the horizon. They padled right up to the beach I was camped on and when I talked to a few of them I found out they were from all over the world. None of them had ever kayaked before which I thought interesting at the time because there was about to be quite a change in the weather and they had a long padle to get back to Orcas. Also if I could add a little advise about cruising in puget sound. You need a fast boat. There are so many shipping lanes there and the big guys can`t see you. Sometimes your excape route may be against the tide and believe me fast often means a secound chance. The other danger there besides the natural ones is drunken powerboaters. Kayaking in those waters is like flying an airplane. You have to have your head on a swivel. Stay way ahead of the game. They are however some of the finest cruising grounds in the world. You can also through your kayak on a ferry and head for the gulf islands. Oh man now there is some nice paddleing. Oh man I miss that place. I still have an old EasyRider Dolfin stashed over there, it might be time for a little vacation. By the way you might want to look at some of their boats. Not the Dolfin but they do make a couple of pretty good kayaks. And they are local. Have fun, keep your eyes open, and plan your trips well.
Tom
PS: Tide books, don`t leave home without them. There are 13 knot tides around there.
Hey Paul,
I’ve read most of the posts in this thread and they all offer excellent advise and raise some points that you’ll need to ponder before you make your final choice.
It’s time for my 2 cents now! First off, the best boat for you is one that you’ll use. I have a small handmade sailboat, a handmade kayak and an inflatible dive type boat. The sailboat is by far the most fun, but it seldom gets used…just 'cause its a pain in the butt to get to the water. The diveboat gets wet when I need it for diving, but it’s kind of a hassle. The kayak sees the most service since it’s easy to cartop.
That being said, if I had it all to do over again, and I could only have one boat in the world, I think I’d pick a quality inflatible kayak, such as the Sea Eagle Explorer 380x . The reason being that I’m lazy and something that I could throw in the trunk would see much more use than any of the boats I now have.
Some other facts that I have to offer:
My homemade fiberglass kayak survived an attempt to park in the garage while it was still on the roof.
My Nephew’s rotomolded kayak has two permanent indentations across the hull from being strapped to the roof too long.
My Father has been paddling around the SAME Folbot for 30 years and it’s still in great shape.
Sailing…it’s not just for sailboats.
In summary, the best boat for you is one that you will actually use.
Good luck,
Eric
Oh, BTW, if anybody reading this is considering building a boat from scratch, there is an awesome freeware program to help design your own hull, nest the plywood pieces and give you cutting charts. It also allows you to do load and stability testing. You can even preview your design in 3D. It is available from http://www.carlsondesign.com/#Fun_Shareware. I designed my kayak to be short, stable and have a load bearing capacity of 750lbs using this software.
Everyone’s already given great advice so I have no need to add my two cents, but I couldn’t resist at least posting. I LOVE KAYAKING! It’s so relaxing and invigorating at the same time, and you can do it almost anywhere you go (with the exception of the Sahara 
). There’s a canal behind my neighborhood which leads into the Intracoastal Waterway, and I kayak almost every weekend. I personally have a Dagger sea kayak, but am waiting til I have enough money to get a smaller river kayak. As it’s been said, they’re much easier to maneuver and manage. But anywho, have a great time, whether you decide on a kayak or canoe!!
Two years ago I kayaked for the first time with my brother-in-law on the back bays down at the Jersey shore, and was immediately hooked! Went back to his summer house the next day and bought myself one, A Dawn Trekker made by Ocean Kayak, which is a fine boat and was quite inexpensive.
Whatever you decide as far as kayaks go, I’m sure you’ll love the experience. And don’t forget to take a whistle along!! 
~Larry