I want a kayak. I'm living down in Charleston with rivers, inlets, and beaches all over the place, and I want to take advantage of them. I kayaked a couple years ago when I was in Hawaii in rivers and in the ocean and had a blast.

I've gone online and looked at some kayaks, but I really have no idea what I'm looking for. Eventually I want to try and find a used one...but I guess I want it to be a nice used one. I want it to last a good number of years.

What should I be looking for??

How much should I be looking to spend??

Should I be able to put a kayak on my surfboard rack?? I'm not looking to buy a whole new rack for a kayak.

5/6/2006 7:53:11 PM

I tell you what's a cool concept...the Hobie Mirage. I say this because I got massive legs that are great for pedaling, and the Mirage kayaks have a really cool propulsion system.

You can rent them in quite a few places too. Great for the kind of kayaking you want to do.

5/6/2006 8:08:37 PM

Ha...yeah, I've seen that one, it's pretty interesting. It's also pretty expensive.

I really just want a regular kayak though. I don't mind doing all the work with a regular paddle.

5/6/2006 8:14:02 PM

http://paddling.net
--Nice site with lots of articles and guides on choosing the kayak that you want. Also has a classifieds section that you can view by state.

http://carolinacanoeclub.com
--Just another good site for the region. Good people.

I know absolutely nothing about sea kayaks, but I'll be damned if I don't try to take my ww Dagger out to the ocean/sound/island hopping this summer. Oh and don't let the fishies scare you...

5/6/2006 8:41:49 PM

^I don't necessarily need a sea kayak. I'll probably doing mostly rivers and inlets and maybe take it out into the ocean every now and then.

How's the "ww Dagger"??

5/6/2006 8:44:59 PM

Is this like your kayak??

Yeah...I'm looking for something a little more I guess.

5/6/2006 8:47:17 PM

Oh that's just my old whitewater (ww - sorry about that hah) Dagger RPM. I like it because it's a good all around boat...whitewater, flatwater. Dagger lists it as a river-runner which essentially sums it up. I've never taken it out into the ocean so I don't know how it would perform there but I'm betting it'll work out nicely. It lets me do all kinds of water.

I'm sure there are plenty of places in and around Charleston that you can rent kayaks from. You could probably even meet up with some people from the two websites I posted and go kayaking with them. They're a lot of nice people out there who would probably even bring an extra kayak along that you could try out to see what you like. paddle.net has its own messageboard and the Carolina Canoe Club has an email list through yahoo groups.

Look for paddle demos in the area too. I know The Great Outdoors Provision Co. is having one out at Lake Crabtree here in Raleigh tomorrow. They'll be bringing out all types of different paddle boats for people to try out. This time of year they are going on everywhere.

5/6/2006 9:04:26 PM

^^I watched some dude do some AWESOME whitewater shit in one of those today.


And... I watched some of the others get fucked up aand we had to use the throw ropes.

5/6/2006 9:48:26 PM

Those whitewater boats are not good at all for the flatwater you have in Charleston. They are made to turn on a dime, but that also means they are harder to keep straight. You need something of medium length for a good, all purpose Kayak. Check out some used Old Town Otters. Very stable. My dad and I have paddled all kinds of rivers, backwater, and the ocean with those.

5/7/2006 12:11:03 AM

^What is medium lenght??

I'm guessing 13'?? I've seen some 8'5" and a few really long ones.

How about plastic vs. fiberglass??

5/7/2006 9:03:47 AM

I also live in Charleston. There is a bicycle shop on meeting st that sells canoes and kayaks, but the best place to go is Luden's: http://ludensoutfitters.com/

I would recomment the lightest weight fiberglass kayak you can find. Something long with a sharp V bottom. That will be fastest in the flatwater. Dont get a whitewater kayak unless you want to go slow and burn more calories.

If you dont want to buy, I highly recommend renting from these people: http://www.canoesc.com/
They rent treehouses which are way fucking cool. You can go down the Edisto:beautiful blackwater with turtles and small (but very shy) alligators and great blue herons. Treehouses are alot of fun and cheaper than alot of campgrounds, but go early in the summer (ie. now) or wait till september because it is awful humid in July/August.

Cheers

5/7/2006 1:52:07 PM

^^You can tell more by the shape than the length, I guess. Lake kayaks are really long and narrow. They track straight in the water, but are harder to turn. Whitewater kayaks are short. They are easy to turn, but harder to keep straight in flatwater. I would go with plastic for durability if you think you will ever encounter a rock.

The Old Town Otter is an example of a solid, versatile boat. It's not the ideal for either case, but it's a good middle ground.

5/7/2006 2:37:30 PM

buy an EZ and hit the New you pussy

5/8/2006 4:39:45 AM

If you are looking for a sea Kayak, I've got one for sale. Not really a starter boat though.

http://www.brentroad.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=405848

Also have a few racks for sale for Yakima Roof rack stuff.

5/8/2006 7:57:53 AM

If you are serious about learning the sport then absolutely DO NOT buy a sit on top. You will regret it later on. True sea kayaks are closed cockpit and track much better (i.e. they go straight without needing constant correction). Your best bet is to buy something used. You can save a ton of money that way. If you don't have a clue as to what kind of boat you want, you should definitely rent some different ones, or find out when a dealer is giving free demos. You really want to find a boat that can push your abilities as you become a more advanced paddler.

As for materials, I think plastic is better than fiberglass for a beginner boat. Its a little heavier, but a lot cheaper and less fragile. If you're going to be quickly beaching the boat on shore and occasionally scraping oyster shells in shallow estuaries, you want a plastic boat (rotomolded polyethylene).

Getting back to the type of boat, whitewater boats are tons of fun for surfing, but thats all you could do with them at the coast. Sit on tops appeal to lots of people who are afraid of a real kayak, but in reality they give you much less control and are difficult to paddle. They're too wide and flat-bottomed for you to lean into a wave to prevent a capsize and they are like paddling a tugboat. If you want to do long (several hours, or even days) paddles, go with a true sea kayak (16+ feet long). A tighter fitting cockpit may feel scary at first, but it gives you a lot more control over the boat and you will learn to appreciate it after a month or two. Bow and stern compartments + hatches are a must, too. They will give you room for gear and keep your boat afloat if you roll it in the ocean.

You might want to consider a few lessons, but you can always settle for instructional books. I can probably answer any other questions you come across.


edit: used boats here: http://www.shopgetoutdoors.com/used_boats/used-boats.html
Recreational hulls are flat-bottomed and will do you well on flatwater. Touring boats (sea kayaks) are more expensive, but easier to paddle and can go more places. Something like the Wilderness Systems Tsunami is a good blend of rec boat and tourer http://www.shopgetoutdoors.com/boats/tour_kayaks/tsunami.html

[Edited on May 8, 2006 at 12:41 PM. Reason : .]

5/8/2006 12:23:40 PM

If you really want to kayak out in the surf and coastal waters....and you are a beginner, a sit on top is the only way to go. You are going to get hit by waves and you are going to get dumped occasionally. The big drain plugs in the sit on tops will allow water to drain out easily, and sit on tops provide much more stability and a better platform for recreational use (like fishing and stuff). The sit insides can be difficult to exit and fill with water. Its easy to get back in a sit on top a couple hundred yards offshore...... unless you are experienced, you could be in serious trouble with a sit inside.

If you really want to do very long distance kayaking, the closed cockpit is better, with a narrower, longer (and much less stable) sea kayak. If you want maximum stability, get a Wilderness Systems "The Ride". Very stable although a little heavy. This is what I used to kayak fish off Cape Hatteras. If you want something that is a little better for recreational touring, find a 16' Wilderness Systems Tarpon. Its a little quicker and a good balance for recreation and distance. I prefer to use a kayak with a retractable rudder, turning is effortless.

[Edited on May 8, 2006 at 12:42 PM. Reason : .]

5/8/2006 12:41:43 PM

^Not trying to start an argument, but with a closed cockpit, you can go without a rudder and use leaned turns and sweep strokes for correction. And I've never met a SOT paddler that could keep up with me over any distance. For fishing, I'd go with the SOT, but for anything else, I have to disagree.

You're right about it being easier to get back in a SOT. But with a v-bottom and a little know-how, you are less likely to capsize. Yes, it takes some getting used to, but for most people thats part of the fun. I have to say there's no way in heck I'd go on the ocean in December on a tipsy SOT with my upperbody exposed. But then again, most people probably wouldn't try that anyway.

[Edited on May 8, 2006 at 12:49 PM. Reason : .]

5/8/2006 12:45:53 PM

I have had a few kayaks.

I moved down here in Miami almost two years ago.

I recently bought the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13. Its a SOT. I thought Hobies were quite overpriced and my experience with Hobie is that they're just a name.

I tried several and found that the O.K. Prowler 13 and 15 were the best fits for me. I use it for fishing and even diving in addition for a workout after work on nice days (I work on Key Biscayne). I have fitted a livewell on it. Its got plenty of storage and its a really stable and easy boat. For a SOT, its a pretty decent in the surf.

I agree with stantheman that closed are better for long distances and for overall paddling and control. However, closed systems do not let me have the freedom to dive or fish or do other things down here.

Try a few kayaks out first, look for USED boats in your desired model. Used boats are often as good as new.

Don't get a pedaling system. It's something else to break. Plus, I like paddling and getting the exercise. Rudders are useful, but again, I get along fine without one, even in rough water and the nasty current we have.

5/8/2006 2:35:51 PM

I agree with stan. Sit on Tops are for rentals at beach resorts where you wouldn't put someone in a sit in Kayak because they never did it before, and there is a good chance you will flip.

If you want to really kayak, buy a real kayak, and learn how to use it correctly.

5/8/2006 5:33:57 PM

It all depends on what you're planning on doing with the kayak. If you're going to use it a couple of times a year and tool around the beach, a SOT will work fine. If you plan on doing longer runs, then I'd agree that a kayak with a cockpit will be much easier in the long run. I'd recommend a plastic kayak for either for a beginner, believe me it sucks to have to repair fiberglass or even worse carbon fiber. Should you really want to tear it up, get an OC-1 like the one below. It will thrash any kayak. I just bought my first one a couple of months ago.

5/9/2006 1:42:14 PM

^You're joking about that boat recommendation, right?

5/9/2006 1:46:08 PM

Quote :

"If you want to really kayak, buy a real kayak, and learn how to use it correctly."

5/9/2006 1:58:48 PM

^^not even joking.....especially for someone that wants to do long distance paddling. I know that most people in Carolina have no clue about them, but they are gaining popularity in Fla and especially on the west coast. I'd agree that the average person wanting a kayak should stay the hell away from one (since they are 5K a pop), but for some of the more aggressive ocean paddlers it is an option.

5/9/2006 2:45:52 PM

I want to use it on a pretty regular basis....at least once a week. I'm thinking long day trips on the weekends, messing around on the rivers and inlets around here. I would still like to take it out in the ocean a little bit at the beaches around here.

I guess I'm leaning more towards the sit-in kayaks now.

5/9/2006 3:23:11 PM

Perception makes some good all around kayaks. If you want to do long trips, get something with a good sized dry hatch. If you want to go camping, you'll want to get a true touring kayak.

5/9/2006 3:35:54 PM