Ok here's the deal. Pretty much for no reason, I have decided I might want to get into canoeing and/or kayaking. I wouldn't be interested in paying to rent these things... I'd buy a second hand deal off of some cat on Craigslist probably.

I live near the Neuse River, and I would like to perhaps put in up near falls lake, and paddle down to near New Bern Ave or so. (i live in headingham.)

Now, I'm a pretty big guy, so I don't know if I'd even be able to fit in a kayak. I have done canoeing before as a teenager and loved it. I'd like to get into it for both recreation and a little bit of exercise. Can I get some advice from some of you who have experience?


Oh and grace, if you do that floating down crabtree creek in a raft thing again as the weather gets warmer, let a homey know.

3/16/2009 6:02:39 PM

Just make sure your immune system is in check if you're gonna be in the Neuse.

3/16/2009 6:08:23 PM

Having met you, and knowing someone who kayaks, I think you can find a kayak that'll work. Go to REI (or somewhere)

also, paging Beardawg61

I'd invite you to go canoeing with Z and I next weekend or whenever, but I rather like being on the lake with just him Something that was a major factor in deciding what kind of car to get was the canoe.

3/16/2009 6:08:32 PM

^^is that a "for real" issue or a chit chat issue?

^cool. I'm not sure which i'd rather do. I'd like to do it with my wife, and if we did a kayak thing, we'd have to get two, but then again, the learning curve for a kayak is not as much from what i've read.

[Edited on March 16, 2009 at 6:10 PM. Reason : ]

3/16/2009 6:08:57 PM

Every time we go out, I wish he'd gone the kayak route.
I'll have him chime in.

3/16/2009 6:11:22 PM

Quote :

"I'd like to do it with my wife"

no you don't...trust me!

bitch is loose as a goose

3/16/2009 6:12:15 PM

Quote :

"^^is that a "for real" issue or a chit chat issue?"

Do you really think the Neuse is a clean river? Considering its location and history, would you not be even remotely weary?

Do you think spending extended periods of time in a heavily polluted river is good for someone whose immune system isn't up to the task? Aren't you a teacher?


I can't help with you with the Kayaks or Canoes because I know precisely dick about them. Have fun with whatever adventures you go on.

[Edited on March 16, 2009 at 6:16 PM. Reason : .]

3/16/2009 6:14:47 PM

canoeing is easier and less frustrating

kayaking is more fun, once you get teh hang of it, but there's a much steeper learning curve

3/16/2009 6:20:32 PM

if you're a big dude and you want to get a kayak, get a sit-on-top. it will be a lot easier to get in and out of, and you won't have to worry about getting stuck.

SOT's are great for fishing and scuba diving as well.

3/16/2009 6:29:35 PM

i'll definetly let you know about the crabtree creek fun day. prolly be in june


personally i like canoe camping more than any other method of camping. i am tired of getting shit on by park rangers. the past few trips have all been given a bad vibe by park rangers threatening drinking tickets, searching us, etc. getting on a river and pulling out where you want eliminates them. I also do not like carrying shit around. the canoe does all the work for you.

at this stage in my camping career im built for luxury.
that requires a personal 5-6 man tent, a queen size air mattress, a cooler capable of keeping 40+ beers cold for more than a day, (igloo maxcold is way to go) various meats, a fold out chair, a canoe seat (there is nothing worse than having to sit up all day without support, fishing gear, a live well bucket, radio, etc. and thats just me. My friends are just as bad, if not worse.

i'll try and find a picture of our boats loaded down with gear and us.

basically a kayak wouldnt work for my style.

as for places to go, the neuse is cool and all, but its overdeveloped around here. my favorite trip is on the cape fear in lillington. there is usually enough water, and in the spring or after rain there are class 3+ rapids. we usually have 2 or three boats and i dont think we've had a trip where a boat hasnt flipped.


let me know if you want more info and some topo maps of the area. there are also paddling guides that will give you a good idea of the water, scenery, and conditions of almost anywhere you want to go. just make sure you get the paul ferguson one. i think his latest has it all gps mapped and the other guys guides are off and dated

[Edited on March 16, 2009 at 6:31 PM. Reason : .]

3/16/2009 6:29:52 PM

River kayaking isn't so bad. If you go ocean kayaking, you'll need a sit-on-top self-bailing or a properly fitting skirt if the water is choppy.

If you get into one of those really fast long and slender kayaks... it's a fast way to dump into the water until you get the hang of it.

3/16/2009 6:34:46 PM

I've gone kayaking a time or two, but grew up with a canoe. I like it; it gives you better flexibility (multiple people, more storage/hauling, easier to use as a fishing boat, etc), and its easier to learn.

Canoes can be a pain to handle by yourself though (size + weight, and its kind of bulky to carry). I can manage by myself with the canoe, but another person definitely makes it easier.

You can get canoes with square sterns for attaching trolling motors, can be useful if you intend on fishing. Not sure if you can do the same with kayaks.

Quote :

"i like canoe camping more than any other method of camping"

I so want to do this, just haven't had a chance yet. Where around here have you gone?

3/16/2009 7:01:54 PM

if you have a place in raleigh to store a canoe where you'll let me keep mine, you can go with me and see if you like it or whatever.

i'm just looking somewhere in raleigh to keep my canoe for some kind of trade or something.

3/16/2009 8:18:04 PM

a shorter run which will still take you some time and will be challenging enough for a noob (there is a class 2-3 rapid) is to put in just below raleigh dam (from the boat launch on milburnie rd) and take out on poole rd. this stretch can get pretty low draw, so make sure you go when it has rained recently or you will be pushing off the bottom a lot.

3/16/2009 11:01:26 PM

^^You talking to Z, or someone else?

All you need to store your canoe at our place is something to get it up off the ground; if you wanna throw my parents something (cash is what they need...nothing big, but something for me to go to them with), you can probably "rent" some sawhorses from my dad and keep it at their place. Living near kent and western, they're closer to you than Matt and I are.

[Edited on March 16, 2009 at 11:03 PM. Reason : dsflg]

[Edited on March 16, 2009 at 11:11 PM. Reason : sdfg]

3/16/2009 11:03:44 PM

kayaks > canoes

3/16/2009 11:11:02 PM

Are you interested in whitewater or just flatwater/slow moving water? The skills, time, and equipment to do whitewater are significantly more than flatwater. There are a lot of boats out there nowadays for big people, so don't let that stop you from getting into it.

Here are some useful links to help get you started.

http://www.americanwhitewater.org (The National River Database is priceless and includes gauges and guides for most rivers.

http://www.boatingbeta.com

http://www.boatertalk.com (Good message board with excellent Gearswap feature)

http://www.paddling.net

3/16/2009 11:25:28 PM

^^^i was talking to smath, but i'm definitely interested in keeping it at your parents' place

i've got some scrap 2x4 to make some saw benches. how much would rent it through the summer you think?

3/17/2009 9:46:31 PM

REI does paddle days where you can try out their kayaks before you buy. They have fliers at the store with the dates and locations. That might be your best bet, even if you don't buy from them.

I got a Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 from REI with the added "dashboard" this time last year. It's 12 feet and about 50 pounds (not whitewater at all), but does very well on lake chop. Tracks really well, and has 2 dry hatches (1 in the dash) if you want to take a day or small weekend trip. Weight capacity is 400.

I love it. My boyfriend and I will go out and paddle for hours on the weekends. It's great exercise and exploring. REI also has package deals that save you a little money, which is what he got. It can be a pretty expensive hobby if you let it. It's a pretty good deal. Perception Prodigy 10.0, a paddle, and a pfd for $450 (that might be online only). Weight capacity on that one is 275. If you don't do the package deal, I think you get a discount on accessories when you buy a kayak.

Good luck figuring it out. I'm really glad I picked it up.

3/17/2009 10:56:40 PM

Remember to put the drain plug back in.

3/17/2009 11:04:42 PM

I'm taking an epic canoe trip down the tar river this spring. I have never been in a kayak, so I don't know too much about them.

3/17/2009 11:05:01 PM

If you get a kayak with a spray skirt make sure you get someone to show you how to wet exit and learn to roll as soon as you can. And ALWAYS check to make sure you don't accidentally tuck the rip cord for the spray skirt into the cockpit.

3/20/2009 8:09:51 PM

Hey, Lemme ask what you canoeists think any of these boats are worth?:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/boa/1120097300.html
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/boa/1118927348.html
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/boa/1115116367.html
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/boa/1108962870.html
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/boa/1108480507.html
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/boa/1107472754.html

I'm looking for a good all-round canoe for flat water, maybe a lazy river (class a,b,c -- not I - V), for paddling not fishing. I've been kayaking for a long time but do not know much about canoes. I'm looking to paddle with my wife and kid.

Anyways, do any of these fit the bill well enough?

Thanks

4/13/2009 3:25:57 PM

Campus rec rents boats, you haul them though.

4/13/2009 3:28:26 PM

Fumbler and i got into canoeing and kayaking last year. we have a 14' OT Sport canoe, a 12' ll bean calypso women's kayak, and a 12' dagger blackwater kayak.

kayaking and canoeing are different things. canoes, at least cheap ones, do not go fast. we use ours for fishing in slow rivers and when we want to take more stuff/people.

kayaks are way more fun, imo. faster & easier. i didn't think there was much of a learning curve but i grew up on the water and have very good sea legs (although you're not standing obviously, but you need to be comfortable with the wobbliness). fat recreational kayaks are stable, but slow for the most part. my calypso is a light touring, very fast, very efficient, very straight and in the low entry level price range as far as non recreational/beatup kayaks go. you're not a woman and it won't fit you, but just in case someone else cares, my boat is 12', 38lbs, and 24" wide. i can easily carry it by myself.

we take the kayaks in rivers, reservoirs, lakes if we had them, and the sound at the beach. they make kayaks in all sorts of lengths and widths, so finding one to accommodate you shouldn't be a problem. great outdoor provision has several higher end demo models on sale, but that's probably not what you want. the rei in cary and durham have paddling stuff, the north hills one does not. dicks has several cheap kayaks in the $200-500 range. we started off with a pelican pursuit 100 from dick's and that was a mistake. terrible tracking, very slow, sucked all around.

even if you don't want to rent them, go find a store or somewhere that has some and just look at them in person. it helps.

Quote :

"I'm taking an epic canoe trip down the tar river this spring. I have never been in a kayak, so I don't know too much about them."

where and when are you going? we spend a lot of time in the tar.

[Edited on April 13, 2009 at 3:47 PM. Reason : ]

4/13/2009 3:46:38 PM

I got an old town one like this a few years ago (used, between $300 and $350). Love it....it's extra wide, so it's perfect for fishing.

prolly gonna take it out Thursday.

4/13/2009 4:14:25 PM

I always assume that everyone who kayaks has herpes.

I don't know why.

4/13/2009 4:16:27 PM

^^our canoe is exactly like that one but w/ no seat backs. got it from sam's for $350 last year

[Edited on April 13, 2009 at 4:19 PM. Reason : ]

4/13/2009 4:19:13 PM

Ive been wanting to float down crabtree creek forever but all my friends think its sketch

4/13/2009 4:21:56 PM

^^its a hell of a good canoe for pond fishing/river trips....a bit heavy, but very stable in the water.

[Edited on April 13, 2009 at 4:27 PM. Reason : ^]

4/13/2009 4:24:07 PM

caught this in my canoe. it's a cheap 14' plastic "northeast outfitters" (made by Johnson Outdoors, same company that makes minn-kota trolling motors). it's big, heavy, wide, slow, and stable. great for 2 people to fish from. not really good for solo paddling.

[Edited on April 13, 2009 at 4:59 PM. Reason : b]

4/13/2009 4:58:50 PM

You can rent kayaks and canoes from Lake Johnson for $4/hr. You can't take them from the lake, but it might be helpful if you're still trying to decide between the two.

4/13/2009 5:52:13 PM

I took the canoeing class at State last semester. It was a good class, but I found that I didn't particularly like canoeing as much as a sit-on-top kayak in the ocean. So, I bought a SOT tandem kayak off craigslist. (HECK of a deal, tandem kayak, 2 paddles, and 2 nice seats for $200). I've only gotten to take it out once in the canal at the beach since I just got in in December, but it was pretty nice. I don't really like my paddles, but I'll learn them soon enough when I get to take it out more.

It's nice because its fine for flat water and the ocean, which is all I'm really interested in doing. It's self baling and has plenty of room for a cooler [of beer].

4/13/2009 6:03:13 PM

se7entythree has me hooked!!
I'm still kicking myself for not taking the pole out with all the fish jumping around us, but I thought I'd stick with one thing at a time for my first try.

4/13/2009 6:23:59 PM

Canoes:
-slow
-stable
-easy to get in an out of
-carry lots of junk
-comfy because you're not sitting on the floor
-heavy (can't move it by yourself)
-a lil more difficult to put on your vehicle

If you get a nicer canoe then it won't necessarily be real slow or heavy.

Kayaks:
-fun
-fast
-maneuverable
-can be hard to get in and out of
-requires a better sense of balance
-easy to handle out of the water
-not as much storage

If you want one for fun in rivers then go with a 12 ft, maybe even a 14 ft. I wouldn't go any shorter than 12 unless you were planning on running through some real rapids. Don't buy a cheap one, instead get a nicer used one.

Just in general for kayaks:
-long and skinny = fast
-wide = slow and stable
-rounded cross section = stable in waves but not on flat water
-flat bottom cross section = stable on flat water
-straight keel = tracks straight and isn't as maneuverable

You might want to look at the Old Town Loon kayaks. They're supposed to be roomy with large cockpits so it'd be easier for a bigger person.

Check out paddling.net for lots of reviews.

IMO kayaks are way funner than canoes. Sit in kayaks are more fun than sit on tops and are easier to paddle, but often are less stable.

[Edited on April 13, 2009 at 8:47 PM. Reason : If I had to pick I'd go with the kayak.]

4/13/2009 8:46:53 PM

All this kayak/canoe talk makes it hard to wait for the next time I get out; to that end, I'm planning a trip to the mtns to go kayaking.

I've never been in a kayak

To be fair, the whole going-to-the-mtns part is less about the boat, and more about going to the mountains. It just happens to mesh very nicely with kayaking

I think I might try a kayak rental at LJ here soon. I would have expected it to cost more.

[Edited on April 13, 2009 at 8:53 PM. Reason : dsljf]

4/13/2009 8:52:11 PM

i'm going fishing on mine tomorrow

4/13/2009 8:55:25 PM

I hate you so much.

(May I come??)

4/13/2009 8:56:27 PM

already got somebody in the front. not room for 3.

sowwy

4/13/2009 8:57:23 PM

4/13/2009 8:58:48 PM

oh yeah! http://www.paddling.net is a GREAT resource for reviews for both canoes and kayaks.

i like kayaks better, but there are things you can do with canoes you can't do with kayaks, and vice versa.

i dont particularly like SOT kayaks, although if you're out in the ocean i'd much much rather have one of those than a sit in with a skirt.

4/13/2009 10:08:58 PM

I used to rent a lot at Lake Johnson, and that's when I really got in to kayaking and decided to get one of my own. Great way to get in to it.
Just FYI-they rent out sit on top self-bailing kayaks. Basically there are holes in the bottom and you sit in a puddle (wear a bathing suit and/or athletic shorts). Probably not like one you'd buy, but a great way to get used to paddling around. They will be much more difficult to maneuver and will be much slower. Still way more fun than canoes to me, though
http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_306_209_0_43/http%3B/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/category/Leisure/Parks_and_Facilities/Lakes/Lake_Johnson/Cat-1C-2006921-143127-Boating_Opportunities.html there's a picture on the right hand side of their yaks.

4/13/2009 10:33:50 PM

every SOT kayak i've ever seen has scupper stoppers/foam plugs for those holes. i've never used rented ones so maybe they get lost over time or they take them off. you only need to unplug them if your boat starts to fill up, which shouldn't happen if you're on a lake.

4/14/2009 9:17:59 AM

I've only been kayaking a couple of times. My wife convinced me to do tandem kayaking once and I hated it, but I looove solo kayaking.

4/14/2009 10:20:30 AM

se7entythree and I went canoeing sunday and I've been too lazy to take the canoe off the top of my 4Runner.
Driving around Rocky Mount you'd believe that no one's ever seen a canoe before.
I wish they'd stop staring.

If we had been kayaking then the kayak wouldn't still be on top of the 4Runner...cause it's a lot easier to pick up a kayak.

4/14/2009 10:35:24 AM

Quote :

"Driving around Rocky Mount you'd believe that no one's ever seen a canoe before. I wish they'd stop staring."

It happens in Raleigh, too.
Last time we went canoeing, we hit up b0j0s first. You'd have thought we were purple, 9 feet tall, and could levitate.

4/14/2009 10:37:17 AM

^^you said it'd be a good idea to leave it up there to unwarp it too.

i remembered it was still on your car this morning when i let the dogs in and it wasn't on the rack. bring it home and we'll put it up.

[Edited on April 14, 2009 at 10:38 AM. Reason : ]

4/14/2009 10:38:01 AM

Quote :

""

minus the padded seats, thats my canoe too

4/14/2009 11:27:26 PM

where can i find some keel gaurd around raleigh? i tried dick's.

4/16/2009 9:23:36 PM

Going to the outer banks this coming weekend.
We're planning to rent a pair of kayaks. He wants to go in the sound...recommendations/resources?

4/18/2009 3:35:35 PM