arghala

I'm looking to purchase a racing kayak (thin design, rudder) for use in lakes, rivers. Any suggestions?

Shannon

No suggestions from this "land lubber", but I'd sure be interested in any recommendations you receive. I've often wanted to get out in a kayak or canoe and take photos from the water, not just from the shorelines. I've been in a canoe a couple times, but kayaks seem more exciting and, obviously, sleeker and more maneuverable.

If/when you purchase your kayak, do let us know what brand/model you chose. I'll have to add it to my mental list of 'gear I want to own someday'.

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kai

I've been in mississippi since july (but my house and all my stuff is in san antonio), and I have been doing a fair amount of kayaking photography while i've been here. You're right- kayaking is more manueverable, but also easier to roll than a canoe. i haven't rolled yet when i didn't plan on it (i.e., doing it on purpose for training, so that when i DO do it by accident, i wont drown), but the possibility is there.

last friday i paddled on a river here in MS thru a cypress swamp- it was great- owls, alligators, herons, deer, turtles, and really really big spiders with perfect webs... not to mention the spanish moss and creepy cypress trees... but its really hard to keep the camera out to catch all of this stuff and not worry about dumping it in the drink. I only brought one camera with me to MS (the nice new cannon, naturally), and i find that it spends a lot of time wrapped in a plastic bag, then in a tee shirt, then in a deck bag which is tied to deck rigging of the kayak... not much room for spontaneity- its really hard to get it out, its lashed down so tight. i really wish i had brought the old hand me down pentax from high school with me for times like last week. i dont actually think i would dump, i have really good balance, but i'm not willing to risk it. this problem is esp. bad in cypress swamps- submerged logs and sticks, hidden in the really murky and tanic water are like mines- hit one just right, and it'll pop you over in a second, even if you are barely moving. and even if the water is only a foot deep.

this weekend should be a little better- camping and kayaking on a barrier island 15 miles off shore- no people live there, and most of the people who go out there go earlier in the season, before labor day.

i really enjoy taking photographs from a kayak, but it can be a bit troublesome and hard to balance... theres a lot of 'crap, i missed it' comments... i would say for taking photos, it might be better to stick to a canoe. of course, you'll loose some independence and manueverability, but that stability can be key sometimes.

that being said, i am looking to buy a used recreational kayak or two, if anyone knows of someone or somewhere that is selling them. because i am stubborn, and do things the hardest way possible, and want to kayak and photography simultaneously .

toejam

Lory, if you're interested I have a Cobra Eliminator I'd let you try some time. It's not a true racing kayak, but faster than most. The Yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DFWpaddlers/) may have some good suggestions too.

hiwayman

Being from FW, you have a great resource nearby. Its called High Trails which is in Dallas just off Jupiter Rd north of 635. They have a large selection of boats and could be of great help to you.

I built a Pygmy Osprey HP, while not a racing yak "per se", is very quick. It is 17.5 feet long and 22" wide and a joy to paddle. Not sure that you would really want a racing kayak if you plan to spend a lot of time on rivers. Racing boats are very long and skinny making them more difficult to manuever (sp). The rivers I paddle on are so twisty that turning around a bend can be a challenge. That's why I also have 2 SOT play boats

Anyway, good luck in your search.

toejam

I've been thinking about a CLC Pax 20. That should be plenty fast. I don't want to build it myself, I'd like to get my dad to do it for me since he loves making/building/fixing things and I hate doing that.

High Trails is the best kayak & canoe shop in the area. I spent $1000 there one afternoon.

Turn Key

toejam & hiwayman,

Getting ready to purchase my first kayak and don't really want to go to Dallas if I can avoid it. What do you think about Mountain Sports in Arlington? Also, would you mind helping a novice pick out his first boat? If you don't mind, I can e-mail to each of you what I'm thinking about and how I plan to use the boat. From that, if your willing, you could e-mail back what you believe would best fit my plans. Think you could help me with this?

Happy camping and/or paddling!

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hiwayman

Sure, feel free to email me with any questions you have. But be aware that there are so many varieties of kayaks out there that what I feel may be best for someone may be way off base. Let me know what kind of paddling you will do primarily etc. lakes, rivers (what kind of rivers, smooth? class I? class III?) ocean paddling or surfing? Do you prefer SOT (sit-on-top) or SINK (sit-inside-kayak)? Day paddles? Overnight paddles? So many variables, so many boats.

I know it would be tough to do but you really need to try before you buy.

I am not familiar with Mountain Sports in Arlington. I really, really recomend High Trails in Dallas. They have many boats to look at and choose from and are very, very knowledgable. Bob Narromore (owner) even wrote a guide book about paddling destinations in Texas.

Good luck and email me with questions if you like. I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination but maybe I can help a little. Don't be an impulse buyer. Do your research.

Unregistered

Mountain Sports is my favorite gear store in the area and I bought my first kayak from them. They don't have the biggest selection of boats but way better than Galyans, and are MUCH more knowledgable. They have some used boats, which could save you some money. They were pretty ignorant of sit-on-tops last time I talked with them - I was in the market for one and consider a sit-on-top to be a really good choice for most paddling occasions in this part of the country.

I'll be happy to make suggestions because I didn't know what I wanted when I started kayaking, e.g. I thought I wanted to paddle rivers more, but arranging a shuttle can be a lot of trouble and the rivers around here are mostly stagnant pools separated by places where you have to get out and drag your boat across gravel. So I do most of my paddling in lakes and flat rivers where I paddle up and back to my car. And I never dreamed I'd think it was a good idea to have a 20' long kayak, but my 16'6" one is too short to be really fast

toejam

Turn Key, Mountain Sports is my favorite gear store and I bought my first kayak from them. They are no High Trails, but they are alot better than Galyans. They are pretty knowledgable, but they were ignorant about sit-on-tops when I was in the market for one (I think sit-on-tops are a great choice for most paddling occasions in this part of the country). Mountain Sports has some used boats, which could save you some money.

So did you go buy one this weekend?

Turn Key

toejam & hiwayan,
Thanks for the responce. No, I didn't get out these last couple of days. My days off are during the week so I'll get out to take a look this week. Going to try to get a PM to both of you tomorow giving you an idea of what I'm planning. Might want to be looking for it.
Thanks again.

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toejam

I recently got a new kayak from Mountain Sports in Arlington - a Perception Napali 16' sit-on-top. It paddles like an aircraft carrier but it has a good top speed and holds lots of camping gear. They've been discontinued and this was a good deal at $650.