Anyone into kayaking?

[Descartes]

The fiance and I were wanting to engage in some outdoor activities that we can do together, and we wanted to do something a little outside the norm but not necessarily "extreme." Something that involves physical activity, but perhaps not intense physical activity would be great. We enjoy kayaking, but have only been on limited tours and know next to nothing about it.

So, if you have any tips/pointers I would appreciate it. We plan on kayaking in some of the rivers around the Atlanta area, and perhaps do some ocean kayaking on some weekends.

Thanks!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Don't lean over the side or you'll tip over.

Sorry, that's all I've got.

 

[leftyman]

Go downstream, not upstream.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Don't lean over the side or you'll tip over.

Sorry, that's all I've got.

Hey, it's a start

 

[Rogodin2]

I've done a little Kayaking and am in the process of building a Pygmy 18' Single.

check out http://www.paddling.net/

The most important thing is saftey and comfort. Find a boat that fits you and make sure you have your for/aft floats in-as well as a high quality kayaking life vest-and spray skirt.

Have fun!

Rogo

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Don't lean over the side or you'll tip over.

Sorry, that's all I've got.

Hey, it's a start

I've done it a few times but that was years ago and in relatively calm waters-Long Beach, CA in the bay. It's fun but it's also a pretty good upper body workout too. Go spend two hours paddling around and you'll be sore if you're not used to it.

 

[Zolty]

Things not to do:

Hold your friends canoe while they are "draining the lizard"
roll the kayak while holding said canoe
stand up in the 2ft water and hold the kayak upside down to drain the water out, and realize that you have consumed a 12pack and it's not even noon yet.


God I love our august canoe trip.

 

[zoiks]

I kayak out in the ocean and in the lakes here in California.
If you are going to kayak out in the ocean also then I would recommend a sit-on-top kind and not the sit-in kind of kayak. Lots of good yaks out there. Check 'Ocean Kayak', 'Cobra kayaks', 'Wilderness systems' etc. I have the Cobra Marauder which I really like though I'm into kayak fishing.
My tip to you would be if you were to choose a sit-on-type kayak, get a good seat with a high backrest. Check the size of the paddles that you are comfortable with. I use the 240cm ones which is the biggest.

 

[vi edit]

From a very generic stand point there are two types of kayaks with two different types of stability. The obvious ones are sit-on vs. sit-in. Sit on are more suited for ocean settings and for fishing since they have better access to gear. They also have scuppers that are bascially holes in the bottom that wick away water while you paddle. Essential for waves and spray on the open ocean water.

Sit in are enclosed and typically don't have any built in bailing system short of a pump or bucket you bring with you.

With the sit ons, you typically have very good "initial" stability, meaning it takes a lot to get them to start rolling over. But the side effect is very poor secondary stability - once it startst to tip, you are hosed. It's pretty much mutually exclusive - one or the other. You don't get both.

Some sit-ins will have decent initial, but these are more set up for faster waters and have better secondary stability. This means they are bit more "wobbly" at rest, but you have a much greater chance of bringing them out of the roll if it starts.

Once nice thing about sit-ins is that you can typically outfit them with a skirt that keeps you dry in cooler weather/water. Sit-ons can't really do that. You are going to get wet with them.

Lengths are another thing to consider - typically longer 'yaks track better than shorter ones, and they can also be paddled faster. But they give some manuverability. An issue to consider in tight waters.

It's hard to say which one is "better". For recreational use, a 10-12' "sit in" would probably be a great choice for calm waters if you aren't planning on fishing/porting a lot of equipment.

 

[Demo24]

Lake Lanier is big in kayaking/canoeing. Still a decent place to kayak. If your interested in getting good then join the LCKC, but for just an occasional paddler I don't recommend it.


sit on's tend to be slow, and heavy which aren't good for still water. In some rivers they might scrape the bottom

I prefer sit ins with a rudder.


If you want a real challenge then try racing canoes


edit: if you want any more info just let me know. I use to be into this(racing level)

 

[Canai]

How hard is it to fish from a medium size sit in?

 

[Demo24]

Originally posted by: Canai
How hard is it to fish from a medium size sit in?

I've never seen anyone do that before, but it can't be easy. Would be hard to get the leverage to do so.

Easier to carry what you need on the kayak and then take it off when you stop somewhere

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Canai
How hard is it to fish from a medium size sit in?

It really just depends on the type of fishing and amount of gear you are bringing along.

The nice thing about "sit ons" is that many brands have angler editions. Hobie and Ocean Kayak have really good options for fishermen. The sit on style typically has a very large "cargo" platform behind the seat and another large covered well up front. With the "sit ins" you lose this platform space and access to gear.

I also think that with the "sit on" you have a little better platform to cast/troll/jig from.

 

[Canai]

Hmm I think I might stick to canoes for fishing, and the kayaks for the fun

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Canai
Hmm I think I might stick to canoes for fishing, and the kayaks for the fun

Bad thing about a canoe is that you are getting upwards of 75 pounds or more for them whereas a 'yak tends to top out around 50 pounds. 75 pounds is a pretty awkward weight for one person to lift on top of their car carrier.

 

[zoiks]

I love my Cobra Marauder with the GPSfishfinder. Great stability and fairly fast kayak.
I was out one day in the ocean and the fog rolled in a span of a few minutes. Without the chart plotter in the fishfinder, I wouldn't have known which way to head back. Its good to have one of those if you fish out in the ocean.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: DEMO24

Originally posted by: Canai
How hard is it to fish from a medium size sit in?

I've never seen anyone do that before, but it can't be easy. Would be hard to get the leverage to do so.

Easier to carry what you need on the kayak and then take it off when you stop somewhere

There is no pleasure in life more relaxing than fishing from a sit in kayak. (That is, if your kayak is comfortable, which you should be certain of before spending the $$ on it.) I can't even begin to count all the fish I've caught from my kayaks (particularly bass and crappie.) I can easily manage two poles, and keep 2 small tackle boxes up by my feet, a small landing net under a bungie, not to mention a six-pack behind the seat. Think about how easy it is to push or pull a kayak sitting on calm water. Now, think about how hard a big fish pulls on your line. Yeah, that's me screaming "wooohoooo!!!" when I hook a lunker.

If you're going to be out on mild whitewater or out when it's raining, you might consider a spray skirt. If you're going to use one, make sure you practice getting out at least 3 or 4 times while upside down under water. (Pick a really nice hot day when you're ready to do a little swimming anyway.) Speaking of this, spend a little time online learning safety tips, and occasionally practice a few of those skills. And, learn what to do in certain types of emergencies. Odds are, you won't have a problem. (Unless you're like me who hits a flood swollen river with 50 foot long 2 to 3 foot diameter trees rushing by at 15 mph (relative to the shore.))

If the majority of your time is on calm water, I'd recommend a sit in long before a sit on. They're a lot more versatile. A sit on is better for the ocean, but they're pretty crappy for anything else. My personal recommendation for a starter kayak is either a 14' or a 16' Perception America, or something similar. (Or maybe the America comes in 1/2 foot increments; I can't remember.) If you're in a lot of tight steams and creeks (need a depth of about 6 to 8 inches), then the 14 foot is better for maneuvering. Otherwise, the 16 foot will offer more speed for less effort and straighter tracking.

Another tip: if you're in a sit-in kayak, DO NOT attempt to "surf" the tops of 2' or taller waves at the ocean on your way back into shore. Head in perpendicular to the wave - or else. (I learned this the hard way - my wife laughed for at least half an hour. I was sore for days.) And lastly, unless you're spending a few grand on a really really nice kayak, don't worry about a few scratches on the bottom. Heck, the first time you park somewhere near the water, just drag the kayak over the ground to the water and get it over with.

 

[Descartes]

Just wanted to say thanks for the information everyone. This is helpful.

 

[skyking]

My dad and I built a few kayaks many years ago. I ran the rivers in central Washington as a kid.
I would recommend a guided class or day trip in both open water and river types, from a reputable guide/instructor. Winging it is a bad idea with kayaks.
A quick google reavealed plenty of opportunities along those lines.

 

[WildHorse]

You might ask MOSHQUERADE.

I think she mentioned once that she does kayaking.

"you won't get wet unless you want to" = lies lies

 

[uhohs]

kayak backwards is kayak
:Q

 

[vi edit]

Here's another great resource that I use:

http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/ri_articles.asp