Inflatable Kayaks

[Cataboo]

ha. I haven't gotten there yet - I have a friend down in florida that offers to certify me if I go down..
but the last thing I need is another expensive hobby that i need to fly to

[emily_in_nc]

I would also be interested in feedback on inflatable kayaks. We just sold our very nice (but loooong) touring kayaks because they were too big to take on our 30' sailboat, and we're just spending way more time on that than we were paddling in the past 2 years. We're considering a tandem inflatable kayak eventually as we do love paddling.

We sold our kayaks and Thule hull-a-ports on craigslist and have our Yakima roof rack listed now.

[Cataboo]

Maybe you should think about something like this:

http://www.oceankayak.com/kayaks/sin...yak_board.html


It'll fit into your van, be fine for the monocacy or around cambridge - you won't be a speed demon on it, but I don't think you'll be one anyways

REi's got it on a bit of a sale, not sure it'll be there in october when you're ready to buy... benefit of rei is that if you try it out & don't like it... you can return it. free shipping if you pick it up in store.
http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/793958

[Zen]

There's no photo of the second one but it sounds like it looks like the first one.
So that's what you mean by 'sit on top'.

It just doesn't seem right to me. But I can't dismiss something i know nothing about.

ETA-
I think I just dismissed it. There's no seat back to lean against.

[emily_in_nc]

Sit on tops are fun (we used them on vacation in the Keys and BVI), but they are definitely for bathing suit paddling and warm water only -- you are basically sitting in water the entire time. Not a lot of water, but they aren't like kayaks that you actually sit inside on a seat and have some reasonable hope of staying dry.

[Cataboo]

There's no photo of the second one but it sounds like it looks like the first one.
So that's what you mean by 'sit on top'.

It just doesn't seem right to me. But I can't dismiss something i know nothing about.

ETA-
I think I just dismissed it. There's no seat back to lean against.

Oh, you buy seats for them. But it makes 'em a thin flat boat that slides into your van.

Julie sticks her yoga mat or something in hers and sits on top of that and stays dry. Probably wouldn't in waves

[Zen]

But it has no back to lean against!
How can I relax in a cove and eat pie without a seat back?

[Tuckervill]

Yes, it does have a back. It's like a bucket seat that you buy, and the seat is attached via straps and adjustable for your comfort.

Karen

[Cataboo]

My seat back in my touring kayak is adjusted by straps also for my comfort.

Here's the link to the seat options:
http://oceankayak.stores.yahoo.net/backrests.html

I'm sure there's 3rd party options.

And just 'cause I like this pic, here's Julie in her sit on top, she's dry, has a seat back & her yoga mat thingie and she was doing better in the narrow little channels we were going through than I was in my 16 foot long boat:






She did pick the boat 'cause it fit into her honda element without any problems, she can maneuver it on her own, and it does what she wants - enjoy a day on the water & watch the wildlife, etc.

[Zen]

This is starting to remind me of cycling.

C'mere little girl. This kayak is only $225.00.
You like it don't you?
What's that? A seat? A paddle?
BwaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Cataboo]

*cough*

If you want to start touring with your kayak like you do with your bike...

That's a whole different story & price range.

And then I would tell you getting a sit on top is ridiculous and it's why I don't have one despite recognizing that they're damned convenient for lazing on the river with.

Speaking of which, I gotta go find all my camping gear so I can shove it into the kayak this weekend.

[tulip]

I've seen some quite nice folding kayaks that are not inflatable.

The cost of the kayak is just the beginning. Then there's the paddle, PFD, safety gear, roof rack...this is why I don't yet have a kayak (that and my really nice but overbudget kitchen).

[Cataboo]

I started off buying cheap accessories, a good boat, and then upgrade my accessories over time (not to mention the boat) Sierratradingpost has sales, backcountryoutlet, outdoorplay.com, nrsweb, moosejaw, reioutlet, EMS, hudson trail outfitters, as well.. As I've upgraded accessories they've either been inherited by other friends getting into kayaking, or I keep them around for people to borrow if they're going kayaking with me.

You don't have to get a roof rack to begin with - you can get foam block carriers that will cradle the kayak on your roof. those are $30-40 and they work. The straps that come with are also useful for when you do have a roof rack.
http://www.prolineracks.com/riversid...am-blocks.html

It is possible to paddle with a cheap paddle - It also reinforces some good paddling techniques... You shouldn't be muscling your paddle through the water, it's not good technique, it's tiring, and it increases the risk of joint (shoulder) issues - so having a floppy plastic blade that is going to give way if you try to muscle it is actually good training. A powerful paddle blade (fiberglass or carbon fiber) that won't give way and will allow you to continue to muscle isn't a good thing when you're beginning because it allows you to get away with poor paddling techniques. It also gives you some time to figure out paddle fit, shape & exactly what type of kayaker are you - are you a high angle kayaker, are you a low angle kayaker? Exactly what shape blade works for you, and how long do you want your paddle? It's similar to bike fit. I've been through several paddles, and have my current "favorites"

A pfd - This is not something you want to cheap out on, but usually I can get those on sale for about $40-50.

Other safety things... If you don't have a sit on top and you have a boat that doesn't have bulkheads - you want float bags in there to keep the boat bouyant. Those I see on sale pretty regularly. REIoutlet or moosejaw pretty regularly has a bilge pump/sponge/safety leash/paddle float kit for about $40.


I once bought a boaters emergency kit at Marshalls of all places for $20 - it was mostly oriented for power boaters, but it did have emergency blankets, a waterproof flashlight, a throw rope bag, first aid kit, etc. and I still use pieces of that kit now.

Certain things can be made cheaply for kayaking - you can buy a throw bag/rope - or you can get some nylon rope and make your own. You can buy a paddle leash - or you can just go get lengths of cord or elastic and make your own.

Dedicated clothing is really not necessary unless you're planning on going out in cold water. A good hat is a necessity I think.

[TrekTheKaty]

My DH bought me a kayak last year that was collecting dust, because I didn't have wheels or a rack--have to borrow DH's truck and strap it into the bed. However, on vacation I discovered my sister-in-law has two qayak inflatables (www.qayak.com). I never thought thought they would be sturdy, but they used to own a sailboat and did a lot of research before they purchased them. We deflated them to get them in the SUV with the bikes, but left them inflated and tied them on the roof rack for the ride home.

I hadn't bought myself the kayak yet, because I saw the rack, paddle, PDF's, etc were going to be expensive. Luckily, a friend donated the paddle. I also wasn't sure I could handle the kayak on my own. I just purchased wheels and they make a huge difference--worth every penny. However, DH is now interested in buying a second kayak! Having a buddy would make loading easier, but I have no idea where we'd store them both

LPH--what's your technique? I want a roof rack, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't get it up there by myself?!

[lph]

LPH--what's your technique? I want a roof rack, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't get it up there by myself?!

sorry! Didn't see this before now.

Basically I lift one end up first on to the rear supports, then slide the kayak up and over. This was such a great trick to learn so I'll specify it fully here:

I have a standard Thule kayak carrier (874, w/4 rubber supports), on the roof rack of a Toyota Carina sedan. I place a folded wool blanket (a towel or small mat would be even better, but we have blankets in the car) over the rear supports, and another one over the trunk. Nothing covering the rear window, but with a different type of car you might need something there.

I then lift the kayak onto the rear end of the car from behind, so that the rudder end rests on or over the wool-covered rear supports, and the middle of the kayak rests on the wool-covered trunk. My kayak is quite flat-bottomed in the middle, so it's quite stable in this position. The bow of the kayak either rests on the ground, or I'm holding it, depending on whether I've lifted the kayak from my shoulder or from the ground.

Then I just push to slide the kayak up and over, until it's in place. Push the rear end down to slide the kayak forward. Wiggle the mat or blanket out from under the rear supports, strap and go.

This is in fact easier for me to do than lift the kayak up with the help of another person! And it gives me perfect freedom to go anywhere alone.

With a more v-shaped kayak the whole procedure would be more wobbly, but I should think still doable. Thule does make a carrier with felt-covered rear supports, but they are flat rather than curved, and to my mind do not support the kayak very well. Especially when driving alone I need the peace of mind that my kayak is secured as well as possible.

Oh, and I have a Prijon Catalina in HTP plastic, it's 4,64 m (just over 15 ft) long and weighs 24 kg (~53 lbs). I'm fairly strong, but not especially tall, 5 ft 5. With a glassfibre kayak I might want to have a mat of some sort under the bow as well, since it tends to get ground into the dirt a bit while lifting.