wanna help me buy a kayak?

[NbyNW]

Haven't tried either, but as another erstwhile kayak renter I might live vicariously through reading about your shopping experience.

Both boats look really great.

Have fun, I hope you find something you really love!

[squirrell]

My DH has done a lot of kayaking/canoeing and used to work in a kayak/canoe shop, so knows alot about the different brands. He said that both the ones you're looking at at good quality boats (in general) but he's not familiar particularly with those models (they might be models only available in Europe). BUT, he did say that the Prijon's were more expensive in the U.S. then the Necky but he saw no different as far as quality/features to warrant that price difference. The Prijons are made in Germany, he said, and the Necky is made in the U.S.--which might have accounted for the price difference though.

He also suggested you look at the Necky Looksha models--he said they were "very popular" with women and seemed to just "fit women" very well, and that it is a "very capable" boat. He knew one woman who kayaked over 1/2 the length of the Mississippi River in a Looksha.

He said that "if you can afford it" though and really want quality to get a P & H Kayak. They're made in England and are excellent quality--well worth the money. He said you can "stand across the room" and see the different in quality between a P & H and any other kayak. He had a P & H kayak and took it on several long-distance trips, including kayaking from Key Largo to Key West and the Florida Everglades a couple of times. You can see his trip notes/photos here if you're interested

Florida Keys 2004

Florida Everglades

Hope this might help.

[7rider]

I have a Necky Manitou - a bit smaller than what you're looking at, and more recreationally oriented. However, DH and I love it (prefer it over our older Dagger Cypress). The Necky has a nice shallow keel and tracks nicely, and it is a much drier boat in chop. I can't say if the Eliza is the same, but if it's similarly well thought out, it should prove to be a nice boat.

Paddling.net has a nice buyer's guide. You can check that out and be overwhelmed with options!

Good luck!

eta: Oh, and I also sprung for a carbon paddle...I love it! Lightweight and stiff. Awesome!

[lph]

Oooo - so today I get to drive for 2 hours () to try out the Catalina... I hope I like it... I hope I don't tip over... I hope it fits my dh! I'm trying to rationalize it by thinking that the rest of the family can use it too

Thank you for the good info. I think the Catalina is a "better" boat than the Eliza, Prijon uses an extremely sturdy, hard plastic for their boats and are well thought of. But I may conceivably be getting a little ahead of myself in wanting a "fast, nimble" boat. I just don't want to end up buying a boat I'll outgrow within a year. But if it's a little too unstable it may not be good for the rambling look-here-and-there-photography trips I also want to do...

arr, so much to think about. I think the offer on the Catalina is good enough that I can end up selling it used for almost the same price, if it doesn't work out.

Thanks for listening

[Badgirl]

Wish I could help but all our kayaks are sit-on-tops. Def let us know how your test paddle goes.

[lph]

I went and bought it I'm not very patient... After a 2 hour drive to test paddle it, I was ready to buy anything that didn't physically pitch me out. The Catalina is a surprisingly plain boat, the finish is matte, the decals are a bit garish and the bow is straight, not upswept, so even though it's quite narrow and sleek it looks, well, a bit ugly. But that's ok, I may lust after the shiny bling stuff but I do much better with plain functional stuff. And it's very functional. The hatches are very good, easy to open and solid waterproof, the rudder is huge and works excellently with very good pedals once I got them dialed in. The fit is very snug. That's what I get for all that cycling - difficulty fitting my thighs below deck My skinny longlegged dh fit better! But I can carve a bit out of the thigh braces if I want to. I can also sit with my knees up out of the cockpit if I don't need the bracing. The paddle I borrowed was very different from the one I've used recently so I couldn't really get the boat up to speed. It's said to be "fast", but I did notice the downside of that - it turns like a plank. So I tossed a little Newcastle Brown Ale over the bow once I got it home and christened it "Plank"

Since it's narrow it's also a little more tippy than the extremely stable beginner boats I've tried so far, but not uncomfortably so, just that if I lean over the boat will keep leaning until it, presumably, goes around. But it's easy to right up again.

So I have a kayak! W00t!

[tulip]

COOL! A kayak is way up on my list, but still below a kitchen for my house (that starts next week). IF (and that's a big IF) I have any money left over, I'm going to buy myself a kayak. I've had my eye on the Wilderness Systems Tempest 165 for a few years. It's the one I like to paddle the most. Congratulations!

[OakLeaf]

it's also a little more tippy than the extremely stable beginner boats I've tried so far

There's primary stability (when you lean, does the boat lean?) and secondary stability (how far do you have to lean to capsize the boat?). Often boats with less primary stability are actually less prone to capsize.

Don't skimp on the paddle... it's like the wheels of your bike, you will notice weight and flexiness there more than anywhere.

Have fun!