Help With Buying a Kayak - Page 2

onbohio · 02-11-2014, 09:26 AM

That one looks nice as well. So what you're saying is it's more work keeping a straight line than the advantage gained of turning easily?

swampboy62 · 02-11-2014, 10:02 PM

In my opinion, yes.

When you're starting out as a kayaker one of the hardest things to do is to just go in straight line. It takes practice to get the right/left strokes equal and symmetric, so the boat will naturally wander for a beginner. With a longer boat, especially one with some good longitudinal body lines, it will tend to 'coast' in a straight line a LOT easier than a short boat, especially a short rounded boat.

When I started out my first solo boat was the Caspia. It has a strong 'keel line' down the center of the hull, and also has longitudinal grooves in the hull. Add to that the strong chines (the angle between the side and the bottom of the hull) and it has a lot that makes it track easy. Then my mom bought a boat, and she went with a shorter 9' kayak - weak keel line, soft chines - and it drove her nuts trying to get it to go straight. I gave it a try, and even after having paddled for a year or so I found it didn't like to 'coast' straight. I quickly learned to keep a paddle blade in the water all the time to try to keep it going in a straight line.

Another thing to think about is what you're doing when you're rec boating. Lots of time you're just covering distance - putting miles down a mellow river, or paddling across a lake. What you want to do then is hold a line - not ping pong from bank to bank. Of course you will need to turn - but most of the time you can see your turns coming up, and easily make them. We're not talking about whitewater here, with slots to make and waves to punch - that's when you need to turn quick (and part of why ww boats are short).

Also, turning a longer boat isn't that big a deal. It's a skill you have to learn of course, but it's more of a 'gauge of force' thing in that there are a couple of basic strokes that you'll use to turn your boat, and how far/fast you want it to turn depends largely on how much pull you put on that turn stroke. Heck, I guided two people down class II lower Slippery Rock Creek in 13'+ touring kayaks, and they did remarkably well.

That's my take at least. Other paddlers feel free to add different viewpoints.

Steve Z

mfdanko99 · 02-10-2014, 02:52 PM

Again it all depends on what you paddle the most. For lakes and open water, Narrow and long gives you speed for big water. Less stable'

River Rec boats are medium length with a nice withs to be more stable.

I would try as many as you can tom. I have four different styles of kayaks you can try. Also other member have boat I am sure you can try.

A good boat that has proven it self to be is the dagger zyado and what chuck paddles dagger axis.

Any question give me a call tom, I can bring all my boats and have you try them.

Mike

mfdanko99 · 02-10-2014, 03:07 PM

ALso look at Pereception Kayaks, I paddle the 14ft Carolina same with jim.
another member simon as the 12 carolina.

I for a boat the is cheaper, it is a great steal is the pereception swifty.9.5 I know you might not like it at first but she grows on you. I it slower on flatt watter, turns realy good and can get you threw most rapids up to a class II+ with out any trouble. I have had mine over 10 years and she still floats and great starter kayak.

Also many new member are getting whitewater crossover kayaks.
Carey has a Liquid Logic remix 10
Denise has liquid logic remix 9
another member as the Jackson Rogue 9
another has the Pryanha Fusion
Jessica & I have the Wavesport Ethos 10.

IN case you want to do some whitewater and flatt water.

Mike Danko

02-11-2014, 09:26 AM	#1
onbohio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 119 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	That one looks nice as well. So what you're saying is it's more work keeping a straight line than the advantage gained of turning easily?

02-11-2014, 10:02 PM	#2
swampboy62 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Warren, Ohio Posts: 141 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	In my opinion, yes. When you're starting out as a kayaker one of the hardest things to do is to just go in straight line. It takes practice to get the right/left strokes equal and symmetric, so the boat will naturally wander for a beginner. With a longer boat, especially one with some good longitudinal body lines, it will tend to 'coast' in a straight line a LOT easier than a short boat, especially a short rounded boat. When I started out my first solo boat was the Caspia. It has a strong 'keel line' down the center of the hull, and also has longitudinal grooves in the hull. Add to that the strong chines (the angle between the side and the bottom of the hull) and it has a lot that makes it track easy. Then my mom bought a boat, and she went with a shorter 9' kayak - weak keel line, soft chines - and it drove her nuts trying to get it to go straight. I gave it a try, and even after having paddled for a year or so I found it didn't like to 'coast' straight. I quickly learned to keep a paddle blade in the water all the time to try to keep it going in a straight line. Another thing to think about is what you're doing when you're rec boating. Lots of time you're just covering distance - putting miles down a mellow river, or paddling across a lake. What you want to do then is hold a line - not ping pong from bank to bank. Of course you will need to turn - but most of the time you can see your turns coming up, and easily make them. We're not talking about whitewater here, with slots to make and waves to punch - that's when you need to turn quick (and part of why ww boats are short). Also, turning a longer boat isn't that big a deal. It's a skill you have to learn of course, but it's more of a 'gauge of force' thing in that there are a couple of basic strokes that you'll use to turn your boat, and how far/fast you want it to turn depends largely on how much pull you put on that turn stroke. Heck, I guided two people down class II lower Slippery Rock Creek in 13'+ touring kayaks, and they did remarkably well. That's my take at least. Other paddlers feel free to add different viewpoints. Steve Z

02-10-2014, 02:52 PM	#3
mfdanko99 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Champion, OH Posts: 1,272 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	Again it all depends on what you paddle the most. For lakes and open water, Narrow and long gives you speed for big water. Less stable' River Rec boats are medium length with a nice withs to be more stable. I would try as many as you can tom. I have four different styles of kayaks you can try. Also other member have boat I am sure you can try. A good boat that has proven it self to be is the dagger zyado and what chuck paddles dagger axis. Any question give me a call tom, I can bring all my boats and have you try them. Mike

02-10-2014, 03:07 PM	#4
mfdanko99 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Champion, OH Posts: 1,272 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	ALso look at Pereception Kayaks, I paddle the 14ft Carolina same with jim. another member simon as the 12 carolina. I for a boat the is cheaper, it is a great steal is the pereception swifty.9.5 I know you might not like it at first but she grows on you. I it slower on flatt watter, turns realy good and can get you threw most rapids up to a class II+ with out any trouble. I have had mine over 10 years and she still floats and great starter kayak. Also many new member are getting whitewater crossover kayaks. Carey has a Liquid Logic remix 10 Denise has liquid logic remix 9 another member as the Jackson Rogue 9 another has the Pryanha Fusion Jessica & I have the Wavesport Ethos 10. IN case you want to do some whitewater and flatt water. Mike Danko