"skip" wrote in
:


"Radu Tenenbaum" wrote in message
...
snip

I live on a five mile long lake which also has extended back water
areas. I've never kayaked before, but it looks like it would be fun.
I'm 50yrs old, 6 feet, 180lbs and am only moderately fit. I'd like a
kayak that has touring qualities for when I want to cruise up and down
the lake, but can also go into the backwaters where I can get close to
plants and water fowl. Not interested in fishing, but I'd like to
bring a camera along at times.

I've done some reasearch and I've narrowed my interest in three boats:
Perception Sonoma 12
Perception Acadia 12.5
Wilderness Systems Pungo 120


Also, what is the advantage of the smaller cockpit of the Acadia, and
is that smaller cockpit still easy to get in and out of, and would it
give me easy access to a camera bag?

The primary advantage of a smaller cockpit is that it provides better boat
control in that you're able to maintain body to boat contact easier. A size
of the cockpit affects the ability to get in and out of a kayak only when it
is so short that you can't put your legs in after you're already seated.
Even then, it's not really difficult to enter/exit, but just requires a
different technique. The ocean cockpit on my Skerray is probably half as
long as the Acadia and I've never had a problem entering/exiting.


I have an Acadia 12.5 and use it regularly exactly as you intend to do.
I'm your size plus 20 pounds and find the Acadia very comfortable. I
have no trouble getting in or out of it. I carry a camera and
binoculars without a problem. As an added benefit the Acadia is also
maneuverable enough to handle a class l-ll rivers with moderate rapids.

The ability to handle classs I-II rivers is more of a function of paddler
skill than the craft you're in. Even with less than a years experience a
friend of mine handled his 16'6" Prijon Seayak on a class I-II river just
fine. A class I-II river, by definition, doesn't require much
maneuverability anyway.

This maneuverability will help you in the backwaters to get close to
the plants and waterfowl.

I've regularly paddled my 18'6" long CLC Northbay in narrow backwaters. Any
kayak can be turned around in it's own length with a series of sweep
strokes. Unless those backwaters are less than 18' wide or so most kayaks
will work fine in backwaters. IMHO, recreational/light touring kayaks don't
provide a manueverability advantage that can't be achieved with basic
skills.

The primary advantage of the Acadia/Sundance/Pungo is that the higher
initial stability provides a more stable platform for taking pictures, and
they the're less espensive than a general touring boat.