"elyob" wrote in message
. ..
I've got a little idea brewing where I take a canoe/kayak up the Thames
and
camp out etc etc.

That's as far as I've got. I investigated a school recently and may start
training on their equipment soon. However, am unsure whether to go for
canoe
or kayak. I won't be carrying tons of stuff, but will still have a weeks
worth or so. Maybe as much as a tent, sleeping bag and clothes etc ..

So, how smelly do you want to get? I think you would be hard pushed to get a
week's worth of kit in a modern kayak. Possibly a little more in a longer,
older boat such as a GRP one, or perhas a Corsica or similar. Otherwise, go
for a Canadian to carry your gear. But it will be heavy, so get wheels for
portaging too. Better still go in a group, it's safer too.


Also, I see some fibre glass canoes going pretty cheaply, but haven't got
anywhere to store one at the moment. So, should I consider renting one, or
finding a neighbour with a garden I can hide it in when not in use?

GRP rots. Apart from the seepage through the gel coat where it will be
cracked, it deteriorates with time and becomes osmotic. So you can test a
boat and it appears watertight, but if you leave it long enough in the water
it fills up osmotically. Since most second hand GRP boats will be getting a
bit long in the tooth - unless you go for a specialist boat, then look for a
plastic boat. In fact, if you opt for a kayak, a sea-kayak or a touring boat
with deck hatches would be adeal.

What sort of kayak/canoe should I look at for this type of beginners tour?
I've used one previously that was in a friends garden, but it got really
uncomfortable on my back from leaning back on the entrance edge. Is this
because it may have been too small for me? I'm 6ft, 16st.

Sitting in a kayak curves your spine the wrong way and it does get
uncomfortable, so some people lean back - which is bad for paddling. You nee
d to warm up, stretch your muscles and lean forwards to get the best kayak
paddling position. It still gets uncomfortable.

The best you can do is set the footrests, knee braces, and seat and seat
back in the best position for you - and the trim of the boat. But you'll
probably still get a sore back.

What sort of distance would you expect to cover per day?


What speed can you continuously paddle in flat water with no current?
Believe it or not most people manage 4-5km at a steady pace. If you try on a
canal, you can pass a canal boat at the leagl 4kph, but he has a motor and
he'll soon pass you as you tire. So, on a canal, for instance, ignoring
locks, you might manage say six hours paddling per day, so 24km per day.
However, if the current of the river is flowing downstream at 2kph, and you
are paddling against it, that at least halves your speed and distance
covered. (It doesn't necessarily increase it by as much on your return
journey either as your boat will usually descend at a slower rate than the
flow of the river.)

How fit are you? Could you paddle 24km per day for four days?

If you must, I'd find some buddies at your local club, get some experience
in and persuade some kind soul to drop you off upstream and you and a couple
of others paddle downstream.

Ewan Scott