kc0kbh wrote:
Hi,
I've been wanting to get into kayaking lately. All I really want to
do is go around on lakes and some local slow moving rivers. Now that
I have a vehicle and roof racks to haul stuff around (an '82 vw
rabbit), I'd like to buy a kayak in the not too distant future. I've
never been in a kayak before, but may be going on a little kayak trip
thing (we'd rent) with some friends. I'd probably buy a kayak next
year, but am would like to get started researching. I'd like a kayak
that would be good for a beginner, but, that I wouldn't "outgrow" in
ability really soon. I'd buy something used. Anyone have some
suggestions of any models or categories of kayaks to look at? And,
how much would a good used beginner (sorry, I don't know the correct
term) kayak cost?

You want to buy what's called a "Recreational" kayak. 12 to 15 feet
long, made out of plastic. It'll be perfectly fine for day trips on
small lakes and slow rivers. (i.e. protected water and up to class II
rapids)

The next step up from that would depend on what kind of paddling you do.
If whitewater's your thing, buy a whitewater kayak. If long trips on
open water is your thing, get a sea kayak. For what you want to do
*now* neither is necessary or even appropriate at this point.

I've been very happy with my Dagger Blackwater that I bought a couple of
years ago - small (light) enough to be easy to cartop, plastic so I
don't care about dragging it over rocks, relatively inexpensive, and it
has a skeg that helps with tracking. I recognize it's limitations when
I try to take it on open water with wind and waves - that's when I wish
I had something more seaworthy. But I don't do all that much open-water
paddling, so I can live with the shortcomings.

//Walt