The best suggestion has already been offered on this thread ... rent and
try some to see which one (or ones) best suit your needs. I'd recommend,
however, that you don't waste your money on one of the smaller recreational
kayaks similar to Perception's "Swifty". Not that there's anything wrong
with kayaks like these - and they do serve a function - but, based on my
own experience, you grow out of them very quickly and want something bigger
and better. I started with a Swifty, moved to a Carolina and finally (or
presently) to a Cape Horn which, for the time being at least, I'm delighted
with. (Made a 13-14 mile run t'other day out in the Long Island Sound.)

As for age, size, etc., don't let these factors discourage you. I'm 75
years old, overweight (190lbs on a 5'7" frame) and, with the exception of my
paddling, could easily get a berth on the Olympic Sloth Squad.


"Tim Smith" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I'm 64 years old, and started a serious (i.e. lifetime, however much
that will be :-) fitness program two months ago. I am riding my bike 6
days a week, walking as much as I can, and have started using light
weights to get some upper body strength. I thought about joining a
fitness center, but I hate gyms, always have.

I am lucky enough to live in a community that has a number of
interconnected salt-water sloughs (or lagoons), and our garage is only
about 150 yards from one of them. Calm water, but deep enough for the
14-16 foot centerboard sailboats that you occasionally see out there.

I'd like to get a paddle boat that I can store in the garage, and
portage out to the lagoon. Problem is, I'm still rather overweight,
and much too ample around the midsection, so I doubt I'd fit in a
standard sea kayak (something I would like to work up towards).

Anyone have any suggestions about a boat light enough to carry the 150
yards, but ample and stable enough for someone like me? I live in
Northern California, in the Bay Area. Any good shops in this area
(there are several listed on google and in the local YP, but I need
one that isn't dedicated to the true kayak people)? California Canoe
and Kayak over in Oakland looks promising, and I am thinking of going
over there next week, but I'd like to get whatever advice I can here
first, so I know what questions to ask.

Thanks a lot!

"Tim Smith" wrote in message

snip

I'd like to get a paddle boat that I can store in the garage, and
portage out to the lagoon.

Portage is a hassle, and the carts built to carry a canoe or kayak aren't
designed for the use you appear to have in mind.

Portage carts are built to take with you in the boat. To meet that goal,
they're generally really small (e.g. the terrible sets of little wheels that
sort of strap onto one end of the hull to take up a bit less than half the
weigth until they hit the first pebble) or knock down into modules small
enough to fit through a kayak hatch ( the best of these have aluminum axles
hold out for a few portages in the presence of nasty stuff like sand).

For a short trip from garage to lagoon and back (i.e., the put-in is the
take-out are the same spot so that the cart stays on shore until you come
back), you can make a truly superior (and equally truly weird looking) cart
out of a two-wheeled wheelbarrow. Replace 4 of the bolts holding the load
body to the frame with eye-bolts. Get few pieces of hot water pipe
insulation (a longitudinally split foam tube) and glue them on the edges of
the load bed. Toss the kayak/canoe on top of the load bed and bungee it down
using the eye bolts.

--
David Kiewit
www.patent-faq.com
(1) 727 866 0669
5901 Third Street South
St. Petersburg FL US 33705

"David Kiewit" ) writes:

For a short trip from garage to lagoon and back (i.e., the put-in is the
take-out are the same spot so that the cart stays on shore until you come
back), you can make a truly superior (and equally truly weird looking) cart
out of a two-wheeled wheelbarrow. Replace 4 of the bolts holding the load
body to the frame with eye-bolts. Get few pieces of hot water pipe
insulation (a longitudinally split foam tube) and glue them on the edges of
the load bed. Toss the kayak/canoe on top of the load bed and bungee it down
using the eye bolts.

a discarded 2-wheel golf bag cart is another possibility. I made a garden cart
out of one. Sliced a 55 gal plastic drum in half and bolted it on after
disassembling the cart and flipping the frame upside down. It rides high
which is good in tall grass, and you don't have to bend down to use it.
worth keeping a lookout for one of these being tossed out.


--
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Canoe!

Bell Magic or Merlin II ? Either of them weighs thirty-something pounds in
the KevCrystal or Black Gold lay-up. I have a Magic in White Gold
(fiberglass/Kevlar - 42 pounds) and I LOVE to paddle this boat. (I'm 6'2",
255 lbs.) I kind of wish I had bought the Black Gold version but it was
hard to justify spending an additional $600 to cut four pounds of weight.

If you really want a kayak, I think the Wilderness Systems Pungo 140 is a
great boat. It's stable but cruises nicely. It has a comfortable seat and
a large cockpit. I think they weigh about 50 pounds. I was paddling one
today and enjoyed it.

Good paddling,
Bob Scott




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Try a canoe with spray cover, a nice beamy one with outriggers can be had
for a rwasnabel price from most outfitters.

"Tim Smith" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I'm 64 years old, and started a serious (i.e. lifetime, however much
that will be :-) fitness program two months ago. I am riding my bike 6
days a week, walking as much as I can, and have started using light
weights to get some upper body strength. I thought about joining a
fitness center, but I hate gyms, always have.

I am lucky enough to live in a community that has a number of
interconnected salt-water sloughs (or lagoons), and our garage is only
about 150 yards from one of them. Calm water, but deep enough for the
14-16 foot centerboard sailboats that you occasionally see out there.

I'd like to get a paddle boat that I can store in the garage, and
portage out to the lagoon. Problem is, I'm still rather overweight,
and much too ample around the midsection, so I doubt I'd fit in a
standard sea kayak (something I would like to work up towards).

Anyone have any suggestions about a boat light enough to carry the 150
yards, but ample and stable enough for someone like me? I live in
Northern California, in the Bay Area. Any good shops in this area
(there are several listed on google and in the local YP, but I need
one that isn't dedicated to the true kayak people)? California Canoe
and Kayak over in Oakland looks promising, and I am thinking of going
over there next week, but I'd like to get whatever advice I can here
first, so I know what questions to ask.

Thanks a lot!