Terry wrote:

My stats: 6'1, 220lbs, 36yo, novice

So this year it is my goal to do the Texas Water Safari (TWS)and a
friend lent me this boat he
Bottom View: http://tinyurl.com/c8t4u
In Water:
http://tinyurl.com/aghcs

Riverman has a pretty good take on the issues. It always amazes me when
a person says they want to start paddling becuase they want to do
something epic as their first trip. A guy locally wanted advice on
kayaking from North Georgia to Mobile Bay. He was giving himself 14 days
for the trip, had never paddled before, and wanted to know what boat to
buy. I think we talked him out of most of it.

Anyway, Terry, you've got some work to do. The TWS is a killer paddle
for experienced racers, so start now working up to it. You might
consider working up to the 2007 race, but maybe you're athletic and
committed enough to make it work.

You've got a boat, so get out in it today. Paddle every day until you
find something better. You'll learn to go straight, which is a good
skill. It wasn't clear if your friend was trying to sell you the Hydra
and I wasn't sure what the 1200 referred to, but that boat is worth
maybe $400, tops. But for $1200 you should be able to find a decent used
touring kayak that you can paddle a couple of years and sell for 2/3
what you paid for it, assuming the TWS doesn't trash it too badly.

Oh, yeah, get somebody who knows something to show you how to paddle
efficiently. Yes, I am advocating training, and maybe you'll even have
to pay a [gasp] "professional" (Just some in-group sarcasm here, Terry,
nothing to do with you). Some of it you can figure out on your own, a
lot you won't, and you don't have a lot of time for trial and error.

Good luck.

Steve
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Steve Cramer
Athens, GA