deadlizard wrote:
Here's what I took to be the primary criteria excerpted from
the request for recommendation:

"Bottom line: no whitewater action contemplated.

Frankly I'm looking to spend as little as I can, but not buy junk."

Yet the two biggest recommendations out were for the Lynx II
and Super Lynx, which could well be the most expensive IK's
on the market. Excluding any true exotics.


Essentially all the IK's are from 34-40 inches wide. Frankly, I don't
envy the thought of spending a lot of time pushing any of them
around on flat water for a great amount of time.


I think we bias the recommendation based on what we personally would
like to buy, not what might meet his specs. No argument from
me that the Super Lynx is a better boat but I have trouble fitting
that into the "spend as little as I can" category.

Take care.

Gene

I actually do paddle flat water in an IK and the difference between a
boat that is designed to handle that type of water and paddling one
that is designed for whitewater is is pretty extreme. There were a
couple of boats recommended that are designed to handle that task,
specifically the Super Lynx and the Solar II, which BTW is about half
the cost the the Super Lynx. If someone had asked about a hardshell
kayak that was good for lake paddling, I wouldn't have recommended a WW
boat because you could pick one up cheap.

The Super Lynx handles fla****er well enough and has enough capacity
that I have thought about taking it to Boundary Water Canoe Area when I
go again.

Both Bill Tuthill and I are probably both on the more extreme edge of
the IK community and both of us paddle IK's on Class IV+ on a pretty
regular basis ( I paddle regular hardshell kayaks also). I am picky
about the performance of my boats and none of the less expensive boats
really match the performance of the top end boats, the Aires, Airtight
Thrillseekers, or Sotaks. Even the Tomcat, which is one of the few
entry level boats that I would recommend to anyone, doesn't really
match the performance of the Lynx, even though the boats are almost
identical dimensionally, at least to the old Style Lynx I. That may
not make much difference to most people, but when I have to make that
technical move on some Class IV drop, I want that boat to perform as
well as it can and I'm willing to pay extra for that performance. I
feel the same about paddling flat water. When I spend the afternoon
paddling on some lake or slow moving river, I want it to have been a
fun and relaxing experience, and not paddling like it was a slave
galley.

Larry C wrote:
When I spend the afternoon
paddling on some lake or slow moving river, I want it to have been a
fun and relaxing experience, and not paddling like it was a slave
galley.

That's why they invented rafts! Paddle like you were in a slave galley,
complete with the guy yelling you when to paddle harder! ;-)

--
Wilko van den Bergh wilkoa t)dse(d o tnl
Eindhoven The Netherlands Europe
---Look at the possibilities, don't worry about the limitations.---
http://kayaker.nl/

Larry C wrote:

The Super Lynx handles fla****er well enough and has enough capacity
that I have thought about taking it to Boundary Water Canoe Area
when I go again.

That's quite an endorsement! I see the newer models of the Super Lynx
look different from those of many years ago. More aerodynamic.

Larry: any idea why AIRE rates the Super Lynx so much higher than the
Lynx-2 for weight capacity? The boats are about the same dimensions,
the Super being 1.5' longer and 4" narrower. Rated 475# versus 600#.
Do you think it's just because whitewater boats shouldn't sink as far
into the water as fla****er boats can?

On 14 Sep 2006 03:22:01 -0700, "Larry C" wrote:

I actually do paddle flat water in an IK and the difference between a
boat that is designed to handle that type of water and paddling one
that is designed for whitewater is is pretty extreme. There were a
couple of boats recommended that are designed to handle that task,
specifically the Super Lynx and the Solar II, which BTW is about half
the cost the the Super Lynx. If someone had asked about a hardshell
kayak that was good for lake paddling, I wouldn't have recommended a WW
boat because you could pick one up cheap.

Whitewater capabilities were specifically excluded from the
boat criteria so everything dealing with it in this thread should
be moot.


The Super Lynx handles fla****er well enough and has enough capacity
that I have thought about taking it to Boundary Water Canoe Area when I
go again.

Likely the only Super on a lake system where there will be hundreds of
canoes. Also likely that a decent canoe coupled with decent paddlers
will be faster, cheaper, and have a higher payload?

I'm not disputing any of your statements. I like the Lynx family and
I too would prefer taking a Super to the Boundary area over a canoe.
There's something about pushing rubber I can't get over.

The question however was what would you recommend for non-whitewater
use that wasn't junk but cost as little as possible. To me, that's
a $400-$500 category and not $1200.


well as it can and I'm willing to pay extra for that performance. I

What would you recommend if that person wasn't willing to pay extra?

Wish I could like Innova, but just can't seem to.

On 2006-09-12, Bilbo wrote:
I am looking for an inflatable kayak, and would like recommendations as
to size, material, brand, etc.

I cannot give you any information or recommendation for inflatable
kayaks. But as you are searching for a family recreation type of boat, a
folding boat might be an option for you.

Depending on whether you want to do whitewater or calm tours on lakes
you can choose your favourite model. In general these boats are wider
than standard kayaks - thus it is also harder to keel over. In addition
you can take more luggage with you in folding boats.

Some well known brands are e.g. Klepper and Pouch. IIRC the website
http://www.poucher-boote.de contains prizes and information on the
components of these boats.

Isabel

Bilbo wrote:
1. Can carry 2 people
2. Will handle reasonably well in calm water or maybe a little bit of
chop. Bottom line: no whitewater action contemplated. Just maybe
some kayaking on the bay or lake / river.
3. Is better than a pool toy
4. Can be stored compactly

Check out the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame double kayak, shown he

http://store.kayakcentre.com/browse.cfm/4,7.html

My wife and I got a pair of the single-seat version of this last year,
and we've been happy with them. They fold up into a bag that's the size
of a suitcase, are easy to inflate, are very stable, and were quite
affordable. We've paddled ours on Class I and II rivers in Colorado -
the South Platte, the North Platte, the Gunnison, and the Colorado so far.

The only downsides are that they are not self-bailing and can't be
sealed with a skirt (and thus can't be rolled). So whatever water comes
in stays in. I always paddle with a bilge sponge to help get out any
accumulated water when we stop for lunch.


Todd.

My wife and I use an Innova Sunny which we bought from Lee at
www.theboatpeople.com
Very easy to inflate and deflate. I made some mods to it to make it more
comfortable to sit in. You can see my mods at
http://www.catskill.net/ekirstein/kayak.htm

Ed

"Bilbo" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi all,
I am looking for an inflatable kayak, and would like recommendations as
to size, material, brand, etc.
I am looking for a basic inflatable that I can use as a family
recreation type boat and:

1. Can carry 2 people
2. Will handle reasonably well in calm water or maybe a little bit of
chop. Bottom line: no whitewater action contemplated. Just maybe
some kayaking on the bay or lake / river.
3. Is better than a pool toy
4. Can be stored compactly

Frankly I'm looking to spend as little as I can, but not buy junk.
Granted, I don't want to spend much because my demands on this kayak
will be pretty low, but I don't want something that will leak and fall
apart in two uses, either.

If anyone has any recommendations, especially as to specific brands or
models, please let me know. Also if you have recommendation as to
where to buy, online or otherwise, that would help.

Thanks