The Stockholm archipelago is a great place for kayak touring, and there
are a lot of places in the area to kayak camp. If that sounds attractive
to you, I would recommend a touring (sea) kayak in the 16-17 foot long,
22-24 inches wide range. It may feel a little tender the very first time
you get in it, but you'll soon develop some comfort. I don't know what's
available over there besides Point 65N boats, which are quite nice, but
you obviously want to buy locally from an established dealer. As to the
basic questions, fiberglass is stiffer, lighter, prettier, less sturdy,
more repairable, and about twice as expensive as rotomolded plastic.
Once you're on the water it will be hard to tell the difference. As to
rudder or skeg or neither, I don't have the two weeks to spend debating
the issue, so I'll leave that to others.

There is a kayak rental shop on the harbor in Stockholm where you could
try out some boats, although theirs tend not to be the newest designs.
Don't get run over by a ferry or attached by a swan (long story).

Have a great time.

Steve

Moby Dick wrote:
Hi Folks, I just joined this group a few minutes ago. Rather than
search the postings, I'm going to ask a newbie question which has
probably been asked a million times....

What kayak should I buy?

Here's the skinny, I may (90% probability) be transfered (as part of
my job, not as soem sort of Star Trek beaming up and over process) to
Stockholm, Sweden. My wife and I are trying to figure out what hobbies
we can do and since we've both kayaked (in the sea) several times in
the past few years, we though we'd like to take up kayaking much more
seriously.

I don't want to buy a beginner kayak that I'd grow out of real quick.
I don't want something too advanced either.

I just bought an issue of "Canoe & Kayak" and wow there are a lot of
manufacturers of Kayak. Google searches also reveal numerous
sources.....I was also surprised how expensive these babies can be!