Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Advice on a new boat
Having given up paddling about 10 years ago to concentrate on more important
things like women and drinking, I'm looking to get kitted up again, and was wondering what kayaks people recommended for some non-serious boating. It's all changed since I were a lad. I used to have an Carbon-Kevlar Extra and a plastic Mi370. The latter was great fun all-rounder, but the former was wonderful for handling, a bit of slalom, and a ride in white water. Most boats nowadays seem to be ridiculously low-volume stunt/squirt boats or stupidly high-volume Dancer-style things. I guess I'm after something in-between and probably plastic, with a flat back (to pirouette with). Mostly I'll be on flat water (to practice my strokes & rolls), but I might venture out into the surf again, and some easier white water. Any responses appreicated, Ken. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Advice on a new boat
It would be very dependent on your weight / height / foot size! The
first challenge to finding a boat to suit you these days is what you can fit in........ if you've got particularly large feet, you'll be greatly restricted if you want to maintain any feeling in them for more than 5 minutes! Give some more details & I'm sure people will make some recomendations on what to try! Jas Ken Catchpole wrote: Having given up paddling about 10 years ago to concentrate on more important things like women and drinking, I'm looking to get kitted up again, and was wondering what kayaks people recommended for some non-serious boating. It's all changed since I were a lad. I used to have an Carbon-Kevlar Extra and a plastic Mi370. The latter was great fun all-rounder, but the former was wonderful for handling, a bit of slalom, and a ride in white water. Most boats nowadays seem to be ridiculously low-volume stunt/squirt boats or stupidly high-volume Dancer-style things. I guess I'm after something in-between and probably plastic, with a flat back (to pirouette with). Mostly I'll be on flat water (to practice my strokes & rolls), but I might venture out into the surf again, and some easier white water. Any responses appreicated, Ken. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Advice on a new boat
In message
Jasmine Waters wrote: It would be very dependent on your weight / height / foot size! The first challenge to finding a boat to suit you these days is what you can fit in........ if you've got particularly large feet, you'll be greatly restricted if you want to maintain any feeling in them for more than 5 minutes! Give some more details & I'm sure people will make some recomendations on what to try! Jas Ken Catchpole wrote: Having given up paddling about 10 years ago to concentrate on more important things like women and drinking, I'm looking to get kitted up again, and was wondering what kayaks people recommended for some non-serious boating. It's all changed since I were a lad. I used to have an Carbon-Kevlar Extra and a plastic Mi370. The latter was great fun all-rounder, but the former was wonderful for handling, a bit of slalom, and a ride in white water. Most boats nowadays seem to be ridiculously low-volume stunt/squirt boats or stupidly high-volume Dancer-style things. I guess I'm after something in-between and probably plastic, with a flat back (to pirouette with). Mostly I'll be on flat water (to practice my strokes & rolls), but I might venture out into the surf again, and some easier white water. Things that fit that description are the Whip-it, Perception Supersport, Pyranha Blade, Eskimo Kendo. It's not clear whether you also want to do the vertical moves now popular, in which case the previous advice holds - find a small boat that fits. The boats listed above will not do the moves, but are good for running rivers, surfing etc. -- Alan Adams http://www.nckc.org.uk/ |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Advice on a new boat
It's quite a conundrum!
Personally I'm more of a river runner than a playboater, but I like playing. For me the right compromise is to use a 2.5m (ish) playboat for river running. That equates to an older longer playboat, which doesn't actually have much more (or any more) volume than than the latest ultra short things - which means it takes quite a bit of skill and confidence to keep it floating and not pinned on rocky rivers, but there is no better type of boat for big volume rivers! For getting back into the sport, first try and find your old canoe club, or if you moved away find a new one. That way you can try boats and find people to paddle with. Try boats like I've just described if you want, or if you are a little more conservative try something even older like an RPM or a Kendo or something - you certainly shouldn't plan on running anything steep in a 2.5m playboat until you have got your skills brushed up and you are quite happy with the way they handle! There is no need to get a slalom boat unless you are going to do slalom! Any of the more modern playboats will be as much fun to paddle (although not as light) and you don't have to worry about smashing them. You talk about practising strokes and then maybe surfing - a flat bottomed playboat will rock in the surf so definitely look at one of them rather than something a bit more laid back. Interestingly because they are flat and wide playboats have great stability (until you catch an edge, but that's no worse than in a slalom boat) which means you can work on your paddling without worrying about wobbling, but when you come to renew your roll it might be a little more tricky than you remember. Look on the positive side though, once you get the hang of rolling a playboat you know your roll is strong! Trying to think of some suitable boats. I paddle a Glide and a Session+ which are playboats that are out of fashion now but I think are very good. The glide isn't very forgiving if you catch an edge, but I didn't find it hard to get the hang of that. The Booster would probably be good, a Quadro might be OK (I found it had too much volume for me but this might be desirable for you), the Pyranha Inazones are extremely popular - look for the original 230's which are one of the best all round boats around and will be cheap second hand. I can't quite remember the names of Daggers bigger boats, I think I'm thinking of the Outlaw and Showdown, but I might be wrong! Oh, and there are virtually no boats like the dancer anymore, what you've seen are creek boats for really steep rivers which are shorter and have more volume than the good old dancer. I still use my spud for that sort of thing but I'm tempted to get something more specialised! Good luck and have fun! JIM Ken Catchpole wrote: Having given up paddling about 10 years ago to concentrate on more important things like women and drinking, I'm looking to get kitted up again, and was wondering what kayaks people recommended for some non-serious boating. It's all changed since I were a lad. I used to have an Carbon-Kevlar Extra and a plastic Mi370. The latter was great fun all-rounder, but the former was wonderful for handling, a bit of slalom, and a ride in white water. Most boats nowadays seem to be ridiculously low-volume stunt/squirt boats or stupidly high-volume Dancer-style things. I guess I'm after something in-between and probably plastic, with a flat back (to pirouette with). Mostly I'll be on flat water (to practice my strokes & rolls), but I might venture out into the surf again, and some easier white water. Any responses appreicated, Ken. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Advice on a new boat
"Jim Wallis" wrote in message news:cm5rhb.497.ln@Eskdale... It's quite a conundrum! Thanks for the reply. An RPM looks like it might suit me & my budget. Ken. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Advice on a new boat
A lot of people have progressed a long way in RPM's - some still wish
they hadn't traded them in when trying to get down a river in a short playboat :-) Good luck! JIM Ken Catchpole wrote: "Jim Wallis" wrote in message news:cm5rhb.497.ln@Eskdale... It's quite a conundrum! Thanks for the reply. An RPM looks like it might suit me & my budget. Ken. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Advice on a new boat
Let me simplify this:
I have a Perception Super Sport available at a very reasonable price ;-P Seriously! [It really does pretty much match all Ken's criteria]. Nidge PS: If you're going to be in Bedfordshire you can try it if you like Ken - gimme an e-mail direct _______________ Ken Catchpole wrote snip I guess I'm after something in-between and probably plastic, with a flat back (to pirouette with). Mostly I'll be on flat water (to practice my strokes & rolls), but I might venture out into the surf again, and some easier white water. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Advice on a new boat
Check your mail.
"Nidge" wrote in message ... Let me simplify this: I have a Perception Super Sport available at a very reasonable price ;-P Seriously! [It really does pretty much match all Ken's criteria]. Nidge PS: If you're going to be in Bedfordshire you can try it if you like Ken - gimme an e-mail direct _______________ Ken Catchpole wrote snip I guess I'm after something in-between and probably plastic, with a flat back (to pirouette with). Mostly I'll be on flat water (to practice my strokes & rolls), but I might venture out into the surf again, and some easier white water. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Advice on a new boat
Ken wrote Check your mail. I've replied : ) Nidge |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Along with Chuck's story, here's another one where things went wrong... | General | |||
rec.boats.paddle sea kayaking FAQ | General | |||
Essentials of a Marine Boat Alarm System | Electronics | |||
NEW Boat Profit Margins | General | |||
wanted: live-aboard boaters | Cruising |