"Peter Clinch" wrote in message
...
Ewan Scott wrote:

So, how smelly do you want to get? I think you would be hard pushed to
get a
week's worth of kit in a modern kayak. Possibly a little more in a
longer,
older boat such as a GRP one, or perhas a Corsica or similar.

A dedicated touring boat has /plenty/ of room. I've had enough gear in a
kayak for a 3 day *ski touring* trip off a Norwegian hydro loch, so I
really don't see that a few extra days without the plastic boots, skis,
poles and extra warm clothing etc. will be /that/ problematical! The sort
of things folk like to cartwheel in stoppers won't do you any good,
granted.

for a Canadian to carry your gear. But it will be heavy, so get wheels
for
portaging too.

Certainly easier to load in terms of both absolute volume and ease if
input and output, and though it's slower that's only really an issue if
you're in a hurry. I'd personally take a Canadian for this sort of job,
especially as they offer you more potential comfort from a variety of
seating/kneeling positions, but some people prefer kayaks.


On a weeks tour of Cornwall on bicycle, I managed with tent, sleeping bag,
roll mat and a weeks worth of clothing. Granted, I took no cooking
facilities and just grabbed sandwiches and pub food on the way round. I'm
looking at not taking a tent and replacing it with an outdoor hammock, which
will take up 1/4 of the space and weight.

I guess that I will 'go with the flow' on any extended journey, as I'd like
to enjoy it and not have to overwork too much! So, I will just go up and
down on one day trips for near my home. Hopefully I will find someone else
willing to go away on a trip, especially as I'd have no way of getting there
with equipment. How do most people do downstream trips, you must always have
a dedicated driver? I'm presuming taking a kayak on the bus/train/tube is a
no-no!

Are most kayaks now made from plastic rather than GRP? Does anyone have
manufacturer links, shops etc?

Thanks

elyob wrote:

Are most kayaks now made from plastic rather than GRP? Does anyone have
manufacturer links, shops etc?

More kayaks are plastic now, but touring, especially on the sea, is a
niche where glass is still an option, and in fact a preferable one in
many cases. It slides through the water better and is easier to repair
and maintain (plastic is pretty bombproof, but it just gets rough and
slow with time, where glass can be repaired back to a smooth finish
quite easily). There's no particular reason not to use a sea kayak in a
large river, especially a smaller one.

http://www.knoydart.co.uk/ are sea kayaking and touring specialists.
They have a line of folding boats which actually are train portable,
though we're not talking Brompton levels of fold convenience here, more
like 90 minutes assembly.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

"Peter Clinch" wrote in message
...
elyob wrote:

Are most kayaks now made from plastic rather than GRP? Does anyone have
manufacturer links, shops etc?

More kayaks are plastic now, but touring, especially on the sea, is a
niche where glass is still an option, and in fact a preferable one in many
cases. It slides through the water better and is easier to repair and
maintain (plastic is pretty bombproof, but it just gets rough and slow
with time, where glass can be repaired back to a smooth finish quite
easily). There's no particular reason not to use a sea kayak in a large
river, especially a smaller one.

http://www.knoydart.co.uk/ are sea kayaking and touring specialists. They
have a line of folding boats which actually are train portable, though
we're not talking Brompton levels of fold convenience here, more like 90
minutes assembly.

It'll be a while before I can afford a Knoydart! ... The guy at the training
place down the road said me in a sea kayak is like a formula one car for a
trainee driver. Personally, I wish I'd done my test in a formula one car.

I think I'll see how I get on over the next few months, and the club/member
might lend me an old one if I find someone to go with. You never know!

Still, I think I'll see how I get on before I book the holidays up!

elyob wrote:

It'll be a while before I can afford a Knoydart! ... The guy at the tra=
ining=20
place down the road said me in a sea kayak is like a formula one car fo=
r a=20
trainee driver.

Eh?
Roos bought a 2nd hand glass McNulty for =A3200 last year. Needed a bit =

of work, but only with gelcoat filler. It's reasonably short for a sea=20
kayak and would be fine for a deep river dander. Sea boats tend to be=20
stable and straight running. They're relatively hard to turn, but how=20
maneuverable do you need somewhere where narrowboats can manage?

But as before, I would personally go for an open canoe for this job.

Pete.
--=20
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Are most kayaks now made from plastic rather than GRP? Does anyone have
manufacturer links, shops etc?

Google is a wonderful thing. Then again, try
http://www.s106156335.websitehome.co..._retailers.htm

Most playboats / creekers / river runners / general purpose boats are
plastic. Proper sea-kayaks are GRP. Opens can be some form of plastic -
usually.

I commend http://www.ukseakayakguidebook.co.uk/ and
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/ to you as other sources of info.

Enjoy - Mike

"Mike Buckley" wrote in message
...

Are most kayaks now made from plastic rather than GRP? Does anyone have
manufacturer links, shops etc?

Google is a wonderful thing. Then again, try
http://www.s106156335.websitehome.co..._retailers.htm

Most playboats / creekers / river runners / general purpose boats are
plastic. Proper sea-kayaks are GRP. Opens can be some form of plastic -
usually.

I commend http://www.ukseakayakguidebook.co.uk/ and
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/ to you as other sources of info.


Google is your friend for sure! I've met Dr Bennett's point of view before
I've really met him!

All the advice given is great, and I hope others getting into the sport will
find this thread interesting. I surely have.

New to a sport means finding your feet, but I'm glad so much response has
been generated by my enquiry. Looks like this has been the busiest thread
for a while in uk.r.b.p ..

"elyob" wrote in message
...

"Mike Buckley" wrote in message
...

Are most kayaks now made from plastic rather than GRP? Does anyone
have
manufacturer links, shops etc?

Google is a wonderful thing. Then again, try
http://www.s106156335.websitehome.co..._retailers.htm

Most playboats / creekers / river runners / general purpose boats
are
plastic. Proper sea-kayaks are GRP. Opens can be some form of
plastic -
usually.

I commend http://www.ukseakayakguidebook.co.uk/ and
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/ to you as other sources of
info.


Google is your friend for sure! I've met Dr Bennett's point of view
before
I've really met him!

I think most people who meet him in real life actually value his
knowledge and advice.
In this ng though he really gets under some peoples skin. Those people
mainly deserted this ng and can be found on the forum Mike Buckley
recommended to you. What he forgot to mention though was his own vested
interest in directing you to that forum. See if you can discover who
looks after the sea kayaking bit. :-)


All the advice given is great, and I hope others getting into the
sport will
find this thread interesting. I surely have.

New to a sport means finding your feet, but I'm glad so much response
has
been generated by my enquiry. Looks like this has been the busiest
thread
for a while in uk.r.b.p ..

Oh yes! Just watch when Dr Bennett turns up though. There will either be
rattle tossing aplenty, or this place will become like a ghost group
again. For a while...

Of course its all done in the best possible taste!

David Kemper
Not a fan of *******! grin!

On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 15:46:54 GMT, "elyob"
wrote:



Are most kayaks now made from plastic rather than GRP? Does anyone have
manufacturer links, shops etc?

The LOCAL shop for you would be "Whitewater The Canoe Centre", at
Shepperton: http://www.whitewaterthecanoecentre.co.uk/

Mainly caters for whitewater boating, but does have a selection of
other boats - and lots of good advice. No connection, just a happy
customer of some 15 years or so...

--
MatSav