"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!