Tell me about Kayaks

[mrdenn1s]

So I bought an inflatable boat on ebay ($119) that seats 4 and has 2 sets of oars. Took it out in Aura Vale Lake today with my 4 yr old son. The wind was light but it was so hard to row by myself. Will be better when the wife is around and helping

So now I think I should get a kayak could I could get more into the stroke with a single oar.

So some questions:

1) What do I need to look for if I want a 2/3 person kayak?
2) What brands and where to buy?
3) Do you use them when camping or are they a pain in the arse?

Anything else I need to know??

Cheers

[DannyG]

Hi There
There are a lot of Kayak threads that are worth having a search and reading the info in them but to try and answer your specific questions.......

I cant help with the first question because we only have single person Kayaks. We didnt want the bigger two person models because of physical size.

We bought an entry level sit on top kayak at anaconda on special. It is the guy leach swift model and we really like it. It doesnt track as good as the better models perhaps but suits our needs.

Yes we always take ours when we are near water. It is no trouble at all.

There maybe heaps more you might want to know, have a search for the existing threads some of them contain really good info, if you cant find them sing out and someone will point you in the right direction

[schmik]

Maybe you should look at canoe instead. Usually a canoe is lighter and can hold more weight. A 2-3 person canoe is easy for man and wife to lift on/off a car roof.  My kids absolutely love going out in the canoe. I got a square back canoe and a little birds tells me there will a 2 hp outboard under the tree for me. When not it use by the family it get used as a fishing boat.


If money was no object I would get an "old town".  http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/canoes/sporting/predator_ss150/

Mike

[GrahamFamily]

We have been looking at the same sort of kayak for a while now. I am seriously looking at the perception tribe 13.5 as it is easily rowed by single paddler but has three seats a good weight rating and only around 30 kg. we will be buying from Farnborough Store near yeppoon as its local.

Just a tip I have had from a few is ask for an on water demo. We are going to hire the perception tribe over Australia Day weekend and if we like then the hire price is taken off.

Let me know if you want more options I think I almost found all the options in Australia.

[griz066]

I have one of These it is awesome, easy to paddle 1 up or 3.

[wartim]

Am watching with interest as looking for a good Kayak myself, however not sure what makes a good kayak?.  Have been told they need to be at least 3.2 mtrs long so they paddle straight - without the wobbles?

Cheers

Wartim

[Pirate_Pete]

Am watching with interest as looking for a good Kayak myself, however not sure what makes a good kayak?.  Have been told they need to be at least 3.2 mtrs long so they paddle straight - without the wobbles?

Cheers

Wartim

What makes a good kayak?

That all depends on what you want to do with it.

I have 2 different types.

My Wadefish that I built myself.



These are set especially for fishing with a Hobie Mirage drive, rod holders every where etc. they are about 4.6m long & track very well, are easy to paddle because of their water line length etc.  they don't turn very well at all & as yet I have never been in the surf with them. I have travelled about 20ks on lakes & estuaries in a day easily in these kayaks.

My other kayaks are Perception Flows.



These are the common roto moulded poly kayaks that have popped up every where in the last few years. I don't know their length but they are a lot shorter than my other kayaks. This means they are harder to paddle & you have to keep working on the direction you want to go. But having said that they turn on a dime are great fun in the surf & traveling down local rivers where the current pulls you along & ou only need to guide then between the rocks etc.

Both of these kayaks are quite stable with the poly one the more stable of the 2 as they have flatter bottoms.

So what's the best kayak? That depends on what you want to do.

[2010banditsa]

Ive got one of these and like it. rod holders and great boot space which can hold my mrs, a kid or a 50l esky- now thats versatility!!!! Second hand was about 5 or 600 from memory..... not light to whip onto the top of the pajero though, but WELL worthy the effort and i take it everywhere with us.

http://kayak-project-shop.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/emotion-mojo-angler-rrp-1090.html