Foo - Kayaking

This is something I really want to learn. I've been doing a little research and I think what I want is a river runner-something of an all around setup. It will see a good mix of sea paddling and rivers. Ideally I'd like to fish out of it too but that's secondary.

Tell me about your experiences, what kind of boat you have, how you transport them, etc.

My plan is to get something cheap like a plastic Pelican 10ft kayak to learn with before I spend money on a river runner. Good idea? Bad idea?

Dude, don't do it. You start like "I Got This" and you end up like "Call the choppa!"...proff:

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/RubenX_Longwood/261d31c2.png
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http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/RubenX_Longwood/8a12abf5.png
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I love my pelican it gets me ever where i want to go only thing i wish it had was bulkheads i almost sunk it one day due to forgeting i had the cork out and it was raining

This is what I want... cuz I have no upper body strength whatsoeveh...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMw8q5g4DsE

LOL on one kayak trip i did i wanted to kayak to where the fans sited for the 96 Olympics kayaking part i arourse got there.NOt thinking about the paddle home i realy really thought i was going to die i was so tired and so sunburned.then i had to still walk home with kayak.I alos live on what they call the lake of death hect i think we had 2 more deaths this week

Not sure what you mean by "river runner." There are all kinds of rivers.

Whitewater river = whitewater boat. And further, there are specialized boats for different types of whitewater - big water, steep creeks, all around play boats, etc. There are even whitewater boats meant to spend more time underwater than on top of it.

Flatwater river - there are big rivers, and small rivers (or biggish creeks). If you want to poke around in flat rivers and explore the crags and shoreline a small 10 foot rec boat will do fine to get you started. If you want to go longer distances on big rivers, you'd want a longer faster touring boat.

At the shore (or great lakes) a 10 foot boat will be ok for back bays, estuaries, etc. But if you want to get out through the waves and paddle in big open water you want a boat designed for that purpose.

As a general rule, the shorter the boat the harder it is to make it go straight - especially for a beginner.

I love kayaking but I've never had the money or proper car for transporting it, so I rent. I plan on going for the first time in probably 4 years next month up near tiny Beulah Michigan, where my parents just bought a house. To me nothing beats just cruising down a lazy river surrounded by trees. I've tried it on Lake Michigan, and it's just too much work to be fun for an out of shape guy like myself. I prefer the sit in ones as opposed to sit on top. It just feels more balanced to me. But if you're a real big guy or are worried about getting stuck when you roll, go with a sit on top. I think those tend to be less expensive anyways.

Dude - you're from Canada. Get a chestnut prospector.

Actually, something with that hull in royalex would make an excellent river boat up to class III.

I'd like to do some whitewater eventually. SB, the only Chestnut prospector I can find is canoes. Have a canoe.

I read the "river running" term in a couple of articles, here's an example.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/105704-buy-whitewater-kayak/

"River running is closer to touring in that the distances you'll travel are longer, with calm stretches of water interspersed with rapids. River running includes racing" <<<That's what I want.

Dude, don't do it. You start like "I Got This" and you end up like "Call the choppa!"...proff
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Lol!

i think there are anacondas in the water.

As long as I don't hear banjos

The beavers are fun or snakes that get itred and think ur kayak is a log

i think there are anacondas in the water.

Our waterways have these signs:

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/RubenX_Longwood/small-012.jpg
(Took that pic myself)

I read the "river running" term in a couple of articles, here's an example.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/105704-buy-whitewater-kayak/

"River running is closer to touring in that the distances you'll travel are longer, with calm stretches of water interspersed with rapids. River running includes racing" <<<That's what I want.

There's quite a bit of either incorrect or old-school information and terminology in that article.

I would not consider river running anything like touring.

My suggestion would be go find a good kayak shop and talk with them about the type of local rivers / water you'd like to paddle.

There are different classes of rapids - from I to V+ (VI is pretty much defined as unrunnable, but that boundary is constantly pushed). And within those classifications there are differences. A class III pool and drop river in the east would consist of flat stretches with boulder field rapids that you would never want to paddle in anything but a dedicated whitewater boat. A class III out west could be a constant flow or series of very long rapids over ledges and rocks but more open - doable in a longer boat in theory,but not much fun.

A 10 foot recreational boat wouldn't be appropriate for anything over a Class II rapid, and depending on the nature of the rapid it might not even work for that. A Class II boulder field rapid, you're likely to end up with that boat pinned against a rock...water has lots of force even at that level. If it's Class II open wave train type rapids, you'd be ok most likely.

This is my Current Designs, Pacifica. Had it for years and love it. I spent age's looking for the right one and I thought this was best it holds a good cruising speed, 100km's from dawn to dusk one day trip and taken it in big seas. A bilge pump is a good idea if not using a skirt because dragging it back on a beach is murder full of water (it wont sink it has buoyancy tanks). I've even tried surfing waves without much success but it's fun trying, once the middle of the boat starts lifting out of the water it want to roll because of the length.
I've done river rapids it's really good at that, has good water tight storage for camping gear on multi day trips, it can fit a rifle through the hatch for pig shooting.
One of the best things is the foot operated rudder. I highly recommend this as it half's the paddling effort in tighter areas you can drift only steering with your feet and accurately point the nose into any spot, if flowing with a current you can just lay back and relax without disturbing wildlife while steering around obstacles.
As you can tell I love this thing. I could crash the net with pic's taken in it.

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad345/kdionb/Travel%20Pictures/53.jpg
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad345/kdionb/Travel%20Pictures/AUT_5665.jpg
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad345/kdionb/Travel%20Pictures/AUT_5724.jpg

That last shot is awesome! I can't wait to get out on the river again.

That last shot is awesome! I can't wait to get out on the river again.

Reading your post this one seems your style, notice the plastic tub between my legs so I have easy dry camera access and little odds and ends, there's drink bottle holders in there too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGnnxAivEhA