Kayak Advice needed
 

Any serious Kayakers?

For open ocean paddle workouts, what is better a sit-on-top, or closed type? What is a good length kayak for endurance paddling? What handles wind waves better? It's more for a open ocean workout than sightseeing or fishing.

I'm 15 minutes from a launch-able beach, and 20 from a marina. It needs to go on top of the Cayenne, so can't be too heavy I guess. We plan to escape Kalifornia to Bluffton SC in three years, so there it will be used in the tidal rivers and ICW...If there's a good choice for both environments?

I went down and rented one in Ventura Harbor, but it was obviously the beginner tourist type sit-on-top. I liked it enough to know I want to start doing it more seriously.

Any advice from experienced paddlers would be appreciated.

Closed type. Much better :) Stronger shape so can be lighter. And the sit on top type seem to end up with pools of water in the seat and feet areas.

I have an older sit on top touring ocean kayak. I call them mike bottle kayaks. Get a back rest if you end up with a sit on top. Your ass and feet will always be wet, but it isn't a big deal. I can't Eskimo roll, so a sit on top will just dump you and all you have to do is get back on. I was taught to crawl from the back. the longer the kayak the more stable and easier to track, but less maneuverable. Not sure about the newer ones.

These are the ones we have

Wilderness Aspire 105 - mine
Wilderness Pungo 100 - wife's
Perception Sport Conduit 9.5 - son's

All are made in the USA (in SC in fact)

We go just about every week in rivers and lakes. The wife and I really don't care for the sit on tops though they are much easier to get back into. We don't know how to roll them either but that being said we haven't dumped it either.

My son (11 y/o) will bail out and go swim for a bit when he gets hot and climb back in with no issue.

We started this spring and have enjoyed it a lot. Good luck and have fun

I have an older Seaward Tyee. It is an entry level touring boat that I paddle for fitness.
17 foot fiberglass boat closed top.
I am not using it much these days but I am finding the keyhole or the opening on this boat is starting to get a bit tight.
Not that I am undergoing expansion but it is harder to get in and out with my decreasing flexibility. I can't say this doesn't concern me when paddling in cold water. Most of our water is cold...
I have looked at a smaller boat option such as the Epic GPX. Only 12 foot day tour boat but it would be much easier to handle and store than my 17 footer.
Looks very well made and is pretty light in fiberglass and really light in carbon fiber.
Make sure you read Sea Kayaker's "Deep Trouble". It is a sobering book of kayak trips that go wrong.
Be careful on the water!

I've had a lot of kayaks over the past 40 years. I was strictly a white water guy, then combined that with surfing kayaking, then purchased two flat water boats; one a sit in, the other a sit on top.

While I very much prefer the sit in type for fun (I still play in the white water and surf), I like the sit on top boat for calm water paddles on the Potomac and all the adjacent tributaries, marshes, etc.

The main reason for that is the heat: It gets hot and humid here in the summer (just like Bluffton will) and inside the boat can get icky. It is also a whole lot easier to splash water to keep cool.

All my stuff is really old so no recommendations :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1412684299.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1412684324.jpg

For the ocean, I suggest a "sit inside." The longest one you can physically
handle. A 14' or longer.

I have a river 1/4 mile from my home and so it gets towed to the shore from the house on wheels (monroe clipper set)
Sit on top, Tarpon 100. Good for calm water.

Enjoy.

Thanks guys. I think I'll go look at closed tops today.

I have a feeling paddling the smooth harbor channels will soon bore the s#!t out of me, not to mention the smell and sheen of diesel fuel on the water. I really want to get out with the porpoise and and sea bird and cover some distance.

With a vest, I could make a 1/2 mile swim to the shore if I got into any trouble and couldn't get back in. The ocean never gets much colder than high 50s here, even in the dead of winter.

I suppose I need a dry suit for winter? More for the air than the water. How do you stay warm in winter? Nothing that can absorb H20 and get heavy I assume.

There is a great deal of paddle-wear on the market. I still use a paddle jacket I bought 25 years ago: Gortex shell with very water resistant neoprene cuff and collars.

I had a lot of wet suits from my surfing day. The most comfortable to paddle in was a short suit with a wife beater top under the gotex jacket.

I have a plethora of 2mm-5mm surfing wetsuits, including a 1mm short sleeve-2mm body spring suit (2mm short legs). I may start with that.

What do you guys think of this????

16' KAYAK(EDDYLINE)FOR SALE

I manufacture a line of kayaking accessories. I also carry products from all of the big guys in the industries( Seattle Sports, NorthWater, Stohlquest, Seals) to name a few. I sell mainly on Amazon plus have my own e-commerce site Southerncaliforniakayak dot com.
I'll gladly give you or anyone from Pelican a 15% discount for anything you need. Feel free to contact me directly if you want.

I know that boat . Had I known he was selling it I'd have jumped on it . Let me know if you pass on it.

I'm meeting him this afternoon. I'm going to buy it. Please don't snake me! ;)

I guess we should talk. I need everything, including a good adjustable paddle.

Did I buy the kayak hangers from you? It has been a while but they are great, top drawer.

How do I track you to Amazon?

Yes and Thank you. Those are my Kayak Keepers. I see you post pictures occasionally of your boat hanging on them. My Amazon sellers Id is SoCal Kayak.

Craig, if you don't get the Eddyline I have a couple of older Prijons (Seayak 490 [16'] and Kodiak 518 [17']) that haven't been in the water for quite a while; if you're interested in them feel free to PM me.

Also have some gear like PFDs, Yakima rooftop rollers & saddles, couple of paddles (including a new-with-tags Werner Camano Carbon - straight shaft / 230 cm) if you're interested.

Good luck w/your search.

You're gonna love the Lowcountry. There's some great kayaking around here, you just have to get used to the gators.

Pay attention to paddle choices. Lighter paddles are very expensive but worth it! Every 16 strokes with a paddle that weighs an extra ounce is like lifting an extra pound. Multiply that by many hours. Lighter is better!