For years, actually since I was in high school I have wanted to buy a kayak for stream and river treks. I never bought one beacuse I did not know anyone who wanted to spend the coin and by one as well. Recently a buddy of mine has expressed interest in getting one so I am finally going to pull the trigger on one. Problem is I know nothing about them... I am not interested in going on big water with one.... Just streams and rivers.... Please drop some advice and some ideas or links with the kind of equipment I should look at. Any guidance would be very helpful!
Don't go Kayaking after a couple months of low precip. Scraping along rock sucks!!! Do some small afternoon trips on a local river. Get used to it. Learn by doing.
I have 2 kayaks and use them often here on Lake Champlain. there are many different styles to chose from and type chosen depends on where you are going to use it. If you are on small ponds or rivers one of the shorter wide non rudder types might work out. Here on Champlain we get some good wind and waves and having a rudder helps to control the craft. My wife's kayak is 13 feet long and mine is 14 feet long. Both have rudder peddles which control a rudder in the back. They can be a bit unstable especially if you aren't used to them so always wear a life jacket. I go out in mine when the big waves come out and can actually surf the waves with it. I usually do dump it though when it is that rough but that adds to the fun.
My dad has two of these Old Town Loon Kayaks and our resort has two Otters. Here's a breakdown of pros and cons: Otter pros- Super small & lightweight easy to move by yourself more maneuverable in tight places Otter cons- slower than other kayaks no room for storage Loon pros- fast still fairly light weight tracks well in the water room for storage Loon cons- Slightly clumsy loading it yourself ..... If I were going to buy one for myself, I'd get a Loon. But like any thing, it depends on what you'll be using it for. Come hunting season, I'm in the canoe so I can carry my stand, climbing sticks, pack, and hopefully another 200# body... But the rest of the year, the speed and east of the kayak is hard to beat.
