Discussion
So I would like to get into the sport of Kayaking. It's something I've wanted to do for 5 or so years so has passed my "it's just phase save your money" test.
In a nutshell what do I buy (and I accept that at least some recommendations will be professional tuition, I'm not naive enough to believe I'll order a kayak, leap in and cross the channel).
Given I do not want to be shot at or done for trespassing it looks like it's not safe to assume that rivers/lakes are useable and therefore I'd like something capable of going out on the sea (I live near Dover so it's in easy reach).
I don't want to fish from it, I do want enough room to carry around some kit, I want it to be comfortable enough for it to be realistic to spend some considerable time in it. I also need to be able to get it on top of my Volvo on my own.
Any comments, recommendations etc would be greatfully recieved.
In a nutshell what do I buy (and I accept that at least some recommendations will be professional tuition, I'm not naive enough to believe I'll order a kayak, leap in and cross the channel).
Given I do not want to be shot at or done for trespassing it looks like it's not safe to assume that rivers/lakes are useable and therefore I'd like something capable of going out on the sea (I live near Dover so it's in easy reach).
I don't want to fish from it, I do want enough room to carry around some kit, I want it to be comfortable enough for it to be realistic to spend some considerable time in it. I also need to be able to get it on top of my Volvo on my own.
Any comments, recommendations etc would be greatfully recieved.
I'm no expert, but I took it up a couple of years ago (mainly for sea fishing, though, not touring), and I'd say go for it - I love it, and it's pretty simple to pick up.
Personally, I have a sit-on-top, which is very stable and can be got back onto if you fall off, so you don't need to master all this eskimo-rolling business (which I gather is easier said than done in big touring kayak at sea, anyway), but not especially quick.
If you're going out on your own (or even if you're not) seriously consider buying yourself both a handheld VHF radio (and you'll need to take a course to obtain the necessary licence) and an EPIRB (a GPS transponder beacon that will identify your location and alert the coastguard if you get into trouble).
Have a browse on something like the Brookbank Canoes website to get an idea of the range of kayaks and equipment available.
Personally, I have a sit-on-top, which is very stable and can be got back onto if you fall off, so you don't need to master all this eskimo-rolling business (which I gather is easier said than done in big touring kayak at sea, anyway), but not especially quick.
If you're going out on your own (or even if you're not) seriously consider buying yourself both a handheld VHF radio (and you'll need to take a course to obtain the necessary licence) and an EPIRB (a GPS transponder beacon that will identify your location and alert the coastguard if you get into trouble).
Have a browse on something like the Brookbank Canoes website to get an idea of the range of kayaks and equipment available.
Sam_68 said:
I'm no expert, but I took it up a couple of years ago (mainly for sea fishing, though, not touring), and I'd say go for it - I love it, and it's pretty simple to pick up.
Personally, I have a sit-on-top, which is very stable and can be got back onto if you fall off, so you don't need to master all this eskimo-rolling business (which I gather is easier said than done in big touring kayak at sea, anyway), but not especially quick.
If you're going out on your own (or even if you're not) seriously consider buying yourself both a handheld VHF radio (and you'll need to take a course to obtain the necessary licence) and an EPIRB (a GPS transponder beacon that will identify your location and alert the coastguard if you get into trouble).
Have a browse on something like the Brookbank Canoes website to get an idea of the range of kayaks and equipment available.
Also a fully waterproof bag to hold your VHF Radio & Epirb/Flares.Personally, I have a sit-on-top, which is very stable and can be got back onto if you fall off, so you don't need to master all this eskimo-rolling business (which I gather is easier said than done in big touring kayak at sea, anyway), but not especially quick.
If you're going out on your own (or even if you're not) seriously consider buying yourself both a handheld VHF radio (and you'll need to take a course to obtain the necessary licence) and an EPIRB (a GPS transponder beacon that will identify your location and alert the coastguard if you get into trouble).
Have a browse on something like the Brookbank Canoes website to get an idea of the range of kayaks and equipment available.
As a matter of interest have you deliberatly jumped into the water in anything but calm weather and then got back on top with your clothes & lifejacket on as anything like this is a lot easier said than done,and should be tried in case of emergencies.
To start with i'd join your local club. There are so many different types of kayaking; touring, white water racing, flat water racing, slalom, sea, surfing, sprint etc. etc.
By joining a club you can borrow different types of boats to see which is right for you. Going touring in something that isn't designed for it, especially a boat designed for the sea can be a killer and really put you off.
By joining a club you can borrow different types of boats to see which is right for you. Going touring in something that isn't designed for it, especially a boat designed for the sea can be a killer and really put you off.
Kneetrembler said:
As a matter of interest have you deliberatly jumped into the water in anything but calm weather and then got back on top with your clothes & lifejacket on as anything like this is a lot easier said than done,and should be tried in case of emergencies.
Not in anything other than (relatively) calm weather, but then I'm an abject coward and don't go out at all if anything more than a force 3 is forecast. 
But yes - it's a fair point; the practice self-rescues I've done have been in the sort of conditions where you'd have to be a complete f
kwit to get into trouble in the first place, and I'm sure that in anything resembling a real emergency it's be easier said than done. They's why I'd rely on an EPIRB if going out of shouting distance of shore, on my own.Still... I'd fancy my chances of self-rescue better with a SOT than a traditional kayak, even so.
Have a look at some local clubs for an intro paddle, try out your paddle strokes and get used to being in the boat/capsized. It is great for the social as well with plenty of advise at hand.
http://www.roho.co.uk/
http://www.canoes2go.co.uk/
http://www.bcu.org.uk/
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/
http://www.roho.co.uk/
http://www.canoes2go.co.uk/
http://www.bcu.org.uk/
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/
Edited by BadRotorFinger on Wednesday 21st March 15:54
I can see how being dead would tend to put you off any new pastime. 
There are lots of lakes and rivers you can paddle on, and many many more you cannot. The BCU will tell you where is good to go and give you a license to paddle on them, but some will tell you you do not need this. I think it is worth it for the 15% gear discount alone.
For dedicated sea Kayaking you are much better off in a proper Sea Kayak, but it will restrict what you can do elsewhere.
Really you need a few different boats for different situations. Much like not going downhill riding on a roadbike.
For dedicated sea Kayaking you are much better off in a proper Sea Kayak, but it will restrict what you can do elsewhere.
Really you need a few different boats for different situations. Much like not going downhill riding on a roadbike.
madbadger said:
Really you need a few different boats for different situations. Much like not going downhill riding on a roadbike.
I should have guessed this would be the case; I could easily see how you'd end up with 3 types if you wanted a go anywhere capability.Thanks everyone for the comments and links.
Don't worry about getting back into a kayak if you can't roll.
All you need is a paddle float, A bag you blow up, and slip over the end of your paddle.
You slide the other end of your paddle under the deck lines, and use it as an outrigger, so you can climb onto the back deck of the kayak on your belly, slip your legs into the cockpit, and twist around, and hey presto! Bail out with a bilge pump, and you're back in business.
I have a surf kayak, a white water play boat, and a Feathercraft Khatsalano S for propper paddling. I can roll the play boats, but the khatsalano being a skin kayak, has a cockpit which I'm loose in, so I end up popping the spray deck off with my hipsnap when I try to roll back up, so I have practised with the paddle float, and it works really well.
I've owned the Feathercraft since 1997 and it's still perfect.
I worked on superyachts, so I kept the boat packed in it's bag in my cabin, and assembled it on deck when I had time off.
I've paddled it in Alaska (Glacier bay) both coasts of the States, Great Lakes, Caribbean, Floria Keys and intercoastal, Denmark in winter with camping gear, and other places I can't remember, and now I'm based in Mallorca, here.
I can't reccomend them enough. Expensive, but worth every penny, it'll last you a lifetime, and you don't need to strap it on the roof of your car. Takes around 20 minutes to put it together once you've done it a few times.
http://feathercraft.com/kayaks/khatsalano/
All you need is a paddle float, A bag you blow up, and slip over the end of your paddle.
You slide the other end of your paddle under the deck lines, and use it as an outrigger, so you can climb onto the back deck of the kayak on your belly, slip your legs into the cockpit, and twist around, and hey presto! Bail out with a bilge pump, and you're back in business.
I have a surf kayak, a white water play boat, and a Feathercraft Khatsalano S for propper paddling. I can roll the play boats, but the khatsalano being a skin kayak, has a cockpit which I'm loose in, so I end up popping the spray deck off with my hipsnap when I try to roll back up, so I have practised with the paddle float, and it works really well.
I've owned the Feathercraft since 1997 and it's still perfect.
I worked on superyachts, so I kept the boat packed in it's bag in my cabin, and assembled it on deck when I had time off.
I've paddled it in Alaska (Glacier bay) both coasts of the States, Great Lakes, Caribbean, Floria Keys and intercoastal, Denmark in winter with camping gear, and other places I can't remember, and now I'm based in Mallorca, here.
I can't reccomend them enough. Expensive, but worth every penny, it'll last you a lifetime, and you don't need to strap it on the roof of your car. Takes around 20 minutes to put it together once you've done it a few times.
http://feathercraft.com/kayaks/khatsalano/
mickrick said:
Don't worry about getting back into a kayak if you can't roll.
All you need is a paddle float...
But as with kneetrembler's comments, above, you've got to ask yourself how practical this would be in the sort of conditions that would actually put you in difficulties in the first place.All you need is a paddle float...
I would be worried that if the see was too rough to facilitate a conventional self-rescue (which on a SOT is basically a matter of 'lunging' on top of the boat then clambering back in), then setting up a paddle float would be equally problematical.
...but like I said, i'm too much of a coward to find out: any sign of deteriorating weather conditions, and I get back onshore as fast as my paddle will take me!
mickrick said:
Don't worry about getting back into a kayak if you can't roll.
All you need is a paddle float, A bag you blow up, and slip over the end of your paddle.
You slide the other end of your paddle under the deck lines, and use it as an outrigger, so you can climb onto the back deck of the kayak on your belly, slip your legs into the cockpit, and twist around, and hey presto! Bail out with a bilge pump, and you're back in business.
I have a surf kayak, a white water play boat, and a Feathercraft Khatsalano S for propper paddling. I can roll the play boats, but the khatsalano being a skin kayak, has a cockpit which I'm loose in, so I end up popping the spray deck off with my hipsnap when I try to roll back up, so I have practised with the paddle float, and it works really well.
I've owned the Feathercraft since 1997 and it's still perfect.
I worked on superyachts, so I kept the boat packed in it's bag in my cabin, and assembled it on deck when I had time off.
I've paddled it in Alaska (Glacier bay) both coasts of the States, Great Lakes, Caribbean, Floria Keys and intercoastal, Denmark in winter with camping gear, and other places I can't remember, and now I'm based in Mallorca, here.
I can't reccomend them enough. Expensive, but worth every penny, it'll last you a lifetime, and you don't need to strap it on the roof of your car. Takes around 20 minutes to put it together once you've done it a few times.
http://feathercraft.com/kayaks/khatsalano/
I quite agree with you about getting back in/on,years ago I used to do a lot of kayaking and could roll a canoe, but these days wouldn't be able to,far too big now for a start, but I reckon that when you start to play around with anything on/in water as you know then you need to be able to know the answer as regards being able to get back in or on whatever it is.All you need is a paddle float, A bag you blow up, and slip over the end of your paddle.
You slide the other end of your paddle under the deck lines, and use it as an outrigger, so you can climb onto the back deck of the kayak on your belly, slip your legs into the cockpit, and twist around, and hey presto! Bail out with a bilge pump, and you're back in business.
I have a surf kayak, a white water play boat, and a Feathercraft Khatsalano S for propper paddling. I can roll the play boats, but the khatsalano being a skin kayak, has a cockpit which I'm loose in, so I end up popping the spray deck off with my hipsnap when I try to roll back up, so I have practised with the paddle float, and it works really well.
I've owned the Feathercraft since 1997 and it's still perfect.
I worked on superyachts, so I kept the boat packed in it's bag in my cabin, and assembled it on deck when I had time off.
I've paddled it in Alaska (Glacier bay) both coasts of the States, Great Lakes, Caribbean, Floria Keys and intercoastal, Denmark in winter with camping gear, and other places I can't remember, and now I'm based in Mallorca, here.
I can't reccomend them enough. Expensive, but worth every penny, it'll last you a lifetime, and you don't need to strap it on the roof of your car. Takes around 20 minutes to put it together once you've done it a few times.
http://feathercraft.com/kayaks/khatsalano/
I also did a lot of sailing on Cats and I remember the first thing that I wanted the demonstrater to do was to take me out and then turn it over and then get it back up.
He did it with me on a Dart, but it wasn't something he was neither happy about or experienced in doing.The Cat in the end that I bought was a Tornado back in 69 a lifetime ago.
Never did turn that over, as that would never get back up easily, great fun in the trap though, sorry I digress.
I kayakk myself mainly inland but occasionally coastal. the best thing to do is join a local club that way you can try the various different types of kayaking and all the different types of kayak. That way when you go to buy a kayak you will be able to make an informed choice about which kayak you would like before parting with your money.
Good info and links to clubs can be found here
http://www.bcu.org.uk/
Good info and links to clubs can be found here
http://www.bcu.org.uk/
We have sot's, We are neither fit or brave but the little Frenzy's we have are brilliant fun.
They are not fast, they are however damn stable and make good enough time, we have popped them in Bala lake and chugged from one end to the other without feeling tired, we have chucked them in the sea near Falmouth and paddled round to the Helford river and back without hassle.
Seeing the land from the sea and messing around near the rocks or on beaches that have no land access is awesome fun, proper stay at home exploring.
If the weather looks dodgy then we leave them at home.
We carry a torch, mobiles, lines tied to the front of the yaks for towing if we need them, this year on the sea we will have flares just in case...
Brookbank are great to deal with by the way, staffed by enthusiasts.
They are not fast, they are however damn stable and make good enough time, we have popped them in Bala lake and chugged from one end to the other without feeling tired, we have chucked them in the sea near Falmouth and paddled round to the Helford river and back without hassle.
Seeing the land from the sea and messing around near the rocks or on beaches that have no land access is awesome fun, proper stay at home exploring.
If the weather looks dodgy then we leave them at home.
We carry a torch, mobiles, lines tied to the front of the yaks for towing if we need them, this year on the sea we will have flares just in case...
Brookbank are great to deal with by the way, staffed by enthusiasts.
Kent Canoes ( http://www.kentcanoes.co.uk/ ) might be a bit more local than Brookbank. I think it was the shop one of my friends used to work at and he spoke well of it (well he would).
Also for people worried about trespassing on the water, sign up: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/9886 I know it gets repeated every other year but it would be nice if one day something was done about it.
Also for people worried about trespassing on the water, sign up: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/9886 I know it gets repeated every other year but it would be nice if one day something was done about it.
I have an Ocean Kayak Trident 13. Seems a good kayak. Very long and quite heavy, so not easily managed on and off the roof of your car singlehanded, but it's good in the sea. Stable and tracks very straight. Lots of storage onboard as well. Ideal for fishing from. I mainly use mine in Poole Harbour. Quiet, flat calm water is much more enjoyable for me for a spot of fishing or wildlife spotting.
Ps. Yes, that is an electric trolling motor. I fitted it to aid crossing the Fal estuary when in Cornwall, as there's a lot of water movement across there (and fast boats!) I wanted to get over to St. Mawes, from Mylor. Yet to try it out though!
Ps. Yes, that is an electric trolling motor. I fitted it to aid crossing the Fal estuary when in Cornwall, as there's a lot of water movement across there (and fast boats!) I wanted to get over to St. Mawes, from Mylor. Yet to try it out though!
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