Canoe , Kayak , Dinghy

[nickofh]

Hello there!

Our dogs love to swim so my wife and I were quite fancying getting a little boat of some kind to take on a lake and have a bit of a paddle round. We don't want to spend a fortune and I have been looking at used ones on ebay.

What I really need to know from anyone with any experience on the matter is what rules there are relating to it being legal, where we can go , where to launch from etc.

Any advice would be gratefully received !

Thanks

[mcdjl]

You might find it difficult launching a dinghy compared to a canoe/kayak. Lakes tend to be owned by someone, unless you're in a more remote area, which makes launching problematic. Even if it's council or water board owned you'll be charged, so renting one of theirs might be easier.
Canoe/kayaks can be dropped into pretty much any canal much easier, though clearly not as pleasant. I've seen plenty of dogs happily stood on the front of a boat....doggy life jackets are useful for hauling them back out again.

[nickofh]

Thank you for your reply and sound advice. Do you know if there are any laws or licences needed or can you just plop in if you see a nice bit of calm river ?

[mcdjl]

Rivers move which can make swimming more difficult, also if you don't get in and out at the same point you need a way to get back. Navigable rivers can be used e.g. the Trent, though in theory (and as canals) you need a waterways licence, don't ever expect to be asked for it. Watch out for big rivers e.g. the Trent, they do move faster than it appears.
Rivers are also more problematic for access, they tend to flow through private land so getting to them can be more difficult. In theory the land owner then owns water over his land so there can be issues there, mainly where there is money to be had from fishing, or the water is best a house etc.
The body or UK rivers guide book should give you some local info.

[nickofh]

Hello again , thanks for the further replies. I think your correct about starting on lakes. Just to clarify then , do we need a licence for a lake or is it just a case of pay when you get there like entry to a country park kind of thing?

[mcdjl]

No licence needed, just permission/access for all water.

[thismonkeyhere]

ash73 said:

Just started kayaking myself, I bought a Sevylor Adventure

Just got the Adventure Plus!

[nickofh]

Hello again.

Thanks very much for the further advice. We will start on a lake for safety and also to avoid the licencing costs for the remainder of this year.

To Notadoctor, you both look like a good time will be had and showing that picture to my mrs has no doubt made her want to do it even more!

[nickofh]

Thank you very much for going to that trouble for me , my mrs and our two cockers!

Definitely happening now & the search begins for a used kayak or similar at the end of the school hols :-)

[Notadoctor]

nickofh said:

Thank you very much for going to that trouble for me , my mrs and our two cockers!

Definitely happening now & the search begins for a used kayak or similar at the end of the school hols :-)

I called local independent kayak shops after the summer season, expressing interest in older shop overstock. With persistence, a pair of discontinued Point65 Hotshot kayaks worked out the same as used on ebay. Just a thought.

[mcdjl]

I don't know where in Notts you are but if you can pop along to Desperate Measures they usually have a few boats you can demo.

[madbadger]

nickofh said:

Thank you very much for going to that trouble for me , my mrs and our two cockers!

Definitely happening now & the search begins for a used kayak or similar at the end of the school hols :-)

I would definitely go for a Canoe rather than Kayak.

You would generally want to use a spray deck with a Kayak, and I know my dogs wouldn't be happy with that!

Happy paddling.

[madbadger]

An obligatory picture:

[nickofh]

Two happy chaps :-)

[mcdjl]

madbadger said:

I would definitely go for a Canoe rather than Kayak.

You would generally want to use a spray deck with a Kayak, and I know my dogs wouldn't be happy with that!

Happy paddling.

Not if its a sit on top kayak, or your dogs are happy enough to wander round on the nose/ tail of a kayak

[madbadger]

mcdjl said:

madbadger said:

I would definitely go for a Canoe rather than Kayak.

You would generally want to use a spray deck with a Kayak, and I know my dogs wouldn't be happy with that!

Happy paddling.

Not if its a sit on top kayak, or your dogs are happy enough to wander round on the nose/ tail of a kayak

My dogs are much happier sitting in the canoe. Depends how wet you all want to get, I suppose.

[nickofh]

Thanks again , we will see what comes up at a sensible price new used at end of school hols I think :-)

[nickofh]

Looks wonderful! Nice and calm and beautiful scenery. All you need their is some novices ruining your peaceful day with their two little dogs splashing around :-)

[mcdjl]

No you want a rain storm in a canal, none of this nice scenery stuff!

[R Mutt]

Just been down the River Wye and am now hooked on canoeing. We hired canoes while a friend who decided to come along at the last minute bought an inflatable He had trouble in shallow waters and was worried about punctures on the rocks although it was constructed of PVC within a nylon outer layer. I live near some tributaries of the Thames which would obviously be deeper so I would consider getting a similar one. I could get a kayak in the car though but they appear 3x the price. A 2-man one would be fun if anyone else came along.

I'm going to have to do my research so I don't expect everyone here to pick my entire setup and plan my routes but I just wondered if there is anything obvious safety and legality issues I may have overlooked. We should be OK for access to at least one stretch of a creek as we know some of the land owners and I'm a good swimmer so I guess I just want advice on a suitable canoe/ kayak and what not to do once I've got the relevant permits.