canoes & canoeing, anyone know much about them?
Discussion
That all depends. What kind of river do you plan to be on? If you want to go off for a paddle on your own you may want a touring boat which will be good for flatish water, if you want to go for a paddle with family/young children an open canadian canoe would be better. If you want to play in white water there are other boats again. Where abouts are you based- this may affect your choices somewhat?
I'd suggest going and finding a local club to get an idea of what boats there are and hopefully having a try out of some. As a rough guide depending on the boat around £300 will get you a good 2nd hand boat (varies like cars do). The other kit- bouancy aids/helmets etc are expensive and will add up quickly. For beginners who are likely to swim wetsuits are a good plan, as you get more advanced dry suits (on rough stuff or in the cold) or normal clothes on placid water are better.
Have a look here they'll have links to local clubs: Britsh Canoeing or have a look here Rivers guide for one of the bigger UK canoeing forums.
I'd suggest going and finding a local club to get an idea of what boats there are and hopefully having a try out of some. As a rough guide depending on the boat around £300 will get you a good 2nd hand boat (varies like cars do). The other kit- bouancy aids/helmets etc are expensive and will add up quickly. For beginners who are likely to swim wetsuits are a good plan, as you get more advanced dry suits (on rough stuff or in the cold) or normal clothes on placid water are better.
Have a look here they'll have links to local clubs: Britsh Canoeing or have a look here Rivers guide for one of the bigger UK canoeing forums.
If you're going to canoe up and down a canal in the summer. Can't see you needing a wet suit. Just used to wear a waterproof top if it was raining.
Now if you're going to get in the surf in Feb then a wetsuit might be a good plan.
Are you comfortable with a spray deck when you turn it over?
Now if you're going to get in the surf in Feb then a wetsuit might be a good plan.
Are you comfortable with a spray deck when you turn it over?
I don't particularly know that section of river but guess theres still a reasonable ammount of river traffic and the rivers still wide enough to get some waves- they'll look bigger once you're in among them.
A big touring boat will most likely be more comfotable but harder to manouver: boats from random shop - thats not a recommendation for or against that shop just it came up first on a search.
Really though before launching yourself onto the thames I would go find a club near by:
| club list. There are quite a few in the area Richmond, Kew etc and even up at Hampton the river will be big enough to give you trouble. I don't know if its tidal that far up but even if it isn't the flow could well be enough to tire you out quite quickly.
A big touring boat will most likely be more comfotable but harder to manouver: boats from random shop - thats not a recommendation for or against that shop just it came up first on a search.
Really though before launching yourself onto the thames I would go find a club near by:
| club list. There are quite a few in the area Richmond, Kew etc and even up at Hampton the river will be big enough to give you trouble. I don't know if its tidal that far up but even if it isn't the flow could well be enough to tire you out quite quickly.
The Thames above Teddington is non Tidal , you can paddle to your hearts content all the way to Gloucs ! During the summer the flow is very gentle and with a speed restriction on powered craft the chance of any major 'wash 'is quite small, assuming summer use no special gear, other than a splash top and a life jacket if you cannot swim . Why not join a club there is one at Teddington , have a go and see if you like it , if you do not want to join a club and go and do your own thing they will be able to put you on a beginners course and off you go ! Look out for guys in thin boats containing one, two, four or maybe eight people though , they tend to hate canoists !!!
Rower
Rower
Simpo Two said:
Rower said:
During the summer the flow is very gentle and with a speed restriction on powered craft the chance of any major 'wash 'is quite small
I sank a rowing eight in 1977... well at least they all stopped rowing and started waving their armns about and bailing 
s in huge gin palaces that have no clue.They need punishing, maybe I should wee in their champagne bottles...
CraigW said:
the thames, slow moving section near hampton court, all weathers, just me in it..
There's a kayak club called Westel just by the three bells pub on the opposite bank to Hampton court....Good bunch, quite a small club, and mainly focussed on K1 marathon racing (equivalent to Le Mans!). These boats are the trickiest to paddle, but an amazing grounding and very good for fitness.
They also have a few canoes and playboats to try so you can get an idea.
FYI, marathon kayaks are the only watercraft that are inherently unstable - put it in the water on it's own and it will capsize, kinda like modern fighter planes are only kept flying by clever computer trickery. So prepare to get wet!
If you find that you prefer playing in lumpy water, there's a lot of good, fun and pretty safe weirs nearby too to play in.
Enjoy!
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