Kayak advice please.

[A900ss]

Hi, looking to buy a tandem kayak for myself and the kids. All novices other than renting kayaks on holidays.

It’ll mostly be used on lake and canals but hopefully after some experience and confidence, maybe some calm coastal ventures as well.

I’ve researched and am fairly sure we want a sit on rather than in for the stability and I’d prefer a rigid hull rather than an inflatable.

I’ve seen two similar tandems, the Feelfree Gemini Sport and the Wavemaker Scooter Gemini. Both look to be similar specs and offer what we’ve looking for.

If anybody has any feedback about either kayak or would like to recommend a different tandem, I’d appreciate it.

Thanks.

[sherman]

If you have the space a Canadian canoe would be better than a kayak in my opinion especially with all the crap kids need

Sit on kayaks are not much fun as soon as a boat goes by and you have to try and cross the wake. You will get wet and very cold quickly especially in this country.

Edited by sherman on Saturday 20th February 15:42

[Bill]

I'm looking at getting a Feelfree Corona as they're a little more spacious than the Gemini Sport. We've already got a single Feelfree that's been great.

[Bill]

sherman said:

If you have the space a Canadian canoe would be better than a kayak in my opinion especially with all the crap kids need

I disagree with this just because there's much more involved in a capsize, and in coastal waters that's always a possibility.

[A900ss]

Bill said:

I'm looking at getting a Feelfree Corona as they're a little more spacious than the Gemini Sport. We've already got a single Feelfree that's been great.

I did look at the Corona but as it will only be two up at any one time (and sometimes solo), I thought it a little too big for my needs.

[Bill]

A900ss said:

I did look at the Corona but as it will only be two up at any one time (and sometimes solo), I thought it a little too big for my needs.

Makes sense, we're tall and have three kids so two big people is a minimum.

[Roaringopenfire]

My experience - forget inflatables. Stating the obvious but the sea is very different to lakes. Invest in a sea kayak if you really think you will go on the sea. I have Wilderness Systems which are superb. Allow for the essential extras such as trolley wheels, buoyancy aid and roof rack carriers. Mobile phone dry bag essential as well. Final advice get a great pair of gloves as your hands can get blisters quickly. I use water skiing gloves as they keep your hands dry and have extra strengtheners around the thumb etc. Good luck!

Edited by Roaringopenfire on Saturday 20th February 17:20

[Bill]

Roaringopenfire said:

My experience - forget inflatables.

Cheap ones certainly, but we have a Gumotex Seawave and it's a whole other kettle of fish. (Sorry, banging my inflatable drum again! )

[A900ss]

My other option (and I am being a bit selfish here) is to get two singles instead of a tandem. It will cost more but I guess a single is more fun and less like a barge (but are they less stable?)

Thanks for all your help so far.

[Bill]

How old are your kids? (And how keen?!!??) And how much experience do you have?

It's a slippery slope. We have 5!

[A900ss]

Bill said:

How old are your kids? (And how keen?!!??) And how much experience do you have?

It's a slippery slope. We have 5!

Kids are 11 and 14. There keenness is less than mine. They see it as a gateway to a paddle board (which neither my wife or me have any interest in).

Maybe a kayak for me and a paddle board for them to share.

Experience - never owned either but used kayak and paddleboards on holidays and friends kayaks.

Edited by A900ss on Saturday 20th February 19:00

[Bill]

We have a paddleboard as well. There's a thread on here somewhere...

I enjoy it, it gives a different perspective but is much less efficient. TBH if that's what they want I'd be tempted to get one plus a kayak and make everyone happy. Hopefully they'll then see the light when they're battling a light breeze/tide that you don't notice...

Single kayaks are far more available on eBay.

[bristolracer]

I'm a middle aged bloke who owns a sit on and a sit in.
I use the sit in on canals, inland lakes and places where there water is flat. If I go over I can swim to the side.
I will use my sit on in the sea because when you get hoofed over you can easily get back onto a sit on, a sit in upside down in the sea is not going to end well. If you are experienced then yes you will cope, if you are occasional paddler then you wont. Forget all the righting yourself stuff, you have to be pretty advanced to do that successfully.
A sit on will not sink,a sit in will do an iceberg impression fairly quickly, not fun when 100 yards away from the sea shore, fine if you are 10 feet away from the edge of a canal.
What ever you end up doing get buoyancy aids and wear them.

[Bill]

I was practicing rolls off Studland beach, coming up after a couple of goes. I came in after a while and some bloke on the beach comments that I seem to have cracked it! I didn't have the heart to tell him I was pushing off the bottom when I started running out of air.

[A900ss]

Exactly why I want a sit on.

I don’t fancy the rolling and hopefully a sit on will be more stable, albeit slower and less agile. That’s a fair pay off in my book.

100% I’ll be wearing a buoyancy aid at all times.

[A900ss]

So, after a day of researching single seat sit on tops, I’ve narrowed it down to

Tootega kinetic 100 - the lightest and cheapest of all the kayaks listed

Wilderness Systems Tarpon 100 (would prefer the 120 as will be easier to paddle and faster but concerned about single lifting onto the roof of my car)

Perception Triumph 13 - probably the kayak that I’d enjoy for the longest as longer and faster than the 10 foot kayaks but again, transport as longer and weight to put on roof.

Comments on these kayaks very welcome to assist.

Thanks.

[Equus]

A900ss said:

So, after a day of researching single seat sit on tops, I’ve narrowed it down to

Tootega kinetic 100 - the lightest and cheapest of all the kayaks listed

Wilderness Systems Tarpon 100 (would prefer the 120 as will be easier to paddle and faster but concerned about single lifting onto the roof of my car)

Perception Triumph 13 - probably the kayak that I’d enjoy for the longest as longer and faster than the 10 foot kayaks but again, transport as longer and weight to put on roof.

As someone who can just about manage to manhandle my 13'0 SOT fishing kayak onto the roofrack of my car after a long day's paddling, I'd suggest you don't underestimate the importance of light weight.,

[bristolracer]

OP, I see you are Gloucestershire based
There is a good Kayak shop at Berkeley

https://www.canoeandkayakstore.co.uk/

I've always found them helpful,not sure what they are doing re Covid but if you are waiting till lockdown lifts then they may be worth a visit to compare models.
Also the Sharpness canal is a good spot for calm practice.

[A900ss]

Thanks all.

Just to close this thread I bought a Tootega 100 Kinetic.

I collected it today and am waiting for my wetsuit to arrive so I can try it out.

Thanks all. Now just need to buy a SUP for my kids.