Any kayakers?

NWCountryGal

I am not, yet, but want to take a friend up on their offer to let me try out theirs to see if I want to get one. I am talking the inexpensive blow-up type where you are sitting more on top, not down in. I live on the river and it is so perfect(up above a smaller dam so really calm and hardly any of the home-owners here take advantage of it. I would be on my own pretty much:)

I know many will poopoo the blowup types but that would be all I could afford, one from Walmart most likely. Anyone go on a regular basis and how do you like it?

Eve23

We used to rent the 2 person tahitis (kayak) to go down the river. They can be alot of fun and it was pretty stable even in the rapids.

NAcetoLang

My teenage son saved his money for the $220 kayak at Fred Meyer for the hard plastic- sit on top kind. He says the shorter the kayak, easier to maneuver- longer kayaks go faster, but are harder to get going. He loves it! Last summer we took it up to Baker lake here in WA State- and he did some mini rapids on one of the feeding rivers, said it handled great. I got on it (first time ever in a kayak) and LOVED it. Soooo much fun, and not hard to work with at all. I am considering getting my own.

Btw- I peaked at your profile after seeing "NW" in your username- you are from one of my favorite places- I used to travel for work, and the Douglas County Fair was always our fave. That's a beautiful town!

klwells08

We have two hard plastic 11-foot recreation kayaks. They are the sit in type. We love it! It is a peaceful way to enjoy nature and get a decent workout at the same time. If you have a HRM, be sure to wear it. The calorie burn is surprising if you are paddling the entire time.

NWCountryGal

Yes, they look like a lot of fun:) I hope I get to try it before Summer is over;) denise:):drinker: :drinker:

We used to rent the 2 person tahitis (kayak) to go down the river. They can be alot of fun and it was pretty stable even in the rapids.

NWCountryGal

Thanks for the info on the kayaking:) I love it up around your area as well! I lived in Bellingham for about 3 years:) My niece still lives out in the County:)

I love it here and it where I was born and raised so I sort of came home after many years away:) I live near the dam at Winchester so you will probably remember that:) It's before you get to the Fairgrounds off I5;)

denise:drinker: :drinker:

My teenage son saved his money for the $220 kayak at Fred Meyer for the hard plastic- sit on top kind. He says the shorter the kayak, easier to maneuver- longer kayaks go faster, but are harder to get going. He loves it! Last summer we took it up to Baker lake here in WA State- and he did some mini rapids on one of the feeding rivers, said it handled great. I got on it (first time ever in a kayak) and LOVED it. Soooo much fun, and not hard to work with at all. I am considering getting my own.

Btw- I peaked at your profile after seeing "NW" in your username- you are from one of my favorite places- I used to travel for work, and the Douglas County Fair was always our fave. That's a beautiful town!

NWCountryGal

Oh that's what I want to hear!! The calorie burn, yeehaw! I mentioned it to a friend about wanting to kayak to build my arms and she said it would work on much more than that:)

ty again!! denise:drinker: :drinker:

We have two hard plastic 11-foot recreation kayaks. They are the sit in type. We love it! It is a peaceful way to enjoy nature and get a decent workout at the same time. If you have a HRM, be sure to wear it. The calorie burn is surprising if you are paddling the entire time.

weeblex

I am not, yet, but want to take a friend up on their offer to let me try out theirs to see if I want to get one. I am talking the inexpensive blow-up type where you are sitting more on top, not down in. I live on the river and it is so perfect(up above a smaller dam so really calm and hardly any of the home-owners here take advantage of it. I would be on my own pretty much:)

I know many will poopoo the blowup types but that would be all I could afford, one from Walmart most likely. Anyone go on a regular basis and how do you like it?

Yes, used to Kayak a lot before I lost my balance. We used to get together, drive up river and put in and leave the car, paddle down and then go get the other car with a persons spare.

The blowups are a pain, sort of cheap and REALLY hard work. Find yourself a local group on Meetup.com that is doing Kayaking. The $300 dollar kayaks from a sporting goods store are horrible but everyone buys one to learn in, then they upgrade to a $800 one then to a $1200 one. So get talking to the group and find someone selling their $300 one for $150, or better yet their $800 one for $400. If they are polyurethane then a few scratches are worth 50% off.

Be safe though, go with a group and get a decent life vest. Even after doing this for a number of years I still managed to almost drown myself

NWCountryGal

Awesome advice, I will take it with much appreciation:) Also, I was just getting ready to scope out the paper for used kayaks and also craigslist. I will be cautious about what I buy, can't afford to be ignorant about it so hope to find a friend around here that can help me look one over first before I buy:)

thank you again, thanks to everyone who helped on this thread!!!:drinker: :drinker:

I am not, yet, but want to take a friend up on their offer to let me try out theirs to see if I want to get one. I am talking the inexpensive blow-up type where you are sitting more on top, not down in. I live on the river and it is so perfect(up above a smaller dam so really calm and hardly any of the home-owners here take advantage of it. I would be on my own pretty much:)

I know many will poopoo the blowup types but that would be all I could afford, one from Walmart most likely. Anyone go on a regular basis and how do you like it?

Yes, used to Kayak a lot before I lost my balance. We used to get together, drive up river and put in and leave the car, paddle down and then go get the other car with a persons spare.

The blowups are a pain, sort of cheap and REALLY hard work. Find yourself a local group on Meetup.com that is doing Kayaking. The $300 dollar kayaks from a sporting goods store are horrible but everyone buys one to learn in, then they upgrade to a $800 one then to a $1200 one. So get talking to the group and find someone selling their $300 one for $150, or better yet their $800 one for $400. If they are polyurethane then a few scratches are worth 50% off.

Be safe though, go with a group and get a decent life vest. Even after doing this for a number of years I still managed to almost drown myself