Advice Required!

[bambambarcia]

Hello folks, I've kayaked alittle but need help with a purchase.

I'm from Hampshire, my intended haunts will be the Hamble, Itchen, Upper Test, Beaulieu River and trips across the Isle of Wight from Lepe, down the Medina etc.

Would this be suitable?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SIT-TOP-SEA-K ... 8014a20efb

Thanks in advance.

[6950rpm]

The ebay link has been truncated - can you post the ebay auction number?

Edit: working now.

[seaview]

It's hard to say given the information they've provided. I would say not though, as it looks like a sit-on top surf kayak to me and thus would not be suitable for long paddles.

I could be wrong.

Dave.

[bambambarcia]

It's hard to say given the information they've provided. I would say not though, as it looks like a sit-on top surf kayak to me and thus would not be suitable for long paddles.

I could be wrong.

Dave.

Purely because you'd get wetter with a sit-on top over long paddles?

[MikeB]

If you want to journey, you really need about 16 to 18 feet of kayak. Which this isn't. This looks like a toy for playing in. Nothing wrong with that though. Mike

[6950rpm]

It's hard to say given the information they've provided. I would say not though, as it looks like a sit-on top surf kayak to me and thus would not be suitable for long paddles.

I could be wrong.

Dave.

Purely because you'd get wetter with a sit-on top over long paddles?

No, more the fact that paddling a shorter boat is rather hard work if going any real distance.

Have done Freshwater bay to the Needles in 3m sit on top a couple of times and it's tough going. Much easier in a 4m or 5m long boat.

[Chris329a]

If you want to journey, you really need about 16 to 18 feet of kayak. Which this isn't. This looks like a toy for playing in. Nothing wrong with that though. Mike

I've done 18 miles, and 30 miles easily in a SOT, which is just over 14 foot long. You can't generalise about it needing to be 16 ft plus, and put people off on the basis of length. I know people with 18 foot kayaks who do a lot less.....

Saying that, I wouldn't want to do over 5 miles in the one from ebay, as it will be hard work.

[MikeB]

If you want to journey, you really need about 16 to 18 feet of kayak. Which this isn't. This looks like a toy for playing in. Nothing wrong with that though. Mike

I've done 18 miles, and 30 miles easily in a SOT, which is just over 14 foot long. You can't generalise about it needing to be 16 ft plus, and put people off on the basis of length. I know people with 18 foot kayaks who do a lot less.....

Saying that, I wouldn't want to do over 5 miles in the one from ebay, as it will be hard work.

Indeed so. Why, however, when someone is asking for advice, not give them such advice. Which is quite simply that if he wants to journey, he needs a longish boat. I admire your ability and desire to do 18 mile and 30 mile trips on a 14 ft SoT. I wouldnt however recommend to anyone that they purchase a 14ft SoT if their intention is to do 18 mile trips.

Mike

[Chris329a]

No worries, looking at the original post he probably doesn't want to do 18 miles so I agree that a long SINK is more appropriate.

I suppose it depends what he wants it for exactly. If it's a SOT he wants, then the 13 foot ones are more than capable of say 6 miles? I used to go to the Island from Warsash/HillHead lots of times, but that is with a bit of experience and not recommended for beginners if going from the north part of the island.

If it's just pottering around the areas mentioned then a 13 footer is fine again.

There is no doubt that a SINK is the tool for the job for long distance days if you want a much easier life, but depends how you want to cover the miles and how confident you are......which is why I bought a Greenlander Pro the other month ;-)

[bambambarcia]

Thanks for the replies everyone and I've taken on board the advice given. If anyone could clarify what the abbreviation 'sink' means, I'd appreciate it though.

Last Thursday myself and a friend Kayaked from Lepe over to Cowes, down the River Medina just past the pub on the left ('INN' on the roof) before heading back. I imagine we covered around 10 miles with sit on top kayaks and I had a great time, therefore I'm now keen to purchase a craft myself.

I'm alittle unsure what type of kayak to purchase, because I'd like to paddle 15-20 miles sometimes, but equally would like to fish and merely paddle a few miles on other days - can any of you advise me on what you would purchase? Clearly the Ebay link I initially posted isn't ideal.

Picture from Thursday:

[JohnA]

Sit IN Kayak = SINK not an appealing acronym for any boat :)
Sit On Top kayak = SOT

There's certainly a lot of options out there. If you're fishing, there's alot to be said for some of the SOT designs. You probably want a bit of a happy medium for that, long and sleek enough to cover some ground easily, stable enough that you can relax and cast and bait hooks without falling in. There would be sit in boats or sit on top boats that would suit you. Just depends what your comfortable with. I'd suggest a trip to the kayak shop to see what would suit your needs. I'd leave ebay until you know a bit more about what you're buying.

You can do decent trips in a shortish boat it's just harder work. I spent years paddling a 14'6" boat before moving up to an 18" one. I used to do 18 mile days in that. Buy the boat to suit the majority of your paddling though not the extremes. Some lessons are a really good investment too. You'll get more out of your paddling if you know what you're doing.

[AdamL]

SOT are good as fishing platforms. I've paddled out along the south coast with friends in inflatables - surprised how far they managed. We should perhaps note that we are rather biased towards fairly serious kit - I sometimes feel rather overdressed turning up on a beach in summer with my VHF, drysuit, carbon boat, carbon paddle etc etc.

Surely this guy either wants a Carolina equivalent or some cheap SOT not 2500 quids worth of fibreglass.

[seaview]

If it's a angling kayak you're after, you could try an Ocean Kayak Caper, I've just sold mine as I wasn't using it very much. They're not the fastest boat on the water but are very stable in all conditions and the angling edition is also well praised. Link below.

http://www.oceankayak.com/kayaks/angler ... er_angler/

Dave.

[6950rpm]

I happen to rate the Perception Freedom (the yellow Sit On Top pictured above) very highly. Of the 5 kayaks I own, it is certainly my favourite.

At 4m long it is long enough to not be too tiring on longer (10 - 15km) journeys and if you have the front and rear hatches fitted then there is a lot of storage capacity.

They have now been replaced by the Perception Triumph 13 so you should be able to find a Freedom at a cheaper price.