Alternatively have a chat with Reed about one of their Aquatherm spraydecks:
https://www.chillcheater.com/decks

Rog.

Hi John, not sure I would recommend an inflatable, especially when there may be fishing hooks involved. Sounds like a sit on top would be the best option. Very user friendly and easy to paddle. Great as a base to fish off and perfect for just enjoying the experience of being on the water. He can alw...

'The Romford Navy' is what we call them around here. Shame to tar them all with the same brush as I have come across some really nice ones but they are noisy (but not as noisy as the local RNLI hovercraft!!).

Rog.

Having scanned the report it seems clear that cutting the kelp does not mean that the plant regenerates from the original holdfast and by leaving the holdfast in place it may well reduce the ability for new kelp plants to establish themselves... so it is not like some of the other types of seaweed t...

Norway has a similar harvesting technique in some areas and there is strong evidence that it is very damaging for the environment, affecting not just populations of species living in the immediate area but also affecting the juvenile fish stocks that use the kelp as shelter from predators. I think t...

Email also sent.

maybe something like this:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PERCEPTION-F ... SwtcZbeZlM

Rog.

I am not an expert on SOT's but as there have been no other comments yet I thought I would give some input. I know that the Perception Triumphs are particularly good as they have a hull that reacts similar to a sit inside kayak so you can us it's shape to help turn the boat. They tend to be around t...

Of course Allan, that is fine if you have a confident roll however I was assuming from his comments that the OP is not in that position and that he was looking for a paddle option that made it easier for him to find the surface.

Rog.

I tended to find that the thing with slapping the paddle on the water surface is that in rougher waters you will not necessarily get the same 'feel' from the slap so it can make it more difficult to be sure where the blade is however, with the air core in the blades of the VE the paddle will lay in ...

The VE paddle has an air core in the blade so will find the surface with the blade flat on it naturally.

Rog.

South East Kayaking have a test fleet of Rockpools and they are closer to you...

Rog.

Rockpool Isel... http://www.rockpoolkayaks.com/isel.php or you could consider something like a Zegul/Tahe Greenland (usually an ocean cockpit but some early ones were available with keyhole cockpit I believe) or a Greenland T (keyhole cockpit). https://zegul.taheoutdoors.com/ze_en/speciality.html R...

I have had an Isel for about 2 years but not paddled the Pilgrim so can't do a direct comparison. I can say that the Isel is light (probably lighter tan the Pilgrim), very comfortable and great at inspiring confidence. It is well built (up to Mike Webb's usual standard), robust, great initial and se...

I had a Delphin 150 for about a year but found it a bit of a lump (others may well diagree!). It was the Surf Spec. version so heavier than the standard one and, more especially, than the Corelite one. Mine felt heavy both carrying and paddling. Well worth you having a go in your selection before ma...

The problem, if you want a particular boat, is waiting for a suitable one to come up for sale. There aren't many Aries 155 that I have seen come to the market. Similar problem with boats like the Rockpool Isel and especially an, anything like new, Anas Acuta. There probably aren't masses sold to sta...

I would highly recommend the MSR Dromedary water bladders. I have had two for over 6 years and they have been bullet proof and with no nasty taste:
https://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Prod ... g-6-litre/




Rog.

Worth you looking back over previous posts about spraydecks but i have used Reed Aquatherm ones for a number of years and been very happy with them. Light, tough and even machine washable!! If you contact them they may well know of the appropriate size spraydeck for each boat. https://www.chillcheat...

How about this one:
http://www.surfkayaks.com/product.php?p ... 264&page=1

Rog.

Oh gosh.... there's suddenly loads of them... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nigel-Dennis-NDK-Romany-Classic-Sea-Kayak-Lendal-Sea-Paddles-Nookie-Spraydeck/282869990352?hash=item41dc5d83d0:g:Y2wAAOSw~YRadmh2 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nigel-Dennis-NDK-Romany-Classic-Sea-Kayak-with-Silva-Type-70-Compass-T...

There is one on EBay right now:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/sea-kayak/23 ... SwiqFadLvy


Rog.

Who was your coach? Always good for people to get feedback and recommendations.

Rog.

Also bear in mind that in some instances a rudder can make weathercocking worse as wind from the side will push the front end round whilst the rudder at the rear acts as a pivot point. As long as the rudder is easy to lift out of the water then it is easy to experiment and find out whether to have t...

That's pretty!!

Rog.

Is your problem stability or weather cocking? The scrambler is a fairly stable SOT so I suspect it is weather cocking that is the issue. Ocean Kayak do sell rudder kits but they are very expensive (£300 +) and I don't think they fit the Scrambler. Your best bet may be to replace the Scrambler with a...

That's another possibility. Douglas Wilcox has included details in his blog:
https://seakayakphoto.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... -from.html

Rog.

We paddled the Crinan Canal a few years back. Absolutely lovely apart from having to portage fully loaded kayaks. With some of the locks it is easier to portage a few at a time rather than putting the boat back in the water so i would advise taking a trolley if possible. The locks stop being used, i...

Large swimming noodles are ideal for filling a sit on top. Cheap, resilient (won't puncture and don't need to check they are inflated) and you can push them to the far end of the boat.

Rog.

Hi Daryl, just a thought...where are you based? Bearing in mind you are new to the kayaking it may be worth seeing if there are any paddlers local to you who would be interested in going out with you for the first few times as a bit of a safety net and who may be able to give you a bit of advice/poi...

Just to add... there are 2 Immersion Research options. One is the lighter weight waffle type K2 version (which I have) and the other is the heavier weight option (which I have not tried).

Rog.