I haven't paddled the virgo or the stratos but the p and h delphin would be a good option aswell for what your looking for, I've paddled a 155 delphin and I loved it, its very stable, tracks well, turns really easily and quickly, the seat and thigh braces are comfy for me and it rolls easily aswell,...

Congrats on the new boat, I love the cetus model, I have the cetus lv which suits me perfect as a lighter paddler, this boat handles everything you put it through, I'm relatively new to sea kayaking and its really lets me push my limits with confidence safely, it feels stable in every condition I've...

That is a really good idea to mentally prepare for a mayday call, I suppose in the heat of the moment you never really know how your going to react, I am normally pretty calm in most situations but that been said and thankfully I've not had to save someone else or my own life in a real situation, my...

Cotton will not keep you warm once wet that is why you were freezing, you also increase the chances of Hypothermia. You need to be wearing merino wool as a base layer as it absorbs your sweat but keeps you warm at the same time. The other option is to buy a Divers undersuit these can be got cheaply...

Thank you for the links I will definitely do plenty of reading up on all of this before I go out and buy one, even without the course I can be responsible if the need to use it should arise, it's the standard horizon 300e I'm thinking about when the time comes as it seems to tick all the boxes for w...

I hope I've not stirred up to much controversy here, I was just looking to find out the legal obligations of having a vhf, I'd actually be quite happy to just have it for emergency use tbh as my main concern is for solo paddling, if it's illegal to use for other means I'll just let the others make t...

I know I still need a license I just mean it reads like I do not really need a certificate as in the course to use it, I understand aswell that having a card at hand isn't the best way of doing things but we all need to learn somewhere and if having a protocol card allows me to have an understandabl...

Thanks for those details I'll definitely look onto those books, that was something I've heard, the course is aimed more to yachts and powerboats, another reason why I felt it may be unnecessary for what I'll do with it

I just had a good read of that ofcom link provided by Richard and it reads well, it's looking like I don't need any additional certificates to use a vhf within 12 nautical miles of low tide so this should be plenty coverage for my uses, if I'm wrong please correct me but it does look like that

Thanks guys this is all really helpful, PlymouthDamo I'm sorry to hear that mate, I'm glad your OK but that must have been a horrible experience for you and your group, I have looked up the protocol for making mayday calls and it doesn't look too hard, there's even a card I can print out that explai...

Thank you for that information, I can't disagree with all that you are saying as the course is definitely something I can see myself doing in the near future, even just for a better understanding of it all and to have the paperwork aswell, I was hoping I could just order a vhf and start using it rig...

Hi guys I'm thinking about adding a vhf to my kit and I'm wondering if I would really need to do a vhf course, I think I don't but thought I'd ask here just to hear some opinions, all I want the vhf for is for solo paddling to have an emergency contact to the coast guard if something drastic happens...

Wow that sounds amazing I'd have loved to have been part of your group to experience that, I have seen videos of this before but have never experienced it myself, I see nothing wrong in what you done, if you let them come to you which you did do, then you've just had an amazing animal encounter that...

I have the exact same problem, it was my first drysuit and I done a leak test in the bath when I got it and all was well, first paddle I layered up underneath with cotton t shirts and and light jumper, as you say paddling was fine and I was warm but as soon as we stopped I was freezing and all of my...

That's an interesting idea the air pocket, I've thought about running a tube through the spray deck for that if it would work, I can hold my breath for a long while in a calm environment, I timed myself a few nights ago and I could comfortably manage 1.5 minutes and I managed to hold it for 2 minute...

I seen that video aswell it really is some time they're held under and I can imagine there is nothing you can really do other than hope you got enough of a last breathe to make it through the time spent underwater, I think my next training session will include holding my breath for aslong as possibl...

That's a lot bigger water than it was when I was there thankfully, I'm glad you got of it, it does look good fun though, it looks wild lol

Thanks Mike that does sound like I could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time then as it was the north pillar I was at, thankfully I wasn't dragged down too deep but I still think that was due to the death grip I had on my kayak lol and it is a 17.5ft boat with bulkheads so has a lot of bu...

I don't have any experience of paddling a rebel kayak but I have only read good things about them if thats the style of boat you want, there definitely more traditionally styled which personally I find stunning, the husky really is a lovely looking boat, I know some of the models don't come with any...

Thanks very much Jim it was a spring ebb flow I was on aswell but the standing waves weren't that big to surf this day, that's reassuring to hear that it shouldnt hold me under for too long, it definitely was a scare as it was my first time in that environment but there is only one way to learn and ...

OK I'll just leave it where it is at the moment, I have done a bit of my own research aswell now and from what I can see, whirlpools that appear and dissapate on moving water such as tide races and rivers aren't as sinister as the static whirlpools and even if they do pull you under should let go in...

Thanks Jonny I'll put one there too

Hi everyone I have just recently experienced my first ever paddle on moving water at the falls of lora under Connel bridge with 2 instructors from my kayak club, it was an incredible day and had a lot of fun mainly on the south side current as it was more forgiving but I did give the north side a fe...

Thanks everyone, there's a lot of really good information here now, I think a tandem would be good for us, the most important thing for us is that I can control the kayak if the front paddler needs a break so it's nice to see that it's possible with the skills and practise, I don't imagine it'll eve...

Hi Nick thanks for that detailed reply and I do take your experience into consideration and can definitely get what your saying, when I was referring to blaming and name calling I was really just having a laugh we weren't having a domestic in the inflatable kayak lol just a bit of going all over the...

I really appreciate all your help here i think the tandem could be a good option for us, I'll still have my own boat aswell for other trips, I can testify to the divorce boat lol we first got a tandem inflatable which was great fun just a nightmare in wind but very safe and stable, at the beginning ...

Thanks very much that's reassuring to know it can work, I definitely would be paddling tandem in the calmer stuff for a few trips first to get both of us used to the kayak and slowly progress into more conditions as she feels safer, she says she trusts me in a kayak as she's came down to watch at ri...

Hi everyone I have a few questions I'd like to ask you all about tandem kayaks as I've not had the chance to paddle one or know anyone who has own to try it out, long story short I have been kayaking for a while now joined a club and have been on lots of trips in conditions upto force 4 and 20 plus ...

You'll do well finding pubs 15 miles apart in Scotland, most are crawling distance from each other lol joking aside, the Isle of skye would be a nice coast to paddle around and you'll more than likely be close enough to a nice wee pub, the west coast is also a nice paddle and it can be guaranteed th...

I just thought I would add to my post I had another go in the surf zone today, landing on one of the beaches just past the north coast of the Isle of Gigha, my first time in force 4 seas aswell and managed to surf in some above head height waves all the way to the beach without a capsize, I did broa...