Kayak for Low Intensity/Beginner

[vetspet80]

I am looking to purchase a kayak for myself but am not into the high intensity stuff. We typically float the Buffalo and Spring River every year and also like to paddle around on local rivers and lakes. What type/brand of kayak would you suggest? I am 5'1" and weigh around 130.

Thanks,
brandy

[rickyrod]

From what I can tell youre looking for a light duty recreational boat specific to youre needs. something with lenght for ease of paddleing remember that longer boats move faster with less effort but are harder to turn. they are made to cover vast distences. I started in somthing like this in the fishing models. great for getting along and alot cheaper then what we all paddle . my 2cents. good luck .

[turboturtle]

Welcome to the site. It is here where you will get a plethora of information on most anything you can dream up to ask about paddling.

Brandy, their are a hundred different manufactures building boats to conform to most any desire. I think the Old Town Canoe Co. might have something to fit your needs. I went and looked at one of the Otter 12 series boats with a friend the other day and was both surprised and impressed with the model I checked out with Kevin. Needless to say he purchased it. He gave Three-fifty for it and a paddle. It seemed like a reasonable boat to get a start in, if not keeping and paddling it for years. All he wanted to do was to float and fish the Buffalo and other like streams.

Check here; http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/kayaks/recreation/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Or holla at Triple O. Otherwise known as Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters. Don, Jeremy and the rest can help with selecting a kayak to fit your needs. They also have a selection of Demo boats which could easily be tried out on one of the neighboring lakes. Their recreation line is second to none in Arkansas. Give them a call at 501.767.1373 or check their website. http://www.ouachitaoutdoors.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bob

[Regud]

I second the above post.

You might want to consider looking at the Dagger Approach 10. It is on the slightly more aggressive side of what you are looking for, but it will not disappoint you. I have paddled mine down the Mulberry and fished from it on Osage Creek.

http://www.dagger.com/product/index/pro ... oach_10_0/

[David Lewis]

I was going to recommend the Dagger Approach 10', as well. I bought mine at Ouachita Outdoors, along with a seat insert for more back support. Don even installed rivets to anchor the seat to.

I bought a sea kayak first, a 14-foot Perception Carolina. Don't do that unless you plan on floating lakes or oceans.

I bought the Dagger second, and I love that boat. I've had it on the Buffalo a couple of times, and it's perfect for that. I've run Class 2+ rapids in it no problem. And when you get into long pools it has a drop-down skeg (rudder) that magically allows the boat to track straight effortlessly.

I just got a "real" whitewater boat, but that's not what you want either. The Dagger or something like it would be a good choice. Be prepared to spend $7-800 for a new one.

[Michele Jackson]

I've never paddled a Dagger Approach but it looks like a great boat for what you'll be doing. It also comes in a 9 ft length which may be a better (smaller) size for you.

[Mike_P]

Another couple of options, but they are new boats so not cheap

http://www.jacksonkayak.com/kayaks/prod ... t=allwater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.liquidlogickayaks.com/REMIX_XP9.cfm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[justin.payne]

Old Town Otter is what I would go with, or maybe even a Rush. Probably the best Buffalo River kayak I have ever seen. Old Town Rush was my first. I'm going to go ahead and foreworn you: Paddlers General Warning: This sport may cause severe addiction to rain, floods and the great outdoors. Enter at your own risk

[Regud]

I saw this on Craigslist this morning

Dagger Approach 9' $550 in Fort Smith

http://fortsmith.craigslist.org/boa/1141257282.html

[turboturtle]

Dang, I wish I had that Dagger in my quiver of kayaks.

Brandy, it might be too much money, Ida know, but you could always sell or trade it if it was not a good boat for you. I can't imagine that however.
This would make an excellent first and or last boat for you. check the craiglist add and se for yourself. Nice picture of it.

[waldo]

Brandy, last year I was in the same boat as you (pardon the pun, I know it's bad). I was looking for something along the same lines as you so I bought a 12' riot recreational kayak. It was really comfortable and it was fairly easy to paddle. It was ok on the lake, but let's just say I took a swim a few times on the creek. Plus, when it got full of water, it took a mule team to get it out of the creek and get the water dumped out. Plus, I didn't like the idea of being upside down in the water on the creek. So, I sold it and about 3 weeks ago I bought a wilderness systems 100 sit on top from Pack Rat in Fayetteville. http://www.shopgetoutdoors.com/boats/pa ... 100-2.html

It's a 10' boat and I've had it out twice on the creek in some class II+ stuff on Piney and the Illinois Bayou and I love it. I have yet to take a swim! It has great storage, it's really comfortable, has awesome storage and it doesn't get full of water. It's designed to fish out of and has equipment attachment rails for rod holders or whatever. It's also easy to paddle and pretty much goes where you want it to. It was a little pricey, it cost $650 and I didn't buy a paddle or anything else with it. But, if I had to do it over again I would definitely buy another one.

[rickyrod]

go dagger and you can't go wrong!

[Jaytee]

The Approach is great but might be more ww/hybrid than you need depending on your goals, and doesn't have nearly the comfortable seat of a true rec boat. Depends on your goals, but you can get into a very affordable entry level rec boat like the Dagger Zydeco for under $500.

Also snoop around the internet for deals. I picked us up a pair of Dagger Blackwater 10.5 boats from a shop in Georgia for $1200 total, shipped to my door, no sales tax. Some of those same online vendors offer package pricing on boat, paddle, and PFD. One of the biggies is Outdoorplay, though they weren't quite as cheap as the deal I found on a closeout from The Outside World.

PS, don't over think it. Most of the poly rec boats under 11 feet are pretty similar, but if you are going to take it on lakes at all a skeg is nice and Dagger offers that on several models.

My opinion is far from expert, as we're going into our second season, but I shopped the rec boat market intensely for nearly a year. Researched, test paddled, so, for what it's worth.