Ok so I’m thinking about buying a kayak. I live about 100yards from the Kennet and Avon so I’m guessing I can just carry it down the road plonk it in water and go? The other thing is, which one do I buy? I’ve not much experience but several years ago whilst staying on the island of Roatan /Honduras I hired one for the day and seemed to get the hang of it pretty quickly, I didn’t have any problem paddling it round the bay for several hours.

The one I hired was a ‘sit on top’ style similar to these

http://www.canoesandkayaks.co.uk/category/69/Solo_Sit_On_Top_Kayaks

…but would I be better off with a ‘general purpose’ one like these

http://www.canoesandkayaks.co.uk/category/33/General_Purpose_Kayaks

obviously there will be differences, advantages and disadvantages etc but tbh I haven’t a clue what. I guess I’d use it most of the time on the river as I don’t go to the coast very often, but that could soon change!

Kev

I’m not trying to avoid an answer, but do a wee search on here for kayaks and canoes. There’s been a few threads recently.

Kennet and Avon canal? Technically you need a British Canoe Union license to paddle canals but I personally wouldn’t worry about it.

My advice as always would be to seek out a local club who will no doubt let you have some free taster sessions, and try out different boats before you commit to a specific one.

Also, ask the same question on UKriversguidebook (Google it).
Its the kayaking equivalent of here…

ah right ok, I kind of thought there might be the license thing, and thanks for the info, I’ve googled that and will have look.
ta.

Druid, I don’t know if it’s just me or not but I find the search facility on here pretty much as good as useless. Like type ‘kayak’ in, this is the first result >

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-planet-x-flat-bar-road-bike-macbook-pro-fox-float-36-kayak#post-3761778

Kev

Learn to use “Advanced Search”…

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/search.php?search=kayak&advanced=1&exact=1&posts=1&highlight=1&users=0&located=0&forums%5B%5D=0&maxcount=100&age=93&direction=0&sort=date&order=0

I’d say you’d get bored of the Kennet pretty quickly. The sea is a bit more fun. I like the sit on top type as they are good toys, but they are generally frowned (sneered?) upon by proper kayakers. Good fun in the surf or for general mucking about, we’ve played power kiting and how-many-people-can-it-carry. Infalatebles are nice and practical, too. Just chuck it in car when you go away and if the conditions are OK have a play. Not great handling or fast but a good toy as well

ive had my s.o.t feelfree nomad for about 7 years now started using it mainly for messing about in the surf but now i seem to be using it more for fishing and exploring the coastlines so i would think the sit on tops are a bit more versatile for different uses.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/i-think-i-want-to-go-kayaking

Got an Ocean Frenzy sit on, kids used it loads when they were younger. Loved the OF, really stable, does not get waterlogged,if you get swamped it self drains – as someone has already said it’s not a “proper” kayak. Getting in as many different types as you can is a good starts as Kayak23 said – check out your local watersports lakes as they sometimes do demo days with local clubs or shops.

I’ve got a feel free corona on order. I did quite a bit of research and spoke to the excellent chaps at Brookbank, who helped me decide what was best.

Join your local club. Proper instruction, lots of variation and the ability to try lots of different types of canoes and canoeing without buying everything.

I like the sit on top type as they are good toys, but they are generally frowned (sneered?) upon by proper kayakers

Bit like 29’ers…. 😉

What I love about mountain biking…..you don’t have to don a **** wetsuit/drysuit and look like a navy frogman…..you don’t have to go through half a tonne of grades/training…..you don’t have to put up with socializing in clubs……and finally you don’t need a license to go and ride…..

All you have to do is swing a leg over your bike, stick a helmet on and hit the local trails.

I love mountain biking, but some times doing a bit of canoeing/kayaking then wild camping. Then going mountain biking next day great fun. And you don’t have to go to the trouble of looking like a frogman.

bwaarp – Member
What I love about mountain biking…..you don’t have to don a **** wetsuit/drysuit and look like a navy frogman…..you don’t have to go through half a tonne of grades/training…..you don’t have to put up with socializing in clubs……and finally you don’t need a license to go and ride…..

I wear a wetsuit when it’s likely to be very cold, I’ve had no training, I’m not in a club and I don’t need a license or permission to paddle.

I’ve got one of these….

http://www.perception.co.uk/product/index/products/touring_and_sea/carolina/carolina_fourteen/

Basically the longer kayaks are faster and the shorter kayaks are more maneuverable.

If you want to do a bit a touring then you’d be better off with a longer kayak 14ft+.

Got a Perception Acadia I was gonna put on ebay later this week – pm me if you think it might float your boat 😆

My twopenneth; for what it’s worth. I would think long and hard about trying to sort out some transport for you and whatever kayak you decide to get. Carrying your boat to the same entry point every time you want to paddle will get a bit boring unless you live next to a particularly interesting stretch of water. It will be a bit like cycling the same trail every time you go out on your bike. Variety is the spice of life!

If you can mix it up a bit it’s a great sport to get into.

BB

What I love about mountain biking…..you don’t have to don a **** wetsuit/drysuit and look like a navy frogman…..you don’t have to go through half a tonne of grades/training…..you don’t have to put up with socializing in clubs……and finally you don’t need a license to go and ride…..

All you have to do is swing a leg over your bike, stick a helmet on and hit the local trails

It is true, the kit you have to wear to deal with long exposure to cold water and weather can feel a bit restrictive, but thats why kayakers seek out sunnier climes just like bikers where you can wear much less. Besides, if you like kit, its good for that.

You don’t have to do any training whatsoever. I’ve never understood that element in kayakers personally, getting their ‘star’ grades. Its mostly done by people who want to go on to coach others and need the awards as prerequisites for coaching. I did my two star award many years ago which basically requires you to show that you can forward paddle etc. Never bothered after that.

‘Put up’ with socialising? Well, some people are more sociable than others for sure. I joined clubs early on and it was a great way to get into what can be a pretty complex and intimidating world as an outsider. I met some fantastic people and have travelled all over the world with my boat. Later on of of course, splinter groups would form and we would go and paddle rivers of our choice, the club becoming just a meeting point or ‘hub’ for organising trips. I never got involved with my nearest club when I moved, it was pretty much just boat storage.

You do not need a license to go kayaking.
Just as you see there are access disputes for walkers, mountainbikers, climbers and anyone and everyone who uses the countryside, there are continuing disputes for kayakers about access to rivers which technically we only have access to something like 3% of in England and Wales ‘legally’…
Its a messy system, an unfair system, largely fuelled by self-interested and self-centred parties (read fishermen/anglers….oops, did I say that out loud?…)

What I love about kayaking each time I go, I don’t have to spend ages cleaning my boat…..just shove it in the shed and its good to go. 😀