First Time Buyers

Hey guys, Sorry I havn't posted for a while.  I've been out paddling around some of our local lakes.  Today I want to talk to first time kayak buyers.  Most of you have either never been in a kayk or have only been in one a few times.

There are a few things you really need to consider when looking for your first boat.

• How comfortable you are in and on the water (are you a good swimmer)
• What kind of paddling you intend to do
• Do you plan on upgrading as you advance or do you need a boat that will allow you to grow
• Weight
• Price

Let's start at the top of the list.  Are you comfortable in a regular boat or canoe?  Do you feel panicky or anxious when the boat is rocking back and forth?  Are you afraid of the boat tipping over?  All important questions to ask yourself.  If you answered yes to any of these then you need a kayak that has a lot of stability.  This equates to a boat that is a little wider in the middle and flat on the bottom. 

Second thing, what kind of paddling do you intend to do?  If your a recreational paddler and intend to do a little bit of everything then a recreational kayak is the way to go.  If you intend on taking it to specific places then you may want a specialized kayak.  Some examples are white water, sea kayak or fishing kayak.

 Do you intend to upgrade or do more advanced kayking in the future?  This is important.  If your the average person then your probably looking at only ever buying this one boat.  If your the kind of person that happens to enjoy advancing and challenging themselves then you may be looking to upgrade at some point.  This is where things can get a little complicated.  If you only ever plan on going on flat water with your kayak and never plan learning more advanced techniques like the eskimo roll, then a basic recreational kayak will fit the bill.  However if you intend to grow and take classes then you need to decide if you can afford to buy another kayak in a couple of years.  If not there are a lot of kayaks up there that will give you all the things your looking for in a basic beginners boat and still allow you to advance to more technical paddling.

Weight is important if your going to be transporting the boat yourself.  You need to be able to physically lift your kayak on and off your car and in many cases carry it to the water.  A couple of things here.  Kayaks are made of two types of materials.  Plastic which is heavier, slower in the water but much more durable.  And Fiberglass which is lighter, faster in the water, but easier to punch a hole in.  I would suggest that people go with the plastic even though it's heavier.  It's nearly indestructable and so forgiving if you bang it off a rock or drop it.

Price, is the last thing I would suggest you consider.  Figure out what your looking for in a boat and then figure out what you can afford to spend.  Then go out and find the boat that comes the closest to what your looking for and meets your price range.  A quick note.  You can find many kayaks out there for $200-$300 and I often see people come in that are looking to spend that.  Often I talk them into buying a boat that is between the $300-$400.  For the extra $100 you typically get much, mch better product and that translates into to a better time on the water.

A coule of quick comments.  I meet people all the time that want to buy a kayak but they want a big cockpit or opening, because they are afraid of being trapped if they tip over.  This won't happen guys.  Even in boats that are designed for rolling you have to hold yourself in the kayak by pushing against knee braces.  A larger cockpit will however allow you to get in and out of the boat easier when launching or finishing for the day. 

The last thing that I want to say is try as many boats out as you can.  Many places rent kayaks or give demo days.  Often if you talk to the store they'll bring specific boats that you may be interested in.

Thanks Jon