kayaks

[Leslie]

Not hunting or fishing, but, it IS outdoors......


Been wanting a kayak. Whitewater kind. For quite some time, actually......

I used to do a bit of whitewater, but was more of the old-school Blue-Hole canoe fella, taking after my father.... first couple of times in a kayak I wasn't quite comfortable, but still had a lot of fun. Started getting the hang of it, then really started wanting one of my own instead of just bumming one every now and then.... but, life's always gotten in the way.

Used to, Perception was the big-dog, then Dagger came along. Then Dagger was bought by the folks that owned Perception, then they moved from Harriman down to South Carolina. Boats have changed, have gone from displacement hulls to those thin pinched playboats for creekin' and rodeos. I'm still partial to displacement hulls. Still partial to Dagger, but have heard a bit about Fluid and Necky (but in the low-volume styles).


Anyone up on current boats? Do's/Don'ts?



-L

 

[dent]

don't know too much about kayaks as I'm more into whitewater canoeing... you might also want to check out Pyranhas. A friend of mine has one and swears on them but on the same token another friend's got a dagger and swears on that too. Also there's Prijon and Riot as well... good luck
think you should try white water canoeing
sam

 

[F18Guy]

I am a big fan of Current Design kayaks and Necky Kayaks. I know they both manufacture great touring boats.......

 

[kellymoe]

I started out with a Perception Dancer years ago and have kind of stuck with Perception. The only exception being a Eurokayak Probe, a 7' creek boat. I know have a Perception Java creek boat and a Perception Mr. Clean, oh and a Perception Overflow. I like having a few different boats to choose from depending on water levels mood and difficulty. Since having back surgery this year I may not be doing much boatin in the future but I am hopeful.

 

[Leslie]

Back in the mid-70's, Dad actually drove down to Sunbright to pick up his Blue Hole from the factory... we used to go with him when he was running the Nantahala and the Nolichucky. When I was in high school, I'd borrow his Blue Hole and go to the Nolichucky, or the Holston... nothing serious, just running shoals, usually camping out. But I was a camp counselor, and we had a fleet of canoes, kayaks, and funyaks, that we would run the 'Chuckey with. Usually I was in a canoe, sometimes the funyak (actually rolled the thing once). Didn't get to play much in a kayak, but I was intrigued.

I'm comfortable in a canoe. And I can still go bum dad's if I need it. But I'm wanting to try out a kayak; something different, not as rough on the knees (I'm not as young as I used to be).

Paul, I'm thinking that I need a tourer, too, but, that's something that I might consider down the road. For now, I'm thinking smaller....

Kevin: an old highschool buddy of mine who's still local is like that, has a little fleet of 'em, picks which one he wants to use, depending on where he's headed.... I don't know if I'll get to that level of sophistication... I'm kinda like the fella who'd play golf with a driver and a putter, and not bother with the other clubs..... lol.......

I'm thinking used, maybe an RPM-Max or an Animas. I dunno, depends on what I can find......


Thx for the input, all......


-L

 

[Discokayaker]

Leslie,

Go hang out at http://www.boatertalk.com for awhile. A VERY active forum with tons of information. Planing hull boats are definitly the way to go now a days.

Lance

 

[Leslie]

Planing hull boats are definitly the way to go now a days.
Lance

But if you have a planing hull, where do you fit the tent/sleeping bag??

When we used to run ol' Dancers at camp, we'd shove a tarp and a bedroll into the stern, and a bit of food/beverage into the bow. Drop a vehicle off at the take-out, head up to the put-in... paddle down the river, run a few of the interesting stretches a couple of times along the way, camp at some point, then continue on down to the vehicle the next day. I'm not talking about extravagant canoe-expedition camping w/ stoves, lanterns, etc.; more like overnight backpacking w/ the stuff tucked in the boat instead of on the back.

As far as the other direction, I don't really want to go to a full-blown touring kayak when running these light rivers around here either (Pound, Clinch, Powell, Nolichucky, Holston, French Broad, Caney, Russell Fork, etc. etc.....). If it can handle the Nantahala as well, it's good enough...

Maybe I'm just too old-school.....


Thanks for the input, tho...... I'll have to check out that link.....



-L

 

[kellymoe]

My Perception Java is a creek boat but compared to the Dancer it has a planing hull. Many of the modern creek boats would have been considered rodeo boats just a few years ago. I can store more gear in my Java than I could in any previous boat I have owned and I have done a fair amount of "expedition" boating here in California. Although after reading your post again I see you packed a sleeping bag and tent. I always suffered with a bivy sack and slept close to the fire .

 

[Leslie]

I've spent too many nights sleeping under a bush during a downpour w/ naught but a poncho and liner for comfort (w/ an M16 under me to keep it dry and within reach... kinda lumpy to sleep on, though)..... so, I do try to "pamper" myself w/ at least a lightweight bag and a pad, and a small tent.... still not fancy, but, I can at least carry something light, something that actually keeps the water off, and can go at my pace instead of being told when to go.....


I've got a lead on an Animas for cheap.... it might do to start w/, and if it doesn't suit well, then I can get something else later......



-L

 

[nosivad_bor]

pretty cool if they stay clear!

http://www.clearbluehawaii.com/products/boats/napali.html

 

[Leslie]

That IS a cool boat.... I don't think I'd want to run the Ocoee or the Gauley in it, but it'd be fine on the calmer rivers and lakes around here.....

Given the Animas was only $200, though, instead of $4500, well.....

Have to admit, the fact it folds up and could go in the trunk is really, really neat.....



-L

 

[rover4x4]

You gonna be playing creekin or just runnin rivers? My friends seems to like WAve Sport Dagger and the Pyrahna's or however you speel it..

 

[Leslie]

More towards river runnin', but I'm not opposed to finding a good smooth patch to try to surf on every so often.... I've got an old paddlin' friend from back in high school who's likin' the Powell, I may try to tag along with him to bust the rust off..... Clinch and Holston are pretty simple rivers, occasional shoals, nothin' to mention.... The Guest, the Russell Fork, Nolichucky, the Caney and the Elk, those are the more interesting spots up this way. I'd like to get down to the Nantahala, maybe over to the Ocoee some, but not yet, not for a good while... Chatooga anyone? Meet ya at Woodall Shoals sometime! lol....


-L

 

[discodriveradam]

Leslie, check out Eric Jackson's new line of boats.

www.jacksonkayak.com

The Fun series make great river runners.

He just opened shop this spring, so notoriety is not great yet, but I own a Fun and an All-Star (JK's playboat), and I love 'em.

FWIW...

Edit: And by the way, if you want to bust the rust off, get out this weekend while everything in our area is up from the hurricane; lots of good paddling right now. Then you can come up to Gauley Fest.

 

[Leslie]

I've got a boat now, but I'm still waiting on the paddle! (Found a Werner for about half-off, it's enroute - won't be here 'til after the weekend.....)

Rock Island? Isn't that down near Spencer? That's right on Caney, isn't it? Right were the river does that funky twist with a couple of rivers all hitting, has some HUGE rocks in the middle of the stream, with some older skinny bridges? Did a geology trip through the area once upon a time.... really neat spot......




-L

 

[discodriveradam]

You're right on the money. There's also a play spot down there called "The Hole" that features world-class playboating. Best part is, it's in my backyard.

 

[Greg French]

The best kayak is the one you are most comfortable in.
I (used to) compete in Surf Kayaking, and have severak different boats for different conditions.
Some I have tried are just too small and cramped, while some are too large. Try a few on before you buy.

 

[Discojunky]

Two favorite hobbies!

 

[kellymoe]

Discojunky,

I had to post this after I saw your pic. It is a little overexposed. Just went boating yesterday and am waiting for an El Nino winter to do some creekin.

 

[spydrjon]

I always prefered my Dagger Cetrifuge, very edgy boat, you will either learn a new level of control or you will wind up perfecting your roll. I have friends with wavesports and they swear by them. For creeking however there is nothing like the Pyranha micro 240.