Any Kayaker for opinion

[Biker1mike]

My live in grand daughter is 17 and wants kayak for the local lake. She has used a rented one and liked it.
Is a starter kayak from Wall-mark or Sam's club good enough to start ?
Or should I go to a sporting good store and spend closer to 600 bucks ?
The $1000 and up are out of the question.
I'd hate to see it used one summer and then rot in the shed.

Will try to buy orange !!
Thanks

 

[fried1765]

My live in grand daughter is 17 and wants kayak for the local lake. She has used a rented one and liked it.
Is a starter kayak from Wall-mark or Sam's club good enough to start ?
Or should I go to a sporting good store and spend closer to 600 bucks ?
The $1000 and up are out of the question.
I'd hate to see it used one summer and then rot in the shed.

Will try to buy orange !!
Thanks

At a minimum, I would go to a local sporting goods store for advice.
Of course, they will then try their best to sell you their kayak.

 

[D2Cat]

Do as Fried suggested for advise. When they present what they have for sale take special note, then look for similar quality FB markeplace at greatly reduced price. Those are the folks who bought the high dollar outfits and only used one season.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Please make sure she wears her PFD, every time she's on the water,NO exceptions.

 

[bird dogger]

My live in grand daughter is 17 and wants kayak for the local lake. She has used a rented one and liked it.
Is a starter kayak from Wall-mark or Sam's club good enough to start ?
Or should I go to a sporting good store and spend closer to 600 bucks ?
The $1000 and up are out of the question.
I'd hate to see it used one summer and then rot in the shed.

Will try to buy orange !!
Thanks

We have a couple of the less expensive and shorter kayaks like you speak of. They've been plenty fine when the kids were at home and they and their friends paddled around the lake on them. I also have an Old Town 17 footer. that one will get up and move!! But it's heavy and narrow.....hence tippy to a beginner.

In my opinion there's nothing wrong with the shorter/less costly ones for playing around on the water. And they're light enough where the kids can launch/retrieve them on their own whenever they want to. They've always been the kayak of choice between the wife and our kids. Just too easy to use!

David

 

[Biker1mike]

Please make sure she wears her PFD, every time she's on the water,NO exceptions.

Greensville,
That fact has already drilled into the kid. She has fished (actually tanned while I fished) from my old canoe and kayaked with a cousin's kayak. Like seat belts, she grew up with it and it just second nature to put on a vest.
When she was just a wee little one I showed her the grapple hook we used to drag for drowning victims. Her mother and aunt's got the same tour. The Hudson river and it's bays can turn nasty in a heart beat.

 

[trial and error]

Greensville,
That fact has already drilled into the kid. She has fished (actually tanned while I fished) from my old canoe and kayaked with a cousin's kayak. Like seat belts, she grew up with it and it just second nature to put on a vest.
When she was just a wee little one I showed her the grapple hook we used to drag for drowning victims. Her mother and aunt's got the same tour. The Hudson river and it's bays can turn nasty in a heart beat.

Hudson River, that's in my backyard, but I'm up in orange county. I didn't realize you where that close

I like other suggestions of gently used higher end or a basic low$ new, so long as ot doesn't get too battered it could always be resold

 

[NCL4701]

We have two relatively short sit on top kayaks. Simple plastic shells. They’re great for paddling around, just generally messing around on lakes. No real maintenance. Stable (for a kayak). Lightweight (one person can put it on a roof rack). Probably wouldn’t get a long skinny one unless you have a need for speed as that reduction in drag coefficient comes at the cost of stability. You can spend as much as you want and get all sorts of stuff like a rudder, dry bins, fishing rod holders, etc. For messing around on a lake a $200 to $350 bare bones one is all you need.

 

[Biker1mike]

Hudson River, that's in my backyard, but I'm up in orange county. I didn't realize you where that close

I like other suggestions of gently used higher end or a basic low$ new, so long as ot doesn't get too battered it could always be resold

LMAO. You mean down in Orange county. I am a down stater to the guys in Gouveneur and an upstate hick to those from Westchester.
I have dipped my toes in the Hudson from the high peaks in the Adirondacks to Ossining.
Kid's school is within sight of the river but we live closer to the NY, Ct, Ma border.
Hell bent from nowhere according to the kids that have grown and moved.

Starting to look like Dick's Sporting for the kid's kayak.
Mine is coming from from Brooklyn Kayak for fishing.

 

[trial and error]

LMAO. You mean down in Orange county. I am a down stater to the guys in Gouveneur and an upstate hick to those from Westchester.
I have dipped my toes in the Hudson from the high peaks in the Adirondacks to Ossining.
Kid's school is within sight of the river but we live closer to the NY, Ct, Ma border.
Hell bent from nowhere according to the kids that have grown and moved.

Starting to look like Dick's Sporting for the kid's kayak.
Mine is coming from from Brooklyn Kayak for fishing.

Lol yes I would be south west from you,

 

[Geezer3d]

I am in Ulster county. My wife and I have a couple of kayaks and like to paddle mostly on flat water. I recommend a sit inside kayak rather than a sit on top one for comfort and stability. Also, the ones which are molded in a single piece are sturdier than the ones which are made from two pieces, top and bottom, glued together.

Other than that, the less expensive models sold by the discount stores should be fine for flat water. Most, if not all, are rated for how much weight they will carry, and an overloaded kayak is unstable and difficulty to manage.

One other thing, most, but not all, kayaks have flotation built in. Usually just a piece of foam inside somewhere. That is there to keep the kayak above water if it fills with water. That is a desirable feature.

 

[cthomas]

Hell, if you were closer I sell you mine for one hundred bucks and includes a snowmobile.

 

[Russell King]

Here are some opinions on the subject…
For open lakes a longer kayak is easier to go straight in.
If the water is cold a sit on top is easier to stay warm on.
If you need to carry it by yourself get one with handles near the center on the sides.
If you plan on hauling much equipment get one with waterproof storage bays (Most sit on tops have this)
Get one with good seating and back support
Get one with adjustable foot support.
If you want to fish get one that holds fishing poles.
I would recommend spending about $500 at least.
I like the single piece rotomolded ones for durability for use on river with shallow water where the bottom sometimes bumps the bottom.
Standing up from them is difficult so the sit on top are easy to get onto and off of.

I own several so I can loan them to friends who visit and between the 12 foot Perception Pescador and the cheaper Pelican 10 foot the pescador is much better.

Remember the boat is only part of the cost. Paddle, life jacket, kayak cart (wheels)etc are all needed to use it.

Look for used ones in local pawn shops for starters.

 

[Trapper Bob]

I think the decision is, “sit in or sit on”. “Sit in” has a lower CG & somewhat more stable. The “sit on” is easier to get away from if you roll. Is your granddaughter a smaller person or not? This would affect the ability to get out of a “sit in”. Is your granddaughter calm under pressure? A “sit in” takes just a little more skill to operate.
I prefer the “sit in”. There is something really cool about being eye level (or below) a tail walking largemouth Bass.
Take her with you & have her “sit in or sit on” to find something that fits. If she is going to do this on her own, have her lift/manipulate it to see if she can handle it. Buy 2 (find 1 that fits you) & go with her.

 

[Pawnee]

Starter kayak is good enough to start on. She can decide later if she wants good stuff.
If she uses a skirt make sure she knows how to pull it when she's up side down.
Even if no skirt make sure she knows how to eject when up side down.

Benny Marr's dad.

 

[GeoHorn]

Here are some opinions on the subject…
For open lakes a longer kayak is easier to go straight in.
If the water is cold a sit on top is easier to stay warm on.
If you need to carry it by yourself get one with handles near the center on the sides.
If you plan on hauling much equipment get one with waterproof storage bays (Most sit on tops have this)
Get one with good seating and back support
Get one with adjustable foot support.
If you want to fish get one that holds fishing poles.
I would recommend spending about $500 at least.
I like the single piece rotomolded ones for durability for use on river with shallow water where the bottom sometimes bumps the bottom.
Standing up from them is difficult so the sit on top are easy to get onto and off of.

I own several so I can loan them to friends who visit and between the 12 foot Perception Pescador and the cheaper Pelican 10 foot the pescador is much better.

Remember the boat is only part of the cost. Paddle, life jacket, kayak cart (wheels)etc are all needed to use it.

Look for used ones in local pawn shops for starters.

I like everything you posted…except for patronizing pawn shops. (They’re overpriced scavengers that encourage thieves and prey on folks, imo.)