Starting out!!
Starting out!!
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Last edited by KevCos on Sun May 03, 2015 12:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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ciaranclissmann
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:37 am
Re:Starting out!!
Well, you\'re in the right place for paddling!
Most people get a plastic boat as their first boat, I think it\'s fair to say. The most popular brands are Valley and Nigel Dennis (talk to Des at www.deepblueseakayaking.com), but there are also a scattering of Daggers, dags, Point 60 Norths and others on the water. Beware (in my view) of anything less than 16 feet long. Some outfitters (Jim Kennedy, John Hynes also sell off boats from time to time. And a couple of shops (e.g. Great Outdoors) sell them too. I\'ve personally always dealt with Des and wouldn\'t dream of buying from anyone else.
That said, try before you buy. It\'s certainly worth, as a beginner, trying
- an Avocet (valley)
- a Romany (NDK)
- an Aquanaut (valley)
- an Explorer (strictly, a Romany Explorer)(NDK)
Of these, only the valleys are available in plastic, which is perhaps why you see a lot of plastic avocets and aquanauts out there.
There are also often Perception Sealions/Sealion Fastnets around. These aren\'t a bad beginner\'s boat, but you do need a rudder fitted. Similarly Pyranha Orcas (which I have never paddled, but the consensus seems to be that without a rudder they are tricky in wind).
On the topic of skegs and rudders, YES you should have one or the other. Most \'hard core\' paddlers go with skegs, but there are notable exceptions I am not even worthy to name (Eileen Murphy, for one), who go with rudders. Without one or the other, you will work harder, much harder, in a cross wind and a following wind. By all means buy a a boat without either, but reckon an fitting an aftermarket rudder ASAP.
On kevlar, you get a weight benefit that you feel most acutely as you get your boat on and off the car; I don\'t think there\'s any performance differenec on the water, or if there is, it\'s pretty slight. That said, they\'re a bit tougher than fibreglass, but don\'t come anywhere near the ability of plastic to be bashed around and abused. Many beginners are still developing their rockhopping skills, and plastic is definitely best for that.
The site has links (see the links section) to pretty much all the instructional options around; I fear that Des (again) is perhaps the nearest formal instructor. There is a developing westcoast scene, however, and the lads tend to be quite supportive and easygoing, if you\'re prepared to put in some effort to keep up..... Certainly, you\'d benefit from some formal sea paddling instruction, because there are real differences compared to inland waterways, not least the enormous effect of wind.
Hope all this helps
Ciaran
KevCos wrote:
Most people get a plastic boat as their first boat, I think it\'s fair to say. The most popular brands are Valley and Nigel Dennis (talk to Des at www.deepblueseakayaking.com), but there are also a scattering of Daggers, dags, Point 60 Norths and others on the water. Beware (in my view) of anything less than 16 feet long. Some outfitters (Jim Kennedy, John Hynes also sell off boats from time to time. And a couple of shops (e.g. Great Outdoors) sell them too. I\'ve personally always dealt with Des and wouldn\'t dream of buying from anyone else.
That said, try before you buy. It\'s certainly worth, as a beginner, trying
- an Avocet (valley)
- a Romany (NDK)
- an Aquanaut (valley)
- an Explorer (strictly, a Romany Explorer)(NDK)
Of these, only the valleys are available in plastic, which is perhaps why you see a lot of plastic avocets and aquanauts out there.
There are also often Perception Sealions/Sealion Fastnets around. These aren\'t a bad beginner\'s boat, but you do need a rudder fitted. Similarly Pyranha Orcas (which I have never paddled, but the consensus seems to be that without a rudder they are tricky in wind).
On the topic of skegs and rudders, YES you should have one or the other. Most \'hard core\' paddlers go with skegs, but there are notable exceptions I am not even worthy to name (Eileen Murphy, for one), who go with rudders. Without one or the other, you will work harder, much harder, in a cross wind and a following wind. By all means buy a a boat without either, but reckon an fitting an aftermarket rudder ASAP.
On kevlar, you get a weight benefit that you feel most acutely as you get your boat on and off the car; I don\'t think there\'s any performance differenec on the water, or if there is, it\'s pretty slight. That said, they\'re a bit tougher than fibreglass, but don\'t come anywhere near the ability of plastic to be bashed around and abused. Many beginners are still developing their rockhopping skills, and plastic is definitely best for that.
The site has links (see the links section) to pretty much all the instructional options around; I fear that Des (again) is perhaps the nearest formal instructor. There is a developing westcoast scene, however, and the lads tend to be quite supportive and easygoing, if you\'re prepared to put in some effort to keep up..... Certainly, you\'d benefit from some formal sea paddling instruction, because there are real differences compared to inland waterways, not least the enormous effect of wind.
Hope all this helps
Ciaran
KevCos wrote:
Hi All!
Iam just starting out into the world of sea kayaking, and I was wondering if any of you guy\'s could give me the low down on the sport. I have level 2 proficieny from the ICU for inland water, so I can paddle but I\'am pretty green about sea kayaking.
Can anyone tell me what kind of kayak would be a good buy i.e. Palstic,glassor kevlar I know the prices vary, but should quality of boat type precede value for money here?
Is a rudder and/or a skeg a must?
Also any info on training instruction on the west coast (Iam in Galway) would be greatly appreciated.
My email is kevcos@gmail.com my mobile 087 9043557
Many thanks Kev.
Re:Starting out!!
Ciaran,
Thanks for the information, you have thrown quite a bit of light on the subject for me!
Regards Kev
Thanks for the information, you have thrown quite a bit of light on the subject for me!
Regards Kev
Re:Starting out!!
don\'t forget your local suppliers. River Deep Mountain High are in Galway. They probably sell more playboats than anything else but also sell sea kayaks . Talk to Pat or James - they may or may not have a demo boat available.
Definately try out as many boats as you can before you buy (including the crap designs so you know what you don\'t like). Beg, borrow, buy pints or offer to teach a seakayaker some river skills. Go to the symposium is Sligo and talk to people. Talk to the local paddlers - there are a few of us about and occasionlly we go out on the water. Keep an eye on the bulletin board for local west coast traffic. I know it can be hard to filter out from the east coast stuff......
Gerry
0876390005
Definately try out as many boats as you can before you buy (including the crap designs so you know what you don\'t like). Beg, borrow, buy pints or offer to teach a seakayaker some river skills. Go to the symposium is Sligo and talk to people. Talk to the local paddlers - there are a few of us about and occasionlly we go out on the water. Keep an eye on the bulletin board for local west coast traffic. I know it can be hard to filter out from the east coast stuff......
Gerry
0876390005
Re:Starting out!!
Cheers Gerry,
I\'ll probably give you a buzz when I get hooked up with a boat.
Kev
I\'ll probably give you a buzz when I get hooked up with a boat.
Kev
Re:Starting out!!
Why not come to the ISKA symposium... a fancy name for a get together where there\'ll be near 100 paddlers and as many sea kayaks. Check out the home page for details.
Mary
P.S Its on in Sligo 11th/12th NovemberPost edited by: mary, at: 2006/11/03 06:31
Mary
P.S Its on in Sligo 11th/12th NovemberPost edited by: mary, at: 2006/11/03 06:31