Purchasing Kayak/Equipment

Yes, except for folding or inflatable kayaks. Otherwise, fitting inside a vehicle would be difficult unless you had a long vehicle and short kayak.

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We have saddles in front and rollers in back–necessary when we were putting them on a minivan. Now we have a small station wagon and could probably just do it with J hooks, but the rollers do help, and we already have them. One of these years I’m not going to be able to lift (H does the front end, so he has to get the kayak higher) but so far I’ve been able to lift each year and fingers crossed I will this year.

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For anyone interested, Costco had inflatable kayaks on display today when we were shopping for other items.

I do not recommend those inflatable kayaks. The seats are very uncomfortable, at least in the tandem version we got, and the kayak is hard to stir.

Kayak person here-- a lot of other good comments that already include what I would’ve chimed in about. I’m wondering about the ‘sit on top’ he wants. Your link goes to a kayak that actually has an enclosed cockpit and not a true sit on top. This link, if it works, shows a picture of a true sit on top, no cockpit, just legs/body out in the open.
https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/lifetime-temptation-110-kayak-package-22lifatmpttn110kypsk/22lifatmpttn110kypsk
I personally recommend the types that have the cockpit-- more efficiency in the forward movement in relation to your paddling effort. And the longer in length you go, generally the better tracking/going forward in a straight line when you’re in larger bodies of water like lakes. @DadTwoGirls had good points about sizing. The width of my husband’s kayak just swallows me up in the cockpit. My kayak is much narrower and shallower and he feels like he’s completely wedged in. But we both have the same length of kayak-- both sea kayaks. Another consideration is primary and secondary stability–generally how tippy it feels initially vs. how well it holds an edge when you’re trying to lean/tip on a turn. Mine is has very little primary stability, tips easily without decent balance (and trust in the secondary stability) but when I lean to edge it on a stroke to turn, I can really lean into it and it makes a beautiful edged efficient turn. Wow! Sorry to bore everyone! Happy Kayaking!

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You’re right the one I originally posted was not true sit on top. Sort of a hybrid! I know he would not want the cockpit type - the little hole that gives me anxiety if I flipped, lol.

We are actually looking at this one now - a little more features, a little wider, allows for a little more weight (though son is not large - probably like 5’10", 170 pounds).
https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/pelican-mustang-100x-kayak-18pelumstng100xkypsk/18pelumstng100xkypsk

That still looks like a sit inside kayak, although any sit inside kayak can be paddled without the spray skirt. But sit inside kayaks typically do not have self bailing drains, so spray skirts are used to keep the water out.

That looks like a great kayak but it is not a sit-on-top.

Yes, still appears to be a sit-in cockpit style. But even with a tip over, they are easy to get out of, especially while wearing a life jacket- you float right out of it. Nothing like doing some warm water immersions for practice and feeling more confident to know you will be able to get out of it. And, you certainly don’t have to use a spray skirt.

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/pelican-bandit-nxt-100-kayak-18pelubndt100nxtkpsk/18pelubndt100nxtkpsk?color=Fade%20Magenta%20White

Here’s a sit on top. I personally like sit on tops better than any enclosure no matter how small. It’s just a different feel. We have a tandem sit on top peddle kayak. So much fun!

Yeah, yeah I get the full on sit on top. :slight_smile: I guess I’m not using the right terminology (and I can’t seem to find a photo) but what I wanted to AVOID was the “old” style little hole you put your and hips through and everything is covered except waist up or so.

Maybe they are made better since we last purchased! And even the “sit in” are more open than previously.

That would be when using a spray skirt with a sit inside kayak.

I guess the question is “does your son want a sit on top or something else?” I’d give them money and say “go pick one out”. They may pick out something above and beyond or change their minds completely. Or find one on craigslist.

No worries, I’m been completely working alongside them with this. And won’t push “buy” until he puts his stamp of approval! Life has been very busy for them so I really want to make it a gift by them not having to do the actually ordering, picking up, etc of the process. They have looked for a used one for some time now - they go like hotcakes and have never been able to score one!

Been using a sit inside Kayak for over twenty years, and never used or needed a spray skirt. Sure, you get a little wet in rough water, but certainly never needed bailing.

As far as fear of tipping, first, tipping is unlikely. The only time I’ve ever “tipped” is getting out when the front of the kayak has beached and waves unsettled the boat before I could get out. (Small bay waves; I don’t do big ones). So basically about a foot of water at the time. Never tipped over out on the water–even with fairly big swells, rip tides, swirly currents, etc. It’s really hard to tip over.

But, on the off chance one does, your top half will stay up–cuz life preserver, and your feet will fall out. Annoying, but you will not get stuck under the boat. I have practiced falling out on purpose a long time ago, and it’s pretty much automatic.

Overall, the sit inside is far more practical, in my experience, than sit on tops.

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Here are our boats (white one is mine). The cockpit is relatively small. I thought, twenty plus years ago, that I’d want a big “safe-looking” one, but when we actually tried out different boats, the big cockpits were so much harder to paddle from, like being in a bathtub, and did not track as well. I tried this one out, and it erased all my doubts. And, i am not a natural athlete. It just became clear how much more I would get out of this boat than the tubby ones I’d thought I wanted.

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Our 14 foot kayak is also Perception Carolina, but in yellow. It is the one that my wife uses the most. It does cut through the water much more cleanly than a 10 foot kayak would. It also cuts through the water more cleanly (and therefore moves with a bit less effort) compared to our 12 foot kayak.

These are more expensive than what the OP was considering above.

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Oops! I didn’t realize the price difference. It’s true these are more (about 700 each when we bought them), but divided by the 22 years we have enjoyed them, cheaper than most vacations!

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We live on a pretty calm lake, so the fam prefers a wider, sit on kayak; they all want to be able to swim and easily get back up on the kayak, so that played a role in their choices. DH really likes his Hoodoo; D20 likes her mid range lifetime. We have a sit on tandem as well for visitors with younger kids or for DH to paddle me across the lake :joy:


Edited to add: we beach them on the various islands, so we had to take that into account for the choices.

Have any of you used Current Designs Kestrel kayaks. My MIL wants to buy me a kayak – ShawWife loves kayaking and we live on a river so very easy access. But, she has a Tupperware kayak – wide kayak made from extruding plastic. Did not cost much and she doesn’t mind banging it up. I thought I would get the new one for her and I would take over her Tupperware one. She saw someone with a Kestrel who absolutely loved it. It seems pricey but I don’t know the market at all.

https://cdkayak.com/Kayaks.aspx?id=1