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F-16 CHIEF
07-18-2010, 09:40 PM
Other than the fact that people call themselves "paddlers":char021:, this looks cool to try.

We just got a small patch of land on a small river and I want to get into it this summer. I'm not looking to spend a fortune. Maybe 500 or less. I've been reading up on it and I'm learning.

Anybody have any advice?

Guns Network Staff
07-18-2010, 09:54 PM
We Kayak a lot in the spring and summer.

Have two Malibu X-factors rigged for redfish at our locals lakes and the other deepsea for tuna, amberjack, snapper....

My son's is his Cobra Fish n Dive XF and he loves it.

skorpion
07-18-2010, 10:09 PM
I have a Future Beach Trophy ($400) for fishing and a Pelican 100ES ($200) for my girlfriend to use so we can kayak together. I like both, although each handles differently. Fishing kayaks are more stable than recreational or white-water kayaks (I have to try really hard to flip it). Longer kayaks are faster than shorter kayaks; shorter ones are more maneuverable than longer ones. How rough is the river and how wide is it? If it's a slow-moving current you'd be fine with about a 9-12 foot recreational or fishing kayak. You can get these in sit-on-top or sit-in configurations. Your best bet is to find a local kayak dealer that can help you out with selecting the right kayak. He/she will let you sit in each kayak to allow you to find the most comfortable one. Get a comfortable paddle, as well. It also doesn't hurt to keep one of those collapsible spare paddles on board. You will need a waterproof bag or a waterproof box to keep valuables dry, as even the sealed storage hatches can still get small amounts of water. Oh, and one last thing, you will enjoy kayaking, so watch out, it may become addicting like guns. You can get to places in a kayak where the big boats can't go, and because of sitting so low to the water, you get to see the wildlife and scenery from a different point of view.

If you end up getting a kayak, I highly recommend bringing a camera each time you go out.

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/7453/dscn0787.jpg (http://img840.imageshack.us/i/dscn0787.jpg/)

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/4792/dscn0703.jpg (http://img833.imageshack.us/i/dscn0703.jpg/)

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/1263/dscn0781.jpg (http://img844.imageshack.us/i/dscn0781.jpg/)

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/6384/dscn0671.jpg (http://img834.imageshack.us/i/dscn0671.jpg/)

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/6317/dscn0673.jpg (http://img831.imageshack.us/i/dscn0673.jpg/)

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/646/dscn0672.jpg (http://img844.imageshack.us/i/dscn0672.jpg/)

F-16 CHIEF
07-18-2010, 10:41 PM
Nice pics. Thank you.

It's a slow moving river. It's 65 miles long and dumps into the new river. It only has I and II level rapids with their being just one II I think. Not sure. I believe I'll be okay with a 10-12 based on what I've been reading. The pics you show are a little larger than the river I'll be on. At some points, I'd say it's only 30 ft wide. Other times, it looks like that. There will be times that I have to walk. Talked to one guy today and he said you only have to pick it up once in 2 hours.

People keep saying get a 240 CM paddle. Would you agree?

Is that Pelican sturdy enough? I keep reading reviews where they say the plastic feels soft and cheap. The green 120 is at Dick's for 220.

I'm thinking of asking the wife for this one for Christmas.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10213821____SearchResults

skorpion
07-18-2010, 11:00 PM
Nice pics. Thank you.

It's a slow moving river. It's 65 miles long and dumps into the new river. It only has I and II level rapids with their being just one II I think. Not sure. I believe I'll be okay with a 10-12 based on what I've been reading. The pics you show are a little larger than the river I'll be on. At some points, I'd say it's only 30 ft wide. Other times, it looks like that. There will be times that I have to walk. Talked to one guy today and he said you only have to pick it up once in 2 hours.

People keep saying get a 240 CM paddle. Would you agree?

Is that Pelican sturdy enough? I keep reading reviews where they say the plastic feels soft and cheap. The green 120 is at Dick's for 220.

I'm thinking of asking the wife for this one for Christmas.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10213821____SearchResults
Thanks! You will definitely be fine with a 10-12 footer, especially the kayak that you provided in the link. The seat looks comfortable and it seems nice and roomy. I was eyeballing that exact one but the Future Beach was on sale at the time so I went with it instead. The Pelican does seem a little flimsy at first, but so far it is holding up just fine. I probably wouldn't take it through anything near as rough as I have with the Future Beach, though (lots of rocks). The Pelican has a V-shaped haul so it is not very stable if you wiggle around quite a bit, so fishing from it would be difficult if you wanted to do that. As far as paddles, I haven't tried anything other than a 230cm paddles, as that's all I have. The extra length would give you greater leverage to make more powerful strokes (insert dirty joke here), so I don't see what it would hurt to go with the 240. I recommend a two-piece paddle for storage and transportation convenience, though.

ubersoldate
07-18-2010, 11:07 PM
Yea for years...
I only yak for fishing though..
Ive got a ocean kayak prowler 13, a malibu x factor, and a old town angler vapor 10ft for a little pond hopper...

Never knew other Gunsnet'rs were kayakers!
I just remember me and 75stingray....

I would suggest the old town angler 10xt for anyone new getting into it. sturdy, cheap, and durable tupperware navy boat..
SITs are a bit pricey for the beginner...

ubersoldate
07-18-2010, 11:11 PM
Nice pics. Thank you.

It's a slow moving river. It's 65 miles long and dumps into the new river. It only has I and II level rapids with their being just one II I think. Not sure. I believe I'll be okay with a 10-12 based on what I've been reading. The pics you show are a little larger than the river I'll be on. At some points, I'd say it's only 30 ft wide. Other times, it looks like that. There will be times that I have to walk. Talked to one guy today and he said you only have to pick it up once in 2 hours.

People keep saying get a 240 CM paddle. Would you agree?

Is that Pelican sturdy enough? I keep reading reviews where they say the plastic feels soft and cheap. The green 120 is at Dick's for 220.

I'm thinking of asking the wife for this one for Christmas.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10213821____SearchResults

That ascend it a good boat, I was looking at it before I got my old town. I needed something small.
Do you have a dicks sporting goods in your area?
They had a special on the angler, which is pretty the same as the ascend with a $100 lower price tag and a longer warranty!
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4184255

Seems the price went back up...I got mine for around 399...

ubersoldate
07-18-2010, 11:17 PM
And the paddle size, is for the paddlers size, and how one sits, no other reason outside personal preference.
I prefer 210s but Im 6 ft, I do have a 240 bending branches in my garage as well but it seems a bit long unless Im in open water like the ocean.

http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?132


Hey skorp Great pics man!

skorpion
07-18-2010, 11:18 PM
Yea for years...
Never knew other Gunsnet'rs were kayakers!
I just remember me and 75stingray....

I never knew you were a yakker, either! I've only been paddling for a few years, though.

skorpion
07-18-2010, 11:21 PM
And the paddle size, is for the paddlers size, and how one sits, no other reason outside personal preference.
I prefer 210s but Im 6 ft, I do have a 240 bending branches in my garage as well but it seems a bit long unless Im in open water like the ocean.

http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?132


Hey skorp Great pics man!
Thanks for the compliment and the interesting article!

ubersoldate
07-18-2010, 11:49 PM
I never knew you were a yakker, either! I've only been paddling for a few years, though.


I never knew you were a yakker, either! I've only been paddling for a few years, though.

Great minds think alike!

I am a canoe guy, Ive got two that Ive hauled all over but I got tired of hauling them around by myself so while I was in Austin in 06 I went to Austin canoe and kayak and got my first one..
The Ocean kayak prowler..Great boat, tore up Austins lakes for largemouth..
Got the malibu on a gun trade, and the old town just three or four months back..
I prefer sit in yaks myself....But the two SOT's are awesome for bigger water.

As Im sure you guys already know, here are some killer fishing/kayak links and hard to find parts!!
http://www.austinkayak.com/
http://kayakfishinggear.com/


A few pics from the last month or so...I fish primarily for large mouth...

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs631.snc3/31667_130887746923434_100000066272530_343026_18637 89_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs465.ash1/25525_119071788105030_100000066272530_292535_48242 15_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs180.snc4/38360_144058592273016_100000066272530_412477_19056 74_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs036.ash2/35176_144058898939652_100000066272530_412484_10943 59_n.jpg

And my favorite pic...
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs188.snc4/37763_144059228939619_100000066272530_412489_51686 97_n.jpg

F-16 CHIEF
07-19-2010, 12:39 AM
AHHH. You guys are killing me with those pics. I want to go out bad. I've been saving my money for a MSAR 556, but I just saw a Wilderness Pungo 120 on Craigslist, with yakima roof rack for 350.

Laugh and snicker if you will, but I kind of want a camo one. I really dig that Ascend boat. It's the Spec Op's wannabe in me. :)

printerman
07-23-2010, 06:24 PM
<a href="http://s416.photobucket.com/albums/pp241/printerman-photo/gunsnet/?action=view&current=CANOE1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp241/printerman-photo/gunsnet/CANOE1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

HDR
07-23-2010, 07:35 PM
This place is near me:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J6ch3T9A7I&feature=fvw


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E72XNHR1vdk&feature=related

F-16 CHIEF
07-23-2010, 09:25 PM
Yuck. Not interested.

Call me a wimp, but I have one 5 year old and one on the way. It's not worth it to me.

I want a calm stretch of water where I can enjoy things.

American Rage
07-24-2010, 01:40 PM
Great thread with great pics.


Rage

HDR
07-24-2010, 02:30 PM
Yuck. Not interested.

Call me a wimp, but I have one 5 year old and one on the way. It's not worth it to me.

I want a calm stretch of water where I can enjoy things.

As "experts" have died there and broken bones, concussions etc are common, you aren't a wimp.

All those people you see only show up for the races and when there isn't a race the Narrows are a beautiful place to hike. The terrain is too steep for kids and those who are badly out of shape. Up stream the Green is wider and the terrain is flatter; so although it is moving some it is great for kayaking or tubing. But no one films that. ;)

F-16 CHIEF
07-24-2010, 11:04 PM
I went out for the first time today. Spent about an hour on the water.

Pisses me off that Gander and Dick's don't have military discounts, but they give one to us through work. WTF?

Anyway, I got the Old Town 10. It tracked fairly well and isn't too hard to get moving. I never got close to dumping it.

It was awesome. It was so quiet going down the river. No noise. No phones. No nothing. I love it. I can't wait to go back!

ubersoldate
07-24-2010, 11:09 PM
All the pics of mine were taken at a local lake that I yak fish alot...And one might have noticed on the news that said lake had the dam BUST last week and now its bone dry...
Now that cuts my yak time to once a week, to once every two weeks! Bummer!

skorpion
07-25-2010, 06:57 AM
I went out for the first time today. Spent about an hour on the water.

Pisses me off that Gander and Dick's don't have military discounts, but they give one to us through work. WTF?

Anyway, I got the Old Town 10. It tracked fairly well and isn't too hard to get moving. I never got close to dumping it.

It was awesome. It was so quiet going down the river. No noise. No phones. No nothing. I love it. I can't wait to go back!

Awesome, congrats on getting your first kayak! You have officially experienced why kayaking can be addicting. As a another plus, your wife will like like the definition you acquire in the muscles of your back and shoulders.


All the pics of mine were taken at a local lake that I yak fish alot...And one might have noticed on the news that said lake had the dam BUST last week and now its bone dry...
Now that cuts my yak time to once a week, to once every two weeks! Bummer!
That sucks right there! I think I may take the many lakes and rivers around here for granted, as a body of water can be found within 30 minutes of driving in any direction from here.

mriddick
07-25-2010, 07:22 AM
I keep looking at them, at my house in KY there's a 5000 acre lake that backs up to it and I think a kayak would be a good way to get around. My only problem is getting there to enjoy it... I will have to look into the Old Towns, I like their canoes and think they make a quality product, good to hear their kayaks are pretty stable which was my biggest concern.

Faulkner
07-25-2010, 07:36 AM
My two sons and I kayak a lot in the spring and early summer. Living in the Ozarks, we have a lot of great free flowing streams to float with all kinds of water. We usually limit ourselves to level III and below, though even level III can get wild at times.

I second the advice to always take a camera, there is no telling what you'll see just slipping down the stream in a kayak. I have a lot of wildlife pictures on our floats.

We have three different kayaks. My 13 year old son has a 9 foot Old Town that fits him just right. My oldest son has a 12 foot Pelican and I ride a 9.5 foot Wilderness Systems 'Pamilco 100'. All three have been good yaks and we've had them in water rougher than they were designed for without any problems.

The kayaks loaded up and ready to go.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/8845336/390078226.jpg


My 13 year old easing down Cadron Creek.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/8845336/387850897.jpg


Slipping up on a feeding whitetail on the Maumelle River.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/8845336/388732593.jpg

A misty morning float on the Little Red River.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/8845336/390078209.jpg

mriddick
07-25-2010, 09:25 AM
That's it....I need to get me a Kayak for the house in KY, which models are the most stable? :)

skorpion
07-25-2010, 01:31 PM
That's it....I need to get me a Kayak for the house in KY, which models are the most stable? :)
Fishing Kayaks of any make should be the most stable yaks out there. If you want to be really stable, you can install a set of after-market outriggers. Then you can stand up on one foot and do the Macarena if you wanted to. If you get a stable-enough kayak, I doubt you will ever need the outriggers unless you're going diving or fishing for some mighty big fish.

Faulkner
07-25-2010, 02:49 PM
That's it....I need to get me a Kayak for the house in KY, which models are the most stable? :)

"Stable" is a relative term. Most any kayak I've used is more stable than a canoe because the center of gravity is lower on the kayak.

Shorter kayaks handle better in close quarters, like in fast moving streams where you have to dodge obstacles.

Longer kayaks seem to track better in calm water like lakes or calm streams.

Some kayaks have longer, more open cockpits than others. Larger cockpits seem to give you more moving around room, like for fishing, but they also tend to be wetter when in rough water.

I like a lot of internal and external storage capacity on mine. Even on day trips I tend to take a lot of gear. I've been on too many search and rescue missions for stranded paddlers in the Ozarks, therefore, I tend to take gear for a worse case scenario in my waterproof trip bag (snacks, water, first aid kit, rope, hiking shoes/boots, dry extra clothes, cell phone, GPS, handgun & ammo, sun tan lotion, etc.). I don't plan on getting stranded, but some places in the Ozarks can be very remote and it would be a tough hike out to at least a cell tower in some areas.

Here's a link to a good place to do some kayak research regarding the various types and costs of boats. http://www.paddling.net/recreational-kayaks.html

F-16 CHIEF
07-25-2010, 08:41 PM
Went out again today. I did a lot better. I practiced turning and going back up the river. I made some sharper cuts.

I need to work on my technique, but I'm doing okay.

This is going to be really addicting. I can honestly say that no gun has brought me this much joy straight after a purchase in a long time!

Smitty258
07-26-2010, 08:10 AM
Sounds like a lot of fun Chief! I always thought a kayak or canoe would be great for our area with all the small streams around here. I may have to look into it when my boys get older.

printerman
07-26-2010, 05:13 PM
http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp241/printerman-photo/newpix-6copy.jpg

This is my friend Stefan , he's the man for Kayaks in South Florida ! But for me it's fishing from my beer-barge ....

http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp241/printerman-photo/chris-old-pix-18.jpg

F-16 CHIEF
07-26-2010, 07:18 PM
Let's go! Anytime you're ready, I'm game.

Mark Ducati
07-27-2010, 07:17 PM
I've always wanted to get into Kayaking as we have the Ocoee (96 Olympics) river about a 30 minute drive from me... but I have an aversion to drowning. How much upper body strength do you really need to eskimo-roll back up once you tip over?

ubersoldate
07-27-2010, 07:26 PM
I've always wanted to get into Kayaking as we have the Ocoee (96 Olympics) river about a 30 minute drive from me... but I have an aversion to drowning. How much upper body strength do you really need to eskimo-roll back up once you tip over?

A few different styles of yak'n.
I dont whitewater kayak, I like fishing.
My wife likes to sight see.
Alot of people like to ocean trek.

F-16 CHIEF
07-27-2010, 07:26 PM
I wouldn't worry about it. Just fall out and swim. The sit on top style kayaks keep you from every being trapped in one.

You're talking white water and being stapped in that thing. I'm talking doing down a slow moving river at my pace!