Buying a Kayak

Some things to consider when buying a kayak:

• New or used? If you're quick and/or lucky you might get a bargain used boat.
• Single or double? A double allows one partner to take a break, but doubles are bigger and heavier but only need one load on/off. Consider how you will get it on/off your vehicle.
• Construction: Fibreglass, plastic or wood
• Plastic (like ours) is tough but heavy and hard to repair if it does get damaged
• Fibreglass is light (?) and repairable but more easily damaged. It can also be more expensive
• Wood (like our friends' - the kayak not the friends) is classy but more easily damaged and needs greater skill to repair if damaged.
• Sit-in or sit-on
• Sit-in is often for more serious stuff like ocean-going. Can be trickier to get in/out of but usually covers your legs from the sun.
• Sit-on can be cheaper and easier to get in/out of but your legs are exposed to the sun.
• Purpose - still water or open? Fishing or sight-seeing?
• Ocean-going is serious suff. Know your limits.
• Even lakes and rivers can get become very choppy when the wind gets up.
• Personally I like narrow rivers and creeks.