Thinking of buying a cheap small kayak or inflatable kayak..

John Fereira wrote:
> Marsh Jones wrote in
>
>
> > novice wrote:
> >> I'll doublecheck availability of rentals in my area but I was thinking
> >> of buying a small kayak under $500 and use it to build up my paddling
> >> muscles. maybe 9 ft long and 3ft wide. i need to store it in apartment
> >> and carry on small sports car. Is this dumb?
>
> You money would be better spent trying to find something longer and narrower
> on the used market.
> >>
> > Unfortunately, what you'll wind up building up is lots of bad habits and
> > the wrong muscles.
>
> Not necessarily. Other than the width affecting the paddle angle I don't
> don't see how paddling a recreational class kayak would *force* someone to
> develop bad habits.
>
> > If you want a play boat/poke boat for drifting
> > around the edges and maybe chasing a fish, a poke boat is OK. But it is
> > not going to help you train for racing. You'd be better off joining a
> > club and saving your money for a used Looksha II or Epic 18.
>
> For me, the nearest kayak club (which is not focused on racing by any
> stretch of the imagination) is about 60 miles from where I live. Given the
> price of gas these days, joining a club might not be cost effective.
>
> > Just a few concerns:
> > Balance is totally different - in a poke boat, you can get away with
> > slop -slouching, leaning against the backrest, letting your head bob
> > side to side.
>
> A recreational kayak doesn't inherently produce those bad habits, it just
> more forgiving of bad habits. Anyone can paddle a 9' long, 3' wide kayak
> with exactly the same posture as they would when paddling a 20' long, 20"
> wide kayak.
>
> > Stroke - it is absolutely impossible to get a good racing stroke when
> > you can't get closer than 45 degrees to vertical. Plus your paddle
> > length is going to be 15-20cm too long, the stroke will start too far
> > back, end too far back, etc, etc
>
> If anything, with a good high angle stroke, a wider boat would require more
> torso rotation but could just as easily be paddled with a 210cm paddle as a
> 20" wide boat. I haven't seen a kayak yet that limits how far once can
> reach forward it initiate a stroke.
>
> > Steering - those boats don't steer - so all your energy is going to go
> > into keeping the boat straight instead of learning to paddle and go fast.
>
> I disagree. Those boats steer very well. The bow may move from side to
> side more than a stiff tracking boat, but they're much more responsive to a
> little sweep than an 18-20' long boat. From what I have seen, beginners
> have more trouble keeping a long, stiff tracking boat going straight
> (because once they start going off course they're harder to get back on
> course) than a more manoeverable boat.

Interesting discussion. The guy that rents in my area has to bring the
boat and pick it up so it takes a lot of his time for just one person
renting. Its not like a kid earning minimum wage permanately stationed
on the beach.
 >> Stay informed about: Thinking of buying a cheap small kayak or inflatable kayak.. 

Nothing; you nailed it; I concur. Join a club, learn from those who've gone
before, and get their used gear (the right stuff) cheap!



"Marsh Jones" wrote in message

> novice wrote:
>> I'll doublecheck availability of rentals in my area but I was thinking
>> of buying a small kayak under $500 and use it to build up my paddling
>> muscles. maybe 9 ft long and 3ft wide. i need to store it in apartment
>> and carry on small sports car. Is this dumb?
>>
> Unfortunately, what you'll wind up building up is lots of bad habits and
> the wrong muscles. If you want a play boat/poke boat for drifting around
> the edges and maybe chasing a fish, a poke boat is OK. But it is not
> going to help you train for racing. You'd be better off joining a club
> and saving your money for a used Looksha II or Epic 18.
> Just a few concerns:
> Balance is totally different - in a poke boat, you can get away with
> slop -slouching, leaning against the backrest, letting your head bob side
> to side.
> Stroke - it is absolutely impossible to get a good racing stroke when you
> can't get closer than 45 degrees to vertical. Plus your paddle length is
> going to be 15-20cm too long, the stroke will start too far back, end too
> far back, etc, etc
> Steering - those boats don't steer - so all your energy is going to go
> into keeping the boat straight instead of learning to paddle and go fast.
>
>
> Chime in folks, what have I forgotten?
 >> Stay informed about: Thinking of buying a cheap small kayak or inflatable kayak.. 

Marsh Jones wrote in


> novice wrote:
>> I'll doublecheck availability of rentals in my area but I was thinking
>> of buying a small kayak under $500 and use it to build up my paddling
>> muscles. maybe 9 ft long and 3ft wide. i need to store it in apartment
>> and carry on small sports car. Is this dumb?

You money would be better spent trying to find something longer and narrower
on the used market.
>>
> Unfortunately, what you'll wind up building up is lots of bad habits and
> the wrong muscles.

Not necessarily. Other than the width affecting the paddle angle I don't
don't see how paddling a recreational class kayak would *force* someone to
develop bad habits.

> If you want a play boat/poke boat for drifting
> around the edges and maybe chasing a fish, a poke boat is OK. But it is
> not going to help you train for racing. You'd be better off joining a
> club and saving your money for a used Looksha II or Epic 18.

For me, the nearest kayak club (which is not focused on racing by any
stretch of the imagination) is about 60 miles from where I live. Given the
price of gas these days, joining a club might not be cost effective.

> Just a few concerns:
> Balance is totally different - in a poke boat, you can get away with
> slop -slouching, leaning against the backrest, letting your head bob
> side to side.

A recreational kayak doesn't inherently produce those bad habits, it just
more forgiving of bad habits. Anyone can paddle a 9' long, 3' wide kayak
with exactly the same posture as they would when paddling a 20' long, 20"
wide kayak.

> Stroke - it is absolutely impossible to get a good racing stroke when
> you can't get closer than 45 degrees to vertical. Plus your paddle
> length is going to be 15-20cm too long, the stroke will start too far
> back, end too far back, etc, etc

If anything, with a good high angle stroke, a wider boat would require more
torso rotation but could just as easily be paddled with a 210cm paddle as a
20" wide boat. I haven't seen a kayak yet that limits how far once can
reach forward it initiate a stroke.

> Steering - those boats don't steer - so all your energy is going to go
> into keeping the boat straight instead of learning to paddle and go fast.

I disagree. Those boats steer very well. The bow may move from side to
side more than a stiff tracking boat, but they're much more responsive to a
little sweep than an 18-20' long boat. From what I have seen, beginners
have more trouble keeping a long, stiff tracking boat going straight
(because once they start going off course they're harder to get back on
course) than a more manoeverable boat.
 >> Stay informed about: Thinking of buying a cheap small kayak or inflatable kayak.. 

Bought a ten footer. Fits in my sports car. Took it out and it is a
great simulator. Had a great 4 hr work out.

novice wrote:
> I'll doublecheck availability of rentals in my area but I was thinking
> of buying a small kayak under $500 and use it to build up my paddling
> muscles. maybe 9 ft long and 3ft wide. i need to store it in apartment
> and carry on small sports car. Is this dumb?
 >> Stay informed about: Thinking of buying a cheap small kayak or inflatable kayak.. 

novice wrote:
> Bought a ten footer. Fits in my sports car. Took it out and it is a
> great simulator. Had a great 4 hr work out.

Great. Post some pictures of the boat in the car.

Steve
--
Steve Cramer
Athens, GA
 >> Stay informed about: Thinking of buying a cheap small kayak or inflatable kayak..