/out/ - Outdoors » Thread #192577

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Anonymous Fri 06 Sep 2013 17:28:29 No.192577 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>192702 >>192754

So I'm looking to purchase my first kayak. I am not looking to use it for anything extreme, just cruising around a lake or slow river. I have the opportunity to buy one of 2 kayaks
A Perception Dancer
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/boa/4047323238.html
Or a Vertex Flex
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/spo/4035917482.html

My concern about the Dancer is that from what I have read, these are old kayaks and the plastic will start to deteriorate soon. The Flex is 4-5 years old and looks to be in good condition.
What do you guys think?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 06 Sep 2013 17:32:56 No.192581 Report

Quoted By: >>192582 >>192583

Howdy, neighbor! I live in the Atlanta metro area, too.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 06 Sep 2013 17:34:38 No.192582 Report

Quoted By:

>>192581
>http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/spo/4035917482.html
Cool, do you kayak too?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 06 Sep 2013 17:36:11 No.192583 Report

Quoted By: >>192876

>>192581
Cool, do you also kayak?

Anonymous

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Anonymous Fri 06 Sep 2013 19:43:26 No.192702 Report

Quoted By: >>192704

>>192577
I wouldn't recommend either of those boats. The dancer is an OLD school whitewater boat. I personally think they are awesome, but definitely not for a beginner. The Flex is a cheap POS, you will be better served taking that money and renting a few boats. I would recommend a sit on top for your first boat. Get a 12'+ model and you can go downriver, on a lake, or in the ocean. Very versatile and easy to use, watch out for too hard of a chine or you'll be flipping over on rivers every time you get cross current.

My advice to you is not to buy a WW boat for your first, I made this mistake years ago myself. A good used boat can be had for $350-$500. Don't skimp on this. Look for a Scupper pro or Wilderness Systems, find your local paddling website, there is probably a gear swap/sale area. After you paddle for a while you'll decide what you want to do, and you can buy a specialized boat for that. I have three canoes, three WW boats, a rec boat, and a SOT. They all do different things and some get used more often than others. My aluminum canoe sees more use than any of my other boats. Have you thought about a canoe, I know that this is going to raise a shit storm but under most circumstances a canoe is better than a kayak.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 06 Sep 2013 19:48:58 No.192704 Report

Quoted By: >>192710

>>192702
>My aluminum canoe sees more use than any of my other boats.
Amen to that. Fuck Kevlars, I want an alumacraft.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Fri 06 Sep 2013 20:00:57 No.192710 Report

Quoted By: >>192767

>>192704
I have a Kevlar boat too that is faster, but not as stable. My aluminum is an ultra light Voyager rigged for racing and tips the scales at 47 pounds empty. It's also been in Canoe & Kayak magazine (group shot of a race start).

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 06 Sep 2013 21:28:45 No.192754 Report

Quoted By: >>192769

>>192577
>Marietta

Just looking at the Chattahoochee got boring, huh?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 06 Sep 2013 22:08:46 No.192767 Report

Quoted By: >>192777

>>192710
>47 pounds

How long is is? Because I've mostly used 17' Alumacrafts, and those(the older ones at least) weigh close to twice that.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Fri 06 Sep 2013 22:12:16 No.192769 Report

Quoted By: >>192787 >>192826

>>192754
Oh yeah. I plan on taking it to lake Allatoona and lanier too. I dont have a lot of money(at all) or I would buy something way better than the flex (I talked the lady down to $120) from a store. I found another boat and the guy says he can sell it to me for $150. Its a Riot Showbiz
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/boa/4046844767.html

I plan on getting a canoe when I get my jeep. Still a long ways to go though. I drive a Hyundai Elantra POS and I dont see me being able to transport a canoe on it.

Between the Riot Showbiz and the Flex, which is the best kayak? Not only speed, but safety, maneuverability, etc.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 06 Sep 2013 22:43:32 No.192777 Report

Quoted By:

>>192767
17' it is about half the weight if my Ouchita. As I said its a race boat. My Kevlar boat is 17'6" and weighs 58 lbs empty, but goes a LOT faster.

It's an alumacraft voyager ultralight model. They quit making them but I heard they may have (already?) started making them again.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 06 Sep 2013 23:16:56 No.192787 Report

Quoted By: >>192805

>>192769
You should also check out the Dawson Forest WMA. Free camping wherever, and the trailhead campsites are right next to the Etowah river. Would post pics, but I have my camera packed away somewhere and I haven't taken anything with a camera out there.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 00:08:25 No.192805 Report

Quoted By: >>192819

>>192787
That sounds awesome. Will effeminately check it out once I have my yak.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 00:55:05 No.192819 Report

Quoted By:

>>192805
wtf, *Definitely

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 01:02:45 No.192826 Report

Quoted By: >>192844

>>192769
The riot is a whitewater boat. Keep in mind if you buy this it will most likely need a skirt and will be tippy as fuck for a first boat. Why don't you tell us your budget.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 01:45:52 No.192844 Report

Quoted By: >>192879 >>192887

>>192826
I have an unrealistically low budget. Im trying for $100-$200. I know I cant get anything good for that amount, but I wont be able to save much more for a while. I should probably pass on the riot then, I'm not experienced enough for whitewater stuff.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 02:22:07 No.192870 Report

Quoted By:

http://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/kayak-kits/fishing-kayaks/sea-island-sport-sit-on-top-kayak-kit.html check this out if you've got a decent budget. This guy designs some other sweet kayaks too http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/guillemot/ you also have to build them... But they sell kits for most.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 02:44:49 No.192876 Report

Quoted By:

>>192583
Nope. I want a place with calm-ish water for a kayak or canoe, but I don't yet have a place, so I'm not considering the boat yet.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 02:48:37 No.192879 Report

Quoted By:

>>192844
Local here again. Have you thought about making a john boat yourself? There are plenty of plans online, and I've seen some decent ones made for within your budget.

I spent many an hour paddling john boats in my younger days. They're definitely not canoes, but they can be great fun.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 02:59:44 No.192887 Report

Quoted By: >>193097

>>192844
You can get a new boat at academy in that price range that will be better than anything you've posted so far, just go buy a cheap sit on top, I'd go at least ten feet though.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 04:01:30 No.192906 Report

Quoted By:

I live just 2 minutes from Allatoona and go canoeing there virtually every weekend. If you launch from Old Rope Mill Park and paddle down towards Little River Landing on Bells Ferry there's virtually no powerboats to deal with. I usually launch from Fields Landing just off Hwy 20 'cuz it's only a mile from my house. That's the biggest part of the lake and there's quite a bit of traffic but there are several nice coves where the fishing is good and you can take out to picnic or whatnot. Also upstream on the Etowah River is a really nice trip. You launch where East Cherokee Drive crosses the Etowah and paddle down to Heritage or Boling Park. It's about 12 miles but the river has quite a bit of flow and it takes a lot less time than you think it should. There's also several ancient fish weirs along the way that's cool to check out. And lastly, the Chattahoochee anywhere above Morgan Falls Dam is awesome. The section below the dam isn't nearly as nice as it was back in the late 70's and 80's but it's still decent and has good access.

pic related - my son and I on Lake Allatoona near Field's Landing

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 04:03:37 No.192907 Report

Quoted By:

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 13:18:45 No.193097 Report

Quoted By: >>193105

>>192887
wow thats agreat store. some nice inexpenive sitontops. any other store with reasonably priced yaks?

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 13:37:19 No.193105 Report

Quoted By: >>193115 >>193130

>>193097
yeah, but you wouldn't think they are reasonable, you get what you pay for. Again, I would look for a used sit on top boat. Check the craigslists down on the gulf or Atlantic coasts, a lot of people use this style of boat for saltwater fishing. You may end up driving to get it but you'll get a better deal. Be patient and look if you're on a budget, don't buy the first piece of shit that pops up on craigslist. If your car has luggage racks you can make a 2x4 canoe rack with some U bolts. If not, buy a friend with a truck some beers and pay for the gas.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 14:10:14 No.193115 Report

Quoted By: >>193119 >>193121

>>193105
drive from Atlanta to the coast
spend $250 on gas
save $75 on the cost of a shit-on-top Kayak

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 14:17:23 No.193119 Report

Quoted By:

>>193115
enjoy your floating coffin

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 14:24:33 No.193121 Report

Quoted By:

>>193115
and I should add, if you get a boat that originally cost $1000 for $350 I would say your saving more than $75. I'm trying to help anon not make some common mistakes. Great advice you're giving btw.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 15:15:17 No.193130 Report

Quoted By: >>193147

>>193105
Maybe next time I go to the beach I will take a look around for the 2nd kayak. I eventually want to have one for the wife as well.
It looks like for now I'm going to go with the vertex flex. Its not phenomenal by any means, but it comes with a paddle, pfd, and float bladder. I would get one of the sitontops from academy but I'm saving a lot on the pfd and paddle. I will trade this thing out for a better, safer kayak as soon as I am able. Thanks for your help guys.

The jon boat sounds like an awesome project for when I get a bigger place. Will definitely build one with my little brother in the future.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 15:30:35 No.193140 Report

Quoted By:

here ya go:
Old Town Otter Kayak
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/spo/4037895177.html

Good beginners kayak. These are tough lightweight little boats that have good stability for lakes, slow rivers up to mild whitewater. They have a fair amount of storage behind the seat and accept a spray skirt to keep you and your gear dry from rain or splashing. Can be used for fishing, camping, or just paddling around and would be a MUCH better choice than a one note sit on model.

It's worth what they're asking but offer them $175 and see if they'll take it.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 15:36:30 No.193147 Report

Quoted By: >>193166

>>193130
seriously man, that flex is a crappy boat

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 16:02:52 No.193166 Report

Quoted By: >>193316

>>193147
A crappy boat is still a lot better than no boat

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 07 Sep 2013 21:27:36 No.193316 Report

Quoted By:

>>193166
Exactly. I asked about the Old town kayak. Would take that any day over the flex, but I have yet to hear back from the seller.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Mon 09 Sep 2013 16:57:29 No.194339 Report

Quoted By: >>194340

Got to sell my aquarium finally so Now i can get a MUCH better yak. I'm picking this up today. Pic related.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/spo/4054922944.html

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 09 Sep 2013 16:58:31 No.194340 Report

Quoted By:

>>194339
Comes with paddle, pfd, foam blocks and tiedowns for transportation.

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