Help With Buying a Kayak

onbohio · 02-09-2014, 06:52 PM

So I'm thinking I'll have enough left from Uncle Sam to get a kayak this year. No more than $500.00. Suggestions???

jimbo · 02-09-2014, 07:18 PM

Try before you buy

onbohio · 02-09-2014, 09:53 PM

I was in Mike's a couple years ago. But so far that's about it. Maybe I'll go and rent one from Ray. I want to get something good for rivers, but not a swifty (I think that's what they're called).

jimbo · 02-10-2014, 04:37 AM

Dealers have spring outings by water were you can try boats. It?s all about what you are looking for, stability or speed. As you know the longer and narrower the boat the faster it will be, but not as stable. Mike has a great boat, I like that model.

cmille2195 · 02-10-2014, 08:35 AM

Daggar zydeco 11 great seat ,dry compartment , Backcountry on sale 439.20 free shipping no taxes. That will leave you enough extra money for a quality neoprene spray skirt, go thru. Bill me later, 6 months same as cash.

onbohio · 02-10-2014, 11:33 AM

I like the idea of trying them out at a dealer by the water. Got any names? I know there's one in PA cant remember the name.

cmille2195 · 02-10-2014, 01:23 PM

Ore, has demo days every Friday out at Berlin Lake you need to paddle in a river, plus rapid like setting to get the true feel of a boat, but no dealer is going to let you do that.

flagsracer9 · 02-10-2014, 02:23 PM

Mike's dad has a shorter version of the one Chuck suggested. It's a 9'(?) Dagger Zydeco. I have used it several times. It is really comfortable and handles well. I took it thru some smaller whitewater rapids and on flatwater. It's not technically for whitewater, but handles well enough to get thru smaller stuff. I did class 1 & 2 rapids in it & had no problems(well boat-caused problems). The shorter version doesn't have a dry compartment though. It wasn't quite as stable as Mike's Swifty, but pretty close. It turns much easier then the swifty though. I really like it, you can ask Mike, I was constantly asking to take it instead of the Swifty after using it the first time. If you are looking for straight flatwater, it's probably not the fastest boat out there but I have no trouble keeping up in it either. I just bought my Ethos from ORE(Outdoor Recreational Equipment) in Boardman/Youngstown & they were wonderful to deal with! (330) 782-2004 I know they sell & carry Dagger products. If you want something not in stock, they will order it. I got the call today that mine is in, and I ordered it exactly 2 weeks ago.
Jessica

onbohio · 02-10-2014, 06:06 PM

Just went to the site to check out the Zydeco. It looks nice.

They classify it as recreational. Does that mean it will be good for both slow and some fast water? For some reason I'm thinking I read somewhere recreational was the class between lake and fast water?

Mike, which one of your kayaks do you get the most use out of?

swampboy62 · 02-11-2014, 08:37 AM

With recreational kayaks keep in mind that when they're shorter they do indeed turn easier - but the flip side is that the tracking (keeping to a straight line) is more difficult. For flat water & easy rapids I'd probably choose good tracking over good turning.

Perception definitely makes some good boats. Fifteen years ago I started out in a Caspia - about 12 feet long. It was (and still is) a great rec boat. It easily handles class I and class II rapids. The Perception catalog has changed a lot in that time, but this boat has the same general layout and size (plus a drywell).

http://www.perceptionsport.com/kayaks/PRS_Conduit_120

There is also a store in Howland that sells kayaks - Trumbull Outdoor Sports.

Good luck.

Steve Z

02-09-2014, 06:52 PM	#1
onbohio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 119 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	Help With Buying a Kayak So I'm thinking I'll have enough left from Uncle Sam to get a kayak this year. No more than $500.00. Suggestions???

02-10-2014, 08:35 AM	#5
cmille2195 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: boardman, ohio Posts: 23 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	daggar zydeco 11 foot Daggar zydeco 11 great seat ,dry compartment , Backcountry on sale 439.20 free shipping no taxes. That will leave you enough extra money for a quality neoprene spray skirt, go thru. Bill me later, 6 months same as cash.

02-09-2014, 07:18 PM	#2
jimbo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 325 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	Try before you buy

02-09-2014, 09:53 PM	#3
onbohio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 119 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	I was in Mike's a couple years ago. But so far that's about it. Maybe I'll go and rent one from Ray. I want to get something good for rivers, but not a swifty (I think that's what they're called).

02-10-2014, 04:37 AM	#4
jimbo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 325 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	Dealers have spring outings by water were you can try boats. It?s all about what you are looking for, stability or speed. As you know the longer and narrower the boat the faster it will be, but not as stable. Mike has a great boat, I like that model.

02-10-2014, 11:33 AM	#6
onbohio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 119 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	I like the idea of trying them out at a dealer by the water. Got any names? I know there's one in PA cant remember the name.

02-10-2014, 01:23 PM	#7
cmille2195 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: boardman, ohio Posts: 23 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	Ore, has demo days every Friday out at Berlin Lake you need to paddle in a river, plus rapid like setting to get the true feel of a boat, but no dealer is going to let you do that.

02-10-2014, 02:23 PM	#8
flagsracer9 Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Huntsburg Posts: 63 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	Mike's dad has a shorter version of the one Chuck suggested. It's a 9'(?) Dagger Zydeco. I have used it several times. It is really comfortable and handles well. I took it thru some smaller whitewater rapids and on flatwater. It's not technically for whitewater, but handles well enough to get thru smaller stuff. I did class 1 & 2 rapids in it & had no problems(well boat-caused problems). The shorter version doesn't have a dry compartment though. It wasn't quite as stable as Mike's Swifty, but pretty close. It turns much easier then the swifty though. I really like it, you can ask Mike, I was constantly asking to take it instead of the Swifty after using it the first time. If you are looking for straight flatwater, it's probably not the fastest boat out there but I have no trouble keeping up in it either. I just bought my Ethos from ORE(Outdoor Recreational Equipment) in Boardman/Youngstown & they were wonderful to deal with! (330) 782-2004 I know they sell & carry Dagger products. If you want something not in stock, they will order it. I got the call today that mine is in, and I ordered it exactly 2 weeks ago. Jessica

02-10-2014, 06:06 PM	#9
onbohio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 119 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	Just went to the site to check out the Zydeco. It looks nice. They classify it as recreational. Does that mean it will be good for both slow and some fast water? For some reason I'm thinking I read somewhere recreational was the class between lake and fast water? Mike, which one of your kayaks do you get the most use out of?

02-11-2014, 08:37 AM	#10
swampboy62 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Warren, Ohio Posts: 141 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	With recreational kayaks keep in mind that when they're shorter they do indeed turn easier - but the flip side is that the tracking (keeping to a straight line) is more difficult. For flat water & easy rapids I'd probably choose good tracking over good turning. Perception definitely makes some good boats. Fifteen years ago I started out in a Caspia - about 12 feet long. It was (and still is) a great rec boat. It easily handles class I and class II rapids. The Perception catalog has changed a lot in that time, but this boat has the same general layout and size (plus a drywell). http://www.perceptionsport.com/kayaks/PRS_Conduit_120 There is also a store in Howland that sells kayaks - Trumbull Outdoor Sports. Good luck. Steve Z