coldfeet said:
....Thx for input, if you want to hijack this thread for more kayak ideas go ahead, it's interesting to read about those small boats and bushwacking with them.
Fair enough -
I paddle 2 kayaks - a 12' Perception Acadia Expedition that I have had for about 8 years now and a 16' Necky Zoar that is 5 years old.
The Zoar has fore & aft bulkhead storage, while the Perception has aft (as well as behind the seat)
Since I am already a backpacker, I can easily fit 2-3 days of food & gear in the Perception, which is a great little (and cheap) boat for paddling smaller lakes, ponds rivers and such (it is also a nice boat for paddling the fulton chain of lakes in the Adirondacks).
For longer trips, I like the Zoar - I am a big guy and it is a big boat. Longer boats go faster and usually hold more gear. The Zoar has a rudder which allows me to paddle straight when winds are blowing from directions other than from the front (Though the rudder slows you down a bit). I find that I usually use my balance and offset the blades in my grip in order to turn or stay straight in heavy winds. I save the rudder for when I am dog tired - Like a weekend of paddling in Lake Ontario/St Lawrence Seaway in a stiff non-stop sidewind.
When I lived near Jersey, a favorite paddle of mine (which is closer to you), was the Delaware River from Milford or Port Jervis to the Delaware Water Gap, taking 2-3 days for the trip. below the DWG are soem rough rapids - not recommmended for paddling.
Back to Boats
There are alternatives to a 2-person kayak without getting a 22 ' tandem such as the Perception America which will hold an adult and a child or dog - Also, I believe Old Town has a similar boat.
I like to paddle the yak and get away from everything - Canoes are fine, I paddled a Mad river as well as a Blue hole for a number of years prior to getting yaks, but I like the sleek smoothness of a yak, the protection of a sprayskirt in the cold and the ability to sit somewhat relaxed with my legs stretched out and my gear being bundled up - That's just me - Others live and die for a canoe.
For boat design, There are many other things to consider - initial and secondary stability, which is related to the amount of chine in your boat (flat bottoms, rounded bottoms and hard angled rounded bottoms - You can look this up on the web), rudder or keel or none at all, length design & materials
Polyethelene is the tupperware of boat material - My Perception is PE. There is also SLP SuperLinear Polyethelene, (The Zoar) which is stonger, more durable and less easily scratched by rocks and grit.
More expensive are Fiberglass, Kevlar and Carbon something or other - These cost a lot more, but for the winsome paddler, are well worth it. I cannot justify them on my budget, but perhaps after my son's college and such is paid, I can splurge.
You will also want a better paddle - A quality paddle really helps on long paddling trips - Especially the newer Kevlar paddles. I prefer wood, but many like Fiberglass. (I would avoid an aluminum or plastic paddle).
There is an old adage - "Go cheap on the boat, but splurge on the paddle" I've always wondered on the boat part, but I truly beleive the paddle part of that saying.
You will need a comfortable PFD (Life jacket). A cheap one will bind in the armpits and shoulders and chafe you on long paddles and ride up.
You will also want a paddle float, bilge pump & sponge. The first 2 are necessities for self rescue. If you decide to paddle in spring and fall cold conditions, you will want a spray skirt and a wetsuit (I wear a shorty).
You will also want to hook up with others. There is the Jersey Shore Sea Kayak Association - They are local to you and have regular Paddles as well as a board where you can ask questions
JSSKA . There are also Paddlefests put on by boat dealers and mfg reps. This is a great place to paddle a half dozen boats over a weekend to get a feel for it.
Feel free to PM me for more info.
Good Luck
Rick
