DH wants to buy a canoe and take with us, carry on top of Falcon sedan. I looked at the PortaBote because it is ligjt. Anyone gpt one? Any advice on types, weight, size etc w
I have a Flyn Gilmo Kayak, and find it great fun.I had a boat ( tinny and motor ) but found it a pain in the butt,with rego / insurance/ fuel /
Moving around as we do due to work , i found every state has a different take on rules and regs.And the other issue i had was securitie of it while at work. ..With the Kayak have no rego no fuel costs and never brakes down and never needs servicing.I go out fishing in mine along with a lot of work mates here in theirs ,as they to have converted over.The insurance on mine is covered in with my content insurance ,but with the tinny i could not get that cover.Just a hint if you take a Kayak out for some use and it is raining when you decide to pack up and head home , make sure you turn the Kayak bottom facing the rain,as it will fill with water and that makes it very heavy and hard to remove from roof racks of vehicle.
I have a couple of Viking kayaks & wish that I had got them 10 years ago.
The best for fishing is the Tempo "Fisherman" .. funny that. But it is around 30kg so either a loading rig is required or in my case sliding up on top via the bull bar. There are lots of manufactured or DIY loaders available these days. The fisherman has lots of attachments like rod holders, anchor trolley, secure gear wells front & rear, it has lots of in hull storage plus bait wells etc .. . Takes an electric motor on its purpose built transom. Can even stand to cast if you want to show off. Easy to paddle but not fast.
For exercise paddling I love the Viking Javelin. A bit tippy in waves but goes as its name suggests. The rudder makes it very manoverable. At only 19kg is able to be lifted onto the roof racks.
Both are Sit On Tops .. Too stiff these days to get in & out of Sit In Kayaks.
I have a cradle type trolley for both.
Love the longer models of the Hobies too ... and the S in k Ocean kayaks too but SWMBO says that I can't buy any more.
-- Edited by Cupie on Saturday 13th of April 2013 09:26:15 PM
We both have kayaks that travel on top of the vehicle (Prado) Hubby has a Hobie Revolution with pedals...he has trouble with his shoulders these days so the pedals suits him for moving about while fishing. The big boat often sits lonely in the backyard as he really enjoys fishing from the hobie. I have an Ocean Venus11 which I have been told is a kayak specifically designed with females in mind, I just love my kayak, I can go out in it and forget about everything around me, its just me and the landscape, somnetimes I paddle furiously, sometimes I just drift, but always remeber the definition of a boat....."a fibreglass construction surrounded by water into which one pours endless quantities 0f money" doesn't really matter about size or construction materials, the principle still applies, there is always one more thing that it needs! cheers Capricorn
We have Hobie mirage revolutions with pedal drive they weigh 21kg and are very stable and fantastic to use. they go every where with us on the landcruiser roof.
I once enjoyed canoeing and kayaks, but a dingy has many advantages, eg., being ability to change position, stretch legs and ease lower back. Less chance of gear like electronics getting a dunking. You can also buy cheap back supporting swivel seats for a dingy and decent shade. Not sure how a shade would work on a PortaBote though.
Maybe if one person is often going out solo and enjoys canoes that could be the trick.
If you are looking at getting a Kayak think hard before buying double kayak as it means that in most cases you always need to go out together, whereas with 2 singles both can go out, or one can go. I also have a Hobie with pedals for the same reason my shoulders are shot, would really like to have a Hobie trimaram they look a lot of fun, you can go sailing or detach the outriggers and just kayak. Cheers David
This is what we use, weighs 19Kg & very easy to load & use. Home made trolly if it needs to be carted a long way. & its unsincable & self draining & quite stable. Its clased as a fishing Kayak & is 8Ft long. We use it mainly in the ocean, cost was around $600.
I also have the Tempo Fisherman complete with rod holders, sounder, GPS and anchor. Perfect for casual fishing without the hassles of towing and launching the boat.
DH doesn't want a canoe you sit on (kayak) - he wants to sit 'in' it... It's not even for fishing - purely for paddling about and enjoying the water close up...
DH doesn't want a canoe you sit on (kayak) - he wants to sit 'in' it... It's not even for fishing - purely for paddling about and enjoying the water close up...
Thanks, Jay-Jay
The advantage of SOT's (Sit On Tops) is that it is far easier to get onto & get off them than SinKs (Sit in Kayaks). For me with my ageing joints that stiffen up after a couple of hours sitting in the one position this is a critical factor. Whilst I can struggle into a SinK, I have great difficulty in extracting from them after an extended paddle.
Recovering from a rare capsize is a breeze with SOTs but far from that with a SinK. For SinKs you will need to master the eskimo roll & empty a water filled craft.
My strong recommendation is to give both types a good long try out before buying.
There are lots of SOTs that are fantastic for just paddling. My Viking Javelin is a classic example. (That's the grey one in my previous post).
Referring to the original post ...
My recommendations are.
- With a budget of around $1200 for a new one.
- Look for something around 4 meters long. The longer the better but difficulty in loading, manovering on the water & weight becomes an issue if they are too long. But less so with fibreglass SinKs.
- Weight as close to 20kg as possible. Over this & you will probably need a loading jig to put it on top of a vehicle.
- Polyethylene or similar 'plastic' construction. Lots on the market these days meeting my length/weight/cost parameters. They are far more robust than fibreglass or composites but heavier. No contest IMHO for caravanners.
- If you are into pedaling then it's hard to go past the longer SOT Hobies (Revos, Outback etc). Their pedal system is amazingly good. But I question their value for money. An excellent product but too dear for me.
If you read a little about paddling technique then even for a 72 year old like me it's a breeze & extermely enjoyable.
Before you make your choice, spend some time surfing the net ..
Rogue Paddler's early tips & techniques are great.
Look at Hobie & Viking web pages.
ps. I would just love a SinK to explore Moreton bay, but common sense prevails. Would also love a Hobie but the pocket dictates the answer to that.
If you want a Canadian Canoe then google Old Town Canoes. I personally find them too hard to paddle long distances & with any sort of wind, particularly solo. Mucking about on sheltered waterways is OK, with a bit of reading on paddling technique. I gave my son one to use with his young family & it's great for that but heavy & cumbersome to lift & transport.
I had a flatout folding boat similar to the Portaboat and to be honest with all the extra stuff one need (motor, fuel, seats, safety gear) it all became a real pain. we have sold that and bought a couple of Hobbie kayaks (Outback and Pro Angler) both great fun and we get far more use out of them than we ever did on the folding boat.
I am still trying to work out a trailer setup to take them and a car behind the motor home.
I had a flatout folding boat similar to the Portaboat and to be honest with all the extra stuff one need (motor, fuel, seats, safety gear) it all became a real pain. we have sold that and bought a couple of Hobbie kayaks (Outback and Pro Angler) both great fun and we get far more use out of them than we ever did on the folding boat.
I am still trying to work out a trailer setup to take them and a car behind the motor home.
We have a hobbie outback each you can use peddles or oars your choice, they are so much fun and quite a dry ride, very stable and easy to pull around with wheels. They are quite heavy though, we are in our fifties and can still get them one on top of each other on the roof rack of our Rodeo twin cab - BUT have just installed a couple of hullivators that have hydraulic lift system. Going to be so much easier this trip. I like that we can cruise along together but being the independent woman I am I like to go where I want to go too. All water craft are fun you just have to weigh up if you will get the use out of your own or hire.
We have the best of both worlds. hubbie has some type of Hobie fishing kayak (evolution or Revolution, or something )and i have the real thing.. Maybe heavy and cumbersome at times and prone to damage if not treated with tender loving care .... A 1995 vintage B-line TK1 fibreglass kayak. in the 15 years since I first discovered the sport, she has done the Great canoe Race on the Murrumbidgee with me (a 120klm race run by Scouting Assn in support of Teenage Cancer - since discontinued due to insurance I believe), helped me to teach canoeing skills to dozens of girls in the Guide Assn and spent many hours with me on the riverways in northern NSW
. Sheer enjoyment for me is paddling with friends along pristine rivers with my thermos of coffee, some munches and Mother Nature for company. And hubbie can spend his time sitting wasting time waiting for the elusive nibble on his hook. As one can see, i am not a fisherwoman - lacking the patience needed to sit quietly in one place for too long - Too much to do and too much to see. So pls dont ex-communicate me for that shortcoming Lol.
i guess, the choice of kayak really depends on what you want to do with it, Fish, Race, Tour, Paddle and Camp or Just laze in the sun ... Its really a personal choice but be aware of your own capabilities when it comes to where and what you do With it.. Weight wise, i am not a super fit person, but at a push i can lift and load my kayak onto my i30, but not the Territory with the additional height. We have a Rack 'n' Roll lifter for loading both kayaks onto that car.
regardless of choice and use, there is no argument, kayaking and canoeing rate No 1 recreational sport in my book!
Happy paddling all of you ....
__________________
The Maccas ....
2013 Avida Esperance Motorhome - based in northern NSW.
We have the best of both worlds. hubbie has some type of Hobie fishing kayak (evolution or Revolution, or something )and i have the real thing.. Maybe heavy and cumbersome at times and prone to damage if not treated with tender loving care .... A 1995 vintage B-line TK1 fibreglass kayak. in the 15 years since I first discovered the sport, she has done the Great canoe Race on the Murrumbidgee with me (a 120klm race run by Scouting Assn in support of Teenage Cancer - since discontinued due to insurance I believe), helped me to teach canoeing skills to dozens of girls in the Guide Assn and spent many hours with me on the riverways in northern NSW
. Sheer enjoyment for me is paddling with friends along pristine rivers with my thermos of coffee, some munches and Mother Nature for company. And hubbie can spend his time sitting wasting time waiting for the elusive nibble on his hook. As one can see, i am not a fisherwoman - lacking the patience needed to sit quietly in one place for too long - Too much to do and too much to see. So pls dont ex-communicate me for that shortcoming Lol.
i guess, the choice of kayak really depends on what you want to do with it, Fish, Race, Tour, Paddle and Camp or Just laze in the sun ... Its really a personal choice but be aware of your own capabilities when it comes to where and what you do With it.. Weight wise, i am not a super fit person, but at a push i can lift and load my kayak onto my i30, but not the Territory with the additional height. We have a Rack 'n' Roll lifter for loading both kayaks onto that car.
regardless of choice and use, there is no argument, kayaking and canoeing rate No 1 recreational sport in my book!
Happy paddling all of you ....
Good points .... well said. Off now to research the TK1 ...
edit ..........
Back again .. Is that the original Rosco TK1? 14kg. A bit tippie they tell me but a great one.
I'll have a look for the Rack & roll lifter now.
-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 30th of April 2013 07:57:38 AM
Hi there Cupie .... similar to the Rosco .... Have paddled in one closest to size of the B-line, but it was slightly smaller and lighter. overall, a nice kayak, but a bit too narrow in the beam for my size. I bought a Roscoe for the Guide region I was working with and the kids thought a bit too flighty and after I retired sold it for $100. What a waste as experienced adults thought it perfect for a safety boat, very maneuverable and fast for experienced paddlers with smallish frame. I actually picked the B-line (model was a Petrel from memory), as, at that time, it and similar kayaks, were the craft of choice for Guides and used for training. Now of course most recreational and youth groups use plastic as it withstands the abuse of youth, are cheaper and lighter to carry - the fiberglass is harder to repair also, with safety issues in mind, I would tend to have repairs done professionally. I know with the plastic boats emergency repairs such as splits have been done with a hot tent peg carefully applied to the crack - Voila - you are up and paddling again - not sure how toxic fumes would have been though!! The heat seals the damage until it can be properly assessed. Of course, this only works if you have a tent peg and a fire handy ... Lol
I don't believe BLines are still being made but have seen them selling on eBay around $200-$300 for good condition. There is little call for fiberglass craft now days with plastic type boats being more popular for most uses.
My kayak is now over 15 years old and still in good nick but, I often wonder if it was damaged and repairs were not viable, would i Turn traitor and defect to the plastic camp? .... Probably yes, but only for $ reasons.
hope to see you on the water one day ... i will be one one admiring the scenery in the white and orange kayak, and Charlie in the gray fishing thingy!
good luck with your research ... Take the time to test drive before you buy .... Let me know what you eventually decide on
cheers
-- Edited by chaslib on Tuesday 30th of April 2013 08:48:36 AM
__________________
The Maccas ....
2013 Avida Esperance Motorhome - based in northern NSW.
Hi there Cupie .... similar to the Rosco .... Have paddled in one closest to size of the B-line, the Guide region I was working with and the kids thought a bit too flighty and after I retired sold it for $100. i will be one one admiring the scenery in the white and orange kayak, and Charlie in the gray fishing thingy!
good luck with your research ... Take the time to test drive before you buy .... Let me know what you eventually decide on
cheers
-- Edited by chaslib on Tuesday 30th of April 2013 08:48:36 AM
The 'Flighty' sensation might be my 'bit tippy' description. Someone got a great $100 buy!
I won't be buying another .. Two is enough ... & SWMBO would object strenuously.
I see that those Rack & Roll loaders are produced near my home. Might drop in for a look.
Be great to meet you on the water too .. I'll be the grey haired old fart, a bit big round the girth plodding along on the grey white Javelin or lounging on the yellow Fisherman, possibly with the electric motor doing the work.
I have a Pelican Navigator canoe, which the documentation says is supposed to weigh 20 kilograms, but I suspect its more, as I lift 27 kilogram boxes of meat on a regular basis, and I thinks heavier.
But its a great canoe, never had any issues, I don't think it is suitable for white water (I've built white water canoes and kayaks in my youth) but on rivers and enclosed waters like those around Taree, its great, with two people.Single operator (basically turn the canoe around so the front seat is close the centre, if that makes sense) can be difficult in high winds.
on the landcruiser roof.
