Any kayaker's here?

[bwframe]

Check out jl waters on the bloomington square. They know their stuff and used to do a weekly demo at lake lemon I think.

I've not been to their demo, but would certainly think it would be good.

I would go a different route than throwing a bunch of at the 'yak you think you might like. There are a lot of opportunities to buy at a much better price used. Better yet, borrow one or three 'till you figure if paddling is for you or not, and how you want to do it.

Other considerations;

Don't forget the ancillary costs. These can get spendy pretty quick if you think you need state-of-the-art high-end equipment.
Couple a hundred bucks in a paddle is not even near top of the line these days. PFD's, priced all over the place. Dry bags, water shoes, etc, etc.

How you gonna haul this thing around? Sometimes, even the simple is not. Banging up vehicles and boats is very common. You might be surprised how many casual 'yakers use dedicated trailers to not beat the crap out of expensive SUV's and boats.

Weight is another consideration, especially if you are not gonna have help every time. (NEVER accept help from bystanders at the lake! Good intentions cannot cover hundreds of $ damage.) Even the best of boats will only have so many drags across the concrete in them.

Another often forgotten thing, is the occasionally sketchy crowd you might run into at the boat launch area. Do you have a means of adequate self-defense in and around your paddling? Are you comfortably good at concealment, if that's needed?

 

[bwframe]

Griffy is a nice place to paddle and likely close to the OP, but it's pricey to put in there unless you spring for the annual pass. Even the pass seems pricey, having lost the earlier part of the year.

***Note - Griffy boathouse is only open on the weekends in October. I have put in through the week in year's past.

I have paddled on Lemon, but am nervy about the powerboat wakes. Also, not sure that I can speak to costs to put in. Go to the boat ramp launch, and it will be expensive.

As much as I hate to publicize it, Yellowood lake seems to have picked up a lot of the paddlers from Griffy, not wanting to pay expensive boat launch fees.

Monroe has a lot to paddle in the no wake zone. It's really big...

 

[Cameramonkey]

Griffy is a nice place to paddle and likely close to the OP, but it's pricey to put in there unless you spring for the annual pass. Even the pass seems pricey, having lost the earlier part of the year.

I have paddled on Lemon, but am nervy about the powerboat wakes. Also, not sure that I can speak to costs to put in. Go to the boat ramp launch, and it will be expensive.

As much as I hate to publicize it, Yellowood lake seems to have picked up a lot of the paddlers from Griffy, not wanting to pay expensive boat launch fees.

Monroe has a lot to paddle in the no wake zone. It's really big...

reminds me I need to get down there in the fall once temps break for some fishing/camping.

 

[gregkl]

Check out jl waters on the bloomington square. They know their stuff and used to do a weekly demo at lake lemon I think.

They are hurting right now. They don't have good help and zero boats and they aren't sure when they will get more. I have been in their twice and no one could help me. I'm going to try one more time at a different time of day and see if I can find someone that has been there and/or knows something. I'll wait until I'm pretty sure what boat I want to be fair to them.

No more demos due to the flu.

 

[gregkl]

I enjoy a good float down river. More a solo canoe guy but the kayak has it’s place.

I have done some solo canoeing. It's fun especially if you are hauling gear.

 

[gregkl]

We've had two singles and a tandem for more than twenty years, recreational flat water types. They are plastic, Old Town and Dagger brands. Around here, the launch sites can be pretty rough with gravel, rocks, etc. The plastic has held up well. Not sure how well other materials would hold up over the years. Ours are sit in type. My wife recently was able to use a sit on type, and now she wants one of those because it was easier for here to get in and out.

I would not recommend a tandem. In my experience, everyone wants their own kayak!

I have heard tandems referred to as "divorce boats", lol. Yeah, if my wife wants to come, I'll get her one.

 

[gregkl]

Griffy is a nice place to paddle and likely close to the OP, but it's pricey to put in there unless you spring for the annual pass. Even the pass seems pricey, having lost the earlier part of the year.

***Note - Griffy boathouse is only open on the weekends in October. I have put in through the week in year's past.

I have paddled on Lemon, but am nervy about the powerboat wakes. Also, not sure that I can speak to costs to put in. Go to the boat ramp launch, and it will be expensive.

As much as I hate to publicize it, Yellowood lake seems to have picked up a lot of the paddlers from Griffy, not wanting to pay expensive boat launch fees.

Monroe has a lot to paddle in the no wake zone. It's really big...

I'm walking distance from Griffy. Not with a boat, but I'm close. They let it down a bunch a few weeks ago so it's not so nice right now. But come spring it should be back up.

I was thinking I'd paddle Lemon and Monroe. I have not been to Yellowood but I'll check it out also.

 

[gregkl]

reminds me I need to get down there in the fall once temps break for some fishing/camping.

If you get down this way and want to grab a cup of coffee and/or a beer look me up.

 

[gregkl]

I've not been to their demo, but would certainly think it would be good.

I would go a different route than throwing a bunch of at the 'yak you think you might like. There are a lot of opportunities to buy at a much better price used. Better yet, borrow one or three 'till you figure if paddling is for you or not, and how you want to do it.

Other considerations;

Don't forget the ancillary costs. These can get spendy pretty quick if you think you need state-of-the-art high-end equipment.
Couple a hundred bucks in a paddle is not even near top of the line these days. PFD's, priced all over the place. Dry bags, water shoes, etc, etc.

How you gonna haul this thing around? Sometimes, even the simple is not. Banging up vehicles and boats is very common. You might be surprised how many casual 'yakers use dedicated trailers to not beat the crap out of expensive SUV's and boats.

Weight is another consideration, especially if you are not gonna have help every time. (NEVER accept help from bystanders at the lake! Good intentions cannot cover hundreds of $ damage.) Even the best of boats will only have so many drags across the concrete in them.

Another often forgotten thing, is the occasionally sketchy crowd you might run into at the boat launch area. Do you have a means of adequate self-defense in and around your paddling? Are you comfortably good at concealment, if that's needed?

Good points BW. I'm going this Wednesday up to Indy to meet at a pool with a kayak/canoe club to try some boats. When I am there I'll ask if anyone has some of the models I'm looking at and see if we can arrange a test paddle. I will buy used if I can find what I want close enough to justify it. I have found some in areas like Washington state but unless I can drive to go get it, I'd rather just order one. I have been known to go all in and then decided that whatever it was wasn't for me. Kinda expensive lessons, lol.

Yeah, paddle, PFD, bilge pump, sheesh.

Hauling could be an issue. I have a company SUV and with a proper rack will work. But if I leave the job, I lose the vehicle so I have a line on a utility trailer. I will build a rack to haul at least a couple boats safely and securely. I figure most places I launch should have parking for a 10-12' trailer.

One of the models I'm looking at has an extra hatch right in front of the cockpit. I'm considering that boat because it has that and would be a great place to stash a pistol. Either way, I won't go out unarmed. For both wild and human animals.

The rest of my story is that I stand to be part of an inheritance of my father-in-laws Holland Michigan home. He lives at the corner of Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan. He is literally walking distance(with a kayak) from Lake Mac and even has a rack their to store his kayak. Ultimately I would have the boat up there and use it in those two lakes and the many other lakes and rivers around Michigan.

And if that scenario doesn't work out and I wasn't going to use it, I'd sell it. But we would be talking several, if not many years from now.

 

[Michigan Slim]

I'm clear. I like snow, surprisingly. But I'm going to have to visit in the winter to see just how much I like it.

My aunt hires a kid to keep her front walk tunneled out. Really. Tunneled.

 

[04FXSTS]

Got four, two SOT and two sit in all 10 footers also a 17 foot canoe, it is aluminum. The kayak's are all plastic SunDolphin brand rec. type so fairly wide and stable. Bought the canoe in 1985 so it has held up well, still no leaks. Got the sit in kayaks a few years ago and liked them snd found the SOT's a little later almost new and cheap. Jim.

 

[Michigan Slim]

I'm thinking of taking a week to put in on the Grand River and island camping on the way. Someday.

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

My aunt hires a kid to keep her front walk tunneled out. Really. Tunneled.

Geez. Definitely need to make a winter trip then.

 

[femurphy77]

The eldest daughter is a Yakkie and has completed many Yakkie pub crawls in the 5 state area. Didn't even know that was a thing. She's also on the water almost every weekend and thru the week. The wife and I have tried it a couple of times and I'm considering buying us a couple of sit on tops for use around here and the bayside areas down along the redneck riviera. Our problem is that we don't know how to schedule leisure time so not sure if the expenditure will be worth it.

Maybe one of these days.

 

[gregkl]

Our problem is that we don't know how to schedule leisure time so not sure if the expenditure will be worth it.

Maybe one of these days.

I get that! I try so hard to spend time in leisure activities, but I seem to rush...well...most everything. I am back from my weekly range trip already, lol. A lot of folks are still having their morning cup of coffee.

I can see me throwing the kayak in the trailer heading out early to catch the flat lake with lower boat traffic, paddling for a couple hours then back home.

Doing trips down rivers, especially with a group requires a time commitment that I'd have to really work to accept. This is why the only shooting competition/match I do is the CC match at Riley. I can schedule my time slot, shoot it and get on with the rest of my day.

It's a curse.

Now, cut the grass, pick up sticks, maybe work on my re-screen of my porch!

 

[MRockwell]

I have always loved anything to do with water, though fishing is down the line quite a bit. Powerboating, sailing, scuba, open water swimming, canoeing, water skiing, the list goes on.

Have been in a few kayaks and I really like them so I have decided after wanting one for several years now to pull the trigger and get one.

I have joined several FB groups but thought I'd post here to see if someone else who likes guns also kayaks.

I am doing my requisite research soaking up knowledge looking for opportunities to learn and test drive some models.

Let me know if you are here!

PhotoNinja and I got Old Town Otter kayaks several years ago to do trips on the White River here in Hamilton county. They are 9'6", so easy to put in the bed of the truck. If I were to do it again, I would get one that was longer. The short yak does not track well without constant paddling, especially with any river current. It seems like I am always paddling to keep straight. Not sure how it would be on a lake, never had it on one.

The Otter doesn't have any dry storage, which would be nice. I do like the seat(it is a sit-in), the back is adjustable and padded.

 

[bwframe]

Good points BW. I'm going this Wednesday up to Indy to meet at a pool with a kayak/canoe club to try some boats. When I am there I'll ask if anyone has some of the models I'm looking at and see if we can arrange a test paddle. I will buy used if I can find what I want close enough to justify it. I have found some in areas like Washington state but unless I can drive to go get it, I'd rather just order one. I have been known to go all in and then decided that whatever it was wasn't for me. Kinda expensive lessons, lol.

Yeah, paddle, PFD, bilge pump, sheesh.

Hauling could be an issue. I have a company SUV and with a proper rack will work. But if I leave the job, I lose the vehicle so I have a line on a utility trailer. I will build a rack to haul at least a couple boats safely and securely. I figure most places I launch should have parking for a 10-12' trailer.

One of the models I'm looking at has an extra hatch right in front of the cockpit. I'm considering that boat because it has that and would be a great place to stash a pistol. Either way, I won't go out unarmed. For both wild and human animals.

The rest of my story is that I stand to be part of an inheritance of my father-in-laws Holland Michigan home. He lives at the corner of Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan. He is literally walking distance(with a kayak) from Lake Mac and even has a rack their to store his kayak. Ultimately I would have the boat up there and use it in those two lakes and the many other lakes and rivers around Michigan.

And if that scenario doesn't work out and I wasn't going to use it, I'd sell it. But we would be talking several, if not many years from now.

I haul my yak on top of my Explorer. I have a light for size old boat, but no getting around the awkwardness of getting it up on the rack. Gotta go slow and carefull to not slip up and be dragging or banging boat on paint. Sometimes that's tedious, when you realize you are looking up through a cloud of mosquitos.

Your call, but I'd put a WTB add in the classifieds for a nice SOT 'yak. Never know what you might come up with. My last boat came from the INGO classy's.

I get the impression that Kayaks do not hold resale value very well? It doesn't take long to scratch up the shiny parts.

It is almost September. Might be better pricing with the season fading? That might not be the case with your higher end peddelers like Hobie?

 

[snapping turtle]

Paddle as many as possible. SOT’s are cheap used. I paddled 14 solo canoes before I purchase my old BELL Adirondack. Each does something a little different and that one was kayak sit in like with extra storage.

big lakes your going to want a rudder. Small rivers you want them to float high. Fishing you want stable over everything else.
Got my second canoe from a heads up from the guy down the street that mows lawns.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Paddle as many as possible. SOT’s are cheap used. I paddled 14 solo canoes before I purchase my old BELL Adirondack. Each does something a little different and that one was kayak sit in like with extra storage.

big lakes your going to want a rudder. Small rivers you want them to float high. Fishing you want stable over everything else.
Got my second canoe from a heads up from the guy down the street that mows lawns.

And I must say you are pretty good at that solo canoe.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Just ran across this one. Not bad.$550 new.

10’ Fishing Kayak - boats - by owner - marine sale

Like new Tamarack Angler. Never been in the water. Includes upgraded paddle, seat cushion. Cool little yak that can be modified to meet your fishing needs. Firm 300. Have two and am keeping the one...

indianapolis.craigslist.org