My son and I have been avid kayakers for about 4 years. I always find myself answering questions to friends and acquaintances about buying their first kayak and decided to offer the following thoughts. The first thing you need to keep in mind is can I physically paddle the distances needed to enjoy the kayaking experience. On many listings here on Ebay and other kayak sites, people are selling the kayak they just bought two months ago because they are physically not able to paddle. Remember, kayaking is not easy, there are many factors that are working against you for every paddle you make. The wind, the tides and also water conditions and wave heights. It can be tiring and very exertive. If you have any kind of back, arm, leg or shoulder problems think twice before you buy one. The best thing to do is rent a couple of kayaks and try them out. This works great in two ways, first you can try different kayaks and see what works best for you and second, can I physically handle the rigors of kayaking.

There are so many different kayaks out there it is hard to figure out what to buy. This may make it a little easier. The biggest factor in buying a kayak should be weight. Some kayaks weigh 85 pounds or more when empty. Can you alone handle moving the kayak around, loading it on your vehicle doing what is necessary. Don't forget that it is not just you when you are ready to kayak. Their are all the items you are storing to make your paddle or fishing experience enjoyable. My kayak weighs 65 pounds empty (fairly average) and when I load it with 3 fishing rods, depth finder and battery, milk crate with accessories, seat cushion, anchor, lunch pail with drinks I am probably now toting about 100 pounds and sometimes will need to move it 100 yards from my truck to where I start my paddle. If you are trecking and doing camping in your kayak, without you in it you can possible be up to 130 pounds. If you are moving your kayak that far, a kayak cart becomes a necessity. There are some great carts offered in the $40 - $70 range. You do not need to spend more.

OK so what kind of kayaking are you gonna do? There are two main types of kayaks offered, sit-on-top and sit-in. I have sit-on-top kayaks because I fish and I will discuss those mostly. I fish in Galveston, Texas and when we are on the bays we use our kayaks to transport us to a place we can wade fish. When we go out into the Gulf of Mexico we stay in our kayaks at all times (duh ). Kayaks come in different widths and lenghts. If you are a little heavier you will want to get a fairly wide kayak. Not only for stability but for comfort as well. If you are thin you can pretty much get what ever width you want. Some kayaks are more stable than others and allow you to stand up (gotta have great balance) when you are fishing. Site fishing is wonderful and allows you an amazing view of the water. The difference being that a kayk that you can stand in will have a flater and wider bottom. But this will also be a little slower kayak when paddling. Speed in a kayak is all relevant. If you are really busting and their is a wind behind you, you can be going 5 miles an hour. A slower kayak will go 3 miles an hour. This doesnt make much of a difference if you are paddling a mile, but if you are intending to paddle 3 or 4 miles to your favorite fishing spot, you want to get there and still have the arm strength to cast. I personally paddle a Perception Bimini and I am not endorsing this but it was right for me. It has a more pointed bottom ( I cant stand up) is built for speed and ease of cuting through the water. It gets me wherever I want to go and fairly quickly at that. One of the most important things I found when looking at a kayak for fishing was that the back storage area was open and not a covered hatch. You loose a lot of mobility in a kayak and reaching back to undo a strap and then digging into a hatch is not easy. An open area in the back with bungee across to tie down your things works perfectly.

Starting to ramble so I will cut this short. Deciding on a rudder. Real men dont eat quiche and supposedly real kayakers dont use rudders. Hogwash and poppy cock, get a rudder, it will make your entire experience more enjoyable. Paddling is hard enough let alone worry about steering as well. The rudder makes a big difference. Also remember that just by buying a kayak should you think you are done. There are many expenses involved up and above that cost of a kayak. A small list of mandatory purchases should be:

Paddle, Seat Cushion, Whistle or Air Horn, Life vest, Dry bags, Depth finder (for fishing), Sun protective clothing ( you will get fried out there), Anchor and the list does go on. I do want to also recommend another important item. Leashes, tie down everything. Paddle leashes, fishing pole leashes, storage box leashes are unbelievably important. If you should ever turn over you want everything where you left it. You dont want to be down the creek without a paddle.

The bottom line to Kayaking is experience it first before you purchase. Find a local store that will allow you to rent a kayak for a few hours and not just one kayak but a couple to try out. You can also find local kayak clubs that members are always glad to let you use an extra kayak they have to get you hooked into the sport.

Kayaking is without a doubt one of the most relaxing things I have ever done. It offers you excercise and a beautiful perception of nature you have never seen before. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me through my Ebay Store (Reel Deals and Collectibles)

In the mean time, happy paddling.....