Do river kayaks work ok for lakes?

If by "river" you mean a boat designed for use in white-water rapids, yes you can use it on a lake though it will not be quite as fast or track as well as a boat designed for flat water lakes and ocean use. A white-water kayak is made to turn quickly and will tend to be shorter, fatter and have a flatter bottom for negotiating shallow, rocky waters. Flat-water boats are longer, have narrower beam (width) and a deeper, sharper keel line -- some will also have a moveable rudder to aid tracking and turning (all these features make a flat-water boat unsuitable for rapids). Also, a paddle the right length for white-water will be a little shorter than what would be ideal for distance straight paddling on a lake. You'll have to paddle a little harder to stay straight and get any speed.



It's kind of like with snow skis: longer, narrower ones go faster straight downhill while shorter, wider ones are used for the quick turns and jumps of mogul skiing.



So, a "river" boat is "OK" on a lake but not great.Do river kayaks work ok for lakes?
definitely!Do river kayaks work ok for lakes?
Yes

the only thing that makes a "river kayak".... termed such

is the fact that it is constructed considerably stronger

to withstand the rigors of river navigation....



So... kayak on sailor....

give the lakes of the world a spin !!



鈽?////Do river kayaks work ok for lakes?
c_kayak_fun summed it up: "ok" but not great. I can think of 2 reasons why you'd consider a river (whitewater) kayak instead of a regular recreational kayak for the lake:



1. You have an interest in both whitewater and lake paddling.

2. You found a really good deal on a whitewater kayak (sometimes used old-school whitewater boats go for $100 or less if you're patient).

lund boats

How can I transport a kayak or canoe if I have a sedan for a car?

I'm going to buy a kayak or canoe but can't figure a way to transport it , and have already looke at portable kayaks which either looked flimsy or over priced. Please helpHow can I transport a kayak or canoe if I have a sedan for a car?
You can either get a roof rack that will attach to your car even if you have a naked roof.



Or use foam kayak pads and run your straps through the doors.



This is how we do it in the BWCA
A friend of mine has infaltable tubes she puts on the top of her car to rest on the to ends of the kayak and then wraps the straps through your car to secure it to the roof.. if you look around you can find them.

I'm sure its the same as foam pads.

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How can I transport a kayak or canoe if I have a sedan for a car?
First...read about canoes and kayaks. Try the library or book shop for texts. The boat shop can supply transport equipment and show you how to use it safely. Never rely on rubber bungees. If you don't know how to kayak or canoe please take some lessons. Learn the safety rules. Visit your local DNR office and learn about license requirements as well as operatiung rules.
You'll need a roof rack for your car. Both Thule and Yakima make excellent rack systems.



Although the racks are somewhat expensive, they are worth it. You can carry all sorts of stuff with a good set of racks - bikes, skis, surfboards, ladders, lumber, mattresses -- even a kayak.How can I transport a kayak or canoe if I have a sedan for a car?
Get a roof rack for your car!!!

Kayaks, Kayak rack rack, and periferals (sp?): Best time to buy for least expense?

I am interested in purchasing kayaks (enclosed, stable: float if we flip), rack (such as Thule) and the necessary equipment (paddles, jackets...). When is the best time of year and where to buy these items for least price?Kayaks, Kayak rack rack, and periferals (sp?): Best time to buy for least expense?
Hi, The other poster is right. If you're in an area where the water is frozen in winter, then winter will be the best time of year. You can get lots of reseources online, like at paddling.net. Use their guidelines section on the site and select the "buying a boat" link. You can learn a LOT from there. For additional info, search the messageboard archives for personal advice from the 55,000+ members of the site.



The classified ads there are great, but realize that the people on "P-Net" are well aware of what their boats are worth. I'd peruse craigslist and ebay, and don't forget your local garage sales!Kayaks, Kayak rack rack, and periferals (sp?): Best time to buy for least expense?
It can depend on where you are at, but Kayaking is typically a year round sport. Here in NoCal you can boat during the rainy season, spring melt, summer dam release, or lake and ocean/surf paddle, so there is typically no off season to score a good deal on gear, its pretty much the same year round.



The best place to get good gear and advice on boating is your local paddling club. I learned to Kayak by joining a club. It's a good way to network with other boaters, get free lessons, and is usually an excellent source for finding affordable boats and gear. Do a google search of any local kayaking and canoeing clubs in your area. Boating clubs typically have a newsletter or a website with affordable used gear.



Also try craigslist. There you can find a local seller, so that there are no shipping costs. Kayaks are very pricey to ship.



You should also check the want adds of your local newspaper. I've bought and sold a couple of used boats there as well.



Good luck, and happy boating.

What is a good place for kayaking in the San Francisco Bay Area?

Novice level kayakers looking for an inexpensive and close place to rent kayaks and have some fun. Preferably calm waters, but the more scenic the better. Thanks!What is a good place for kayaking in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Calmer than the Bay would be some of the reserviors that offer boat rentals. Lake Chabot in the East Bay is one that has a lot of shoreline to explore. Several others do to, there's a chart at the bottom of: http://www.ebparks.org/dropdown/boating.鈥?/a>What is a good place for kayaking in the San Francisco Bay Area?
U shud go down to "McCovey Cove" at da Ballpark in SF. Its beautiful at night. And who knnows u might end up on TV!!!

What spray skirt will fit a Coleman Rebel kayak?

I got this kayak at Dick's Sporting Goods. They sell a Coleman brand "medium spray skirt" online, but I'm not sure if it fits all Coleman kayaks. I know that Coleman kayaks are actually manufactured by a company called Emotion and that Pelican and Coleman are affiliated. Anyway, the cockpit is approximately 43'' by 21.5". It seems every spray skirt manufacturer makes spray skirts specifically for their kayaks only. Thanks.What spray skirt will fit a Coleman Rebel kayak?
That's an odd size. I checked Seals and Harmony, who make the widest range of skirts for a variety of kayaks and have charts listing dimension ratings and model match-ups, Seals says the Coleman Rebel has to be made to order custom and won't fit a stock skirt and the largest skirt Harmony makes is 41" long.



http://www.sealsskirts.com/sizing/sizing鈥?/a>



A cockpit that large will only support a skirt to protect against paddle drip and sun anyway-- it is too big for whitewater and will tend to cave in when a lot of water collects on it. But then that kayak you bought isn't designed for whitewater or ocean use. It's a thinly molded rec boat that lacks bulkheads and the hull strength and profile for fast or rough water, so it really is not designed with a skirt in mind. This boat was only intended for small lakes, ponds and flatwater rivers, not much more than a warm weather float toy.



If you plan to paddle waters where a skirt is a necessity, you need to buy a better kayak than that one. That's one drawback to cheapie rec style kayaks -- you will end up spending more to outfit them, and be seriously limited in where you can take them. You would need a set of flotation bags to safely take this kayak anywhere more than 30 feet from shore or in deep or colder water, plus it lacks perimeter rigging for re-entering. By the time you get those accessories and a custom skirt, you would have been better off paying a couple hundred more for a properly equipped real whitewater or touring kayak.

What is the difference between a creek kayak and a freestyle kayak.?

I want to get a freestyle kayak but I want to make sure it would do just as good through a class III rapid as a creek boat. Do freestyle kayaks flip easier than a creek kayak?What is the difference between a creek kayak and a freestyle kayak.?
Freestyle boats are designed for doing tricks. Most modern rodeo tricks involve some sort of flipping-- not just tipping over and rolling up, but standing up on end, cartwheeling, flipping end-over-end (looping), and doing flips and moves after popping up completely out of the water (aerials). To do tricks, freestyle kayaks are designed to react a lot more to the water when on waves, in holes, and on eddylines. So if you're not watching what you're doing, yes you can flip.



Creekboats are designed for difficult water. They have lots of volume, lots of speed, and usually have rounded edges that are more forgiving. You'll have a better chance of punching through a hole or avoiding one altogether in a creek boat. On easier water, you'll find the creekboat easier to paddle than the freestyle boat.



Manufacturers generally make kayaks that are "in betweeen", too. For instance, "river-running playboats" are a little more user-friendly than pure freestyle boats but can still do a lot of tricks. Pure river-running boats might be able to surf and spin a little better than creekboats, but can still handle Class IV+ ok.



So do freestyle kayaks flip easier than creek kayaks? You bet! Do they do "just as good" on Class III? Depends on what you mean. The freestyle kayaks won't be as forgiving. You might have a little more of a learning curve in one, but IMO they're a lot more fun! And as the other answer mentions, it will make you a better paddler when you want to move to the harder stuff.



Start by looking at some of the manufacturer sites. You'll be able to see some of the differences in design (length, volume, shape) between playboats, creekers, and everything in between. Then get some lessons if you haven't already and start demoing.What is the difference between a creek kayak and a freestyle kayak.?
Creek kayaks are designed for river/creek running; to make them suitable for this, amongst other things, they are faster in a straight line, more forgiving on a rapid and have a variety of important safety features built into them.



Freestyle kayaks are designed for playing on a river features (waves and holes); to do this they are short with low volume, flat planning hulls and "hard" edges.



This means that when paddling a freestyle kayak you are more likely to get caught out by a river feature and flipped over. However don't let that put you off getting a freestyle kayak.



Freestyle kayaks are much more fun and because they are more challenging to paddle they really help to improve your river running skills (catching eddies, making the line, etc).



My advice would be if you are only running rapids of class III difficulty then a freestyle kayak should be fine for you to use.



Its really helpful if you talk to other paddlers and see what they recommend for you, also try borrowing different boats to get a good feel for the differences between them before you decide what to finally buy.



In the end just make sure you feel comfortable in what you are doing and are out on the river with other experienced paddlers who can help you improve.



Feel free to message me if you have any follow up queries, good luck and happy boating!

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10 pointsss the best answer is about canoes and kayaks?

how canoes are viewed in america versus other parts of the world????10 pointsss the best answer is about canoes and kayaks?
as somebody who has owned and used canoes and motor boats, not only are there places you can NOT put a motor boat into, even if you could just carry it to the water, its a completely DIFFERENT experience.



canoes, half the pleasure of using them is the journey. propelling yourself across the water with only yourself and maybe another person providing power and steering, and doing this in something that can be tipped easily with just one wrong move.

canoes, its more sightseeing and less going.



i wish i still had a canoe still.

the boat is great. gets me from the luanch ramp to the fishing spot in little time with its 40+ mph speeds. but half the time i could just carry a canoe to the shore very close to the spot. and with the boat, fish and GO. you dont really pay any attention to what is around you in between you and your destination.

and that is a real loss. half the time i'm fishing i'm also watching the local wildlife on the shore and around the trees. my favorite local lake has plenty of deer, and boar (wild "pigs") and even bobcats and mountain lions.

while mountain lions dont really come out and get seen in daylight, a WILD bobcat at less then 50 yards is a real sight to see......10 pointsss the best answer is about canoes and kayaks?
I think that canoes are generally viewed as a part of Native American history, so they are associated with North America, and native tribes that once lived here.10 pointsss the best answer is about canoes and kayaks?
a canoe is a very sexy boat......kayaks are even sexier tho....and i am 10x more likly to get head in a kayak......wanna make the sexyy time?!?
They have been used for 1000s of years all over the world