So many choices but so little money!!

[Ctaylor]

I am just getting into kayaking and I am overwhelmed by the choices of boats. I am looking for a boat that will be decent on the lakes as well as fun on the rivers. I will mainly be paddling on the Spring and Buffalo but I want something that I can take out on a lake or slow creek as well. Any advise?

[AR-Nimrod]

These would be very good options

http://forums.arkansascanoeclub.com/vie ... =2&t=19034" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://forums.arkansascanoeclub.com/vie ... =2&t=19020" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Ctaylor]

Thank you for your help. I have looked at the wilderness pungo several times and I really lean towards that boat. I am 26 years old and 5'7" 165#. Would the pungo 100 be a better choice for me? I really like the 120 but I was concearned about the maneuverability on the rivers. You know way more than I do I'm just asking not arguing.

[AR-Nimrod]

The 12' boat will be more stable, more forgiving and it will track better and be faster on flat water. It will also carry more gear. The 10' will be more manueverable but unless you're on a tight, technical river/creek the extra manueverability won't be needed (you'd probably want a WW boat there anyway). On the rivers you mentioned; the Spring and Buffalo the 12' will be fine. You could always split the diference and get the 11' Flex. What you really need to do, if possible, is paddle a 12' and a 10' Pungo and see which one you like better.

That's the best advice out there Demo, Demo, Demo.

[Jim Krueger]

There really isn't one good boat for all water. There are good flat water boats, and there are good moving water boats, and there are crossovers that are whitewater boats with a skeg that you can drop down for better tracking straight. You probably need two boats. If that isn't in the budget, you might look at a Dagger Blackwater if you will mostly be doing flat water with some occasional rivers. For more river running get a shorter boat, and for more flat water a longer one. If you get a boat with a keel it will track straighter, but you will have to paddle hard to make it turn in a river. Without a keel, your boat will want to turn on a dime, but won't track well and can make for a long day of paddling on flat water. Just a few things to think about.
Marlo Krueger (Jim shares his computer with me at times so I sign and sometimes I use my computer and post as myself).

[Louiscov]

Thank you for your help. I have looked at the wilderness pungo several times and I really lean towards that boat. I am 26 years old and 5'7" 165#. Would the pungo 100 be a better choice for me? I really like the 120 but I was concearned about the maneuverability on the rivers. You know way more than I do I'm just asking not arguing.

You've gotten some great counsel here: try, try, try!!

Different paddlers just like different performance and features, and some boats just "fit" better, making them more comfortable, efficient, enjoyable. And I love maneuverability and a boat that spins. You can learn to paddle nearly any boat straight, and a nimble quick turner can really let you make snappy moves and have fun on the river. But too short sometimes means marginal weight capacity and such a boat can be slow, pushing water, and actually turn slower due to sitting deeper in the river and having turning resistance from the water. So, try, but here's a link to many reviews on the Pungo series:

http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showKay ... l?manf=176" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Venture Flex gets many hits on Google. Please keep us filled in on what you get and how you like it.

[justanovice]

I purchased a crossover boat through Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters. It's a Liquid Logic XP9. They are not cheap, but it is a great boat for the lake behind our house yet it got me through whitewater school on the Mulberry. It's very stable and maneuverable. It will work on up-to Class III water which is about my limit anyway. They are not cheap though. I have definitely learned through this sport: you get what you pay for. It is a great boat.
Sandy

[strokin007]

jackson coosa

[Ctaylor]

This may be a stupid question but do retailers have demo boats that you can try? I don't have any buddies that have rec. Kayaks so I don't know who I am supposed to contact to try different boats. Like I said I am new to this.

[Marlo Krueger]

Pungo-had some friends who started out with a Pungo for river kayaking. Turned over several times and sold the boats quickly for something more manuverable. Prominent keel would rail them over on rocks.

Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters in Hot Springs on US70 at the 270 bypass has some demos and will let you try on L. Hamilton. You can also attend some of the Canoe Club's big events like Surf & Turf at the end of July or Rendezvous in September at Malvern and just ask folks if you can try their boats.

Louis' rec. is good for a yak on the river. If you do a lot of lake paddling, especially large lakes, the longer the boat and the more prominent the keel the better.