Rank beginner needs help choosing kayak.

[Singleton]

Any advice appreciated about choosing a kayak would be great. I'm interested in a recreational river kayak that has a comfortable seat and footrests, enough storage capacity for an occasional overnight with lightweight backpacking gear, a relatively wide entrance opening, and a good balance between stability and maneuverability. Any old faithful models I should look for on the used market?

Steve

[Cowper]

The Liquid Logic XP-10 I borrowed this weekend could fit that description, but is also a very capable WW boat. The only problem is I would be suprised if you found a good price on a used one at this point. I've paddled one of the Dagger Blackwater series in the past; it was a decent cross-over design. Some folks like the Dagger Approaches. I would avoid the sub-nine-foot boats; the really short recreational boats will be less fun on a longer trip, and more limited in gear capacity. (I say nine feet, but it is not a magic number, just one I pulled out of the air to separate some of the good "touring" boats from the more purely recreational ones intended more for poking around on a small pond.)

Since you're pretty open to different models and haven't zeroed in on one or two yet, I'll make some suggestions:

1) Visit Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters in Hot Springs. Be honest and let them know you're looking for used right now. You'll still find them very helpful, because they sell accessories too and besides, that's how they get your future business.

2) See what used boats are out there, then go read the reviews on http://www.paddling.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; to see if it matches up with what you want in a boat.

3) Try to demo or rent anything you're considering. See how well it paddles in a straight line, how much effort it takes to set a reasonable pace, how hard it is to turn.

[kozoself]

I have to agree with Cowper about the Liquid Logic Remix XP. The only question I have about that boat is that the dry storage is not really dry IF you dump over. Big if since it's really stable. I also agree about the guys at Ouachita Outfitters. I live in Hot Springs and I go to them for advice all the time and they are never anything but friendly and honest.

Last year, I was in the same situation that you are in now. The guys at OOO led me to my Venture Flex 11. I love this boat. Since then, I have also become enamored of whitewater so I went out and got a whitewater boat too. In hind sight, the Remix XP would have been the boat of choice since it can do both.

That said, my Flex 11 is now for sale (long story). If you are at all curious, it is posted on the Gear Swap page.

[Jim Krueger]

Steve,

If you're a medium/large person, I'd go with the 10 foot L.L. Remix or Dagger Approach. We don't river-camp, but they would both be just great for what you want, and more!
I agree with the 'availability factor' though, the Remix is a newer boat, and more robust in several ways, so will mainly be found as new, or a few used ones priced in the $875-$1150 range. The Approaches in that 10 foot length were about $600-$650 something when I bought the two I keep for teaching/spares some time ago.
Good luck, let us know what you decide on.
Best Regards
Jim

[justanovice]

I have a Liquid Logic xp 9 and absolutely love it. My kids have one each as well. OOO is the place to go definitely. My only complaint is that I can't carry it by myself very well, but that's MY weakness, not a weakness of the boat. I think mine weighs about 48 pounds and my upper body strength is (apparently) poor.
Sandy

[Singleton]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like very good advice all around. I'll keep my eyes open for Liquid Logic 9's and 10's, as well as the Dagger Approach. Maybe the river gods will smile and I can find something before the fall floating season.

[Cowper]

Since you originally posted, new options have been appearing on the for sale board. In a recreational boat, the Flex 11 someone offered looks decent; a Wilderness Pungo 12 also popped up that is generally a well-liked recreational design.

Keep reading those reviews and don't limit yourself too much unless you are willing to buy new. Remember, with a used boat, as long as you google it to be sure the asking price was reasonable, chances are you will lose only a few dollars (if any) if you resell in the next year or two.

Life is too short to not paddle until you find "exactly" what you were looking for!

[JeffT]

I was a rank kayak beginner late last summer. Wound up with $75 in a Dagger blackwater 10.5. It is beat up and UV overexposed. I still really like my boat.
If you want to try it out sometime around Hot Springs send me a pm.

[robcmullins]

I like to stick with 12 footers for basic over-night touring. You can do basic WW with it, and still do flat water, and the tracking is nice.

I've paddled 9 footers and I'm not a huge fan, unless I'm taking a lot of white water. Plus i'm kinda a heavy bloke (220 lbs) so I like a bit more room offered by the Wilderness Systems 120 that I picked up for about $500.