looking for two kayaks

[landcruiser]

Looking for two used kayak setups to do the Salado Creek near Batesville in. Or for suggestions on new ones. Like everyone else I would like to get started in this sport with my 18 year old son without breaking the bank. He's 5"10 at 145 and I'm 6" @165. Any suggestions?

[Cowper]

It's January 5th! That seems unrelated to your question, but right now I'm browsing the board when I should be jumping in the car and headed back to work for my first (ugh) day since the holidays, so I have to give the short answer:

Google "choosing a kayak" - I found several good articles, but didn't have time to scan them enough to say which was the "best".

For Salado, you could go with either a "Whitewater" or a "Recreational/touring" type of boat. Most on this board either initially choose whitewater boats, or move on to whitewater boats after starting in recreational/touring type boats. But that does not mean one is "better" - it really depends on what you want to do with the boat.

If you are willing to invest the time to learn to roll, then a whitewater boat can take you to more, and harder, whitewater streams in the future. Expect your son's learning curve on this to be much steeper than yours, unless you are an extremely atheletic or unusual person, but it is a skill you can both acquire if you desire it. Coming to a rolling session where you can work with someone who already has the skill always makes a huge difference.

If you really just want to jump in the boats and go, maybe take more lazy cruises with time to fish, then a recreational or touring boat might better suit your needs.

Another major category decision is, "sit on top" or traditional (sit in) kayak. Again, most here end up with traditional, but each has pros and cons. More later... If you have time to check out the "choosing" articles, give us some feedback on what way you are leaning, and I'm sure you'll flush out further comments and suggestions.

When budgeting, remember, unless you go in late spring and summer only, the boat and paddle is only a small part of the story. In any weather you'll want a helmet and PFD. In cooler weather, you'll need some gear to keep you warm in the wet environment.

[Lupe]

Hmmm, I'm not sure what different sections of the Salado there are, but last year we did about a 12 mile stretch that ended at hwy 167, and I would really not think taking a rec/touring boat down that section would be such a great idea (at least not at the fun, juicy level that we did it at). I also see that on some other posts that you ask about the Salado or Richland Creek....so if something like Richland is on your radar (which will be a considerable step up in difficulty from something like the Salado), you will definitely want a whitewater boat. It sounds like you will want more of a river runner/creeker if you want to move up to bigger, harder runs like Richland....a river runner will often be easier to learn in from the start as well since the edges will be more forgiving than something more river/play or play.

Reading some general articles like Cowper suggested will be a good start...I'll also throw in a plug for our clubs annual School of Whitewater Paddling that we hold every Spring. If you can get boats and gear for you and your son by then, it would be a great way to get some good instruction on all the basic techniques and safety info you'll need to start running whitewater. If you can get the appropriate cold weather gear and can hook up with experienced paddlers on easier runs, you don't need to wait until ww school to get out on the water, but either way, that will be a great way to learn a lot and help get you on your way...Check the home page of this board for links to more info about the School. If it's something you will be interested in, you'll then need to watch closely for when registration opens...registration fills quickly!

Cheers

[landcruiser]

Thanks do much for the input guys. My son and I did the stretch of the Salado you are speaking of with 9 rocks showing on the old bridge pile next to the highway bridge at 167. It was quite juicy, as you put it. We were in a 16 foot canoe, and had a blast, although we got very wet and cold.

Sounds like a river runner is probably what I need - am I wrong in that this would be the easiest to learn in? Thanks the suggestions on the articles. I'll start perusing them.

[Lupe]

Whew - 9 rocks showing - yes that's a fun level! I can well imagine you were pretty wet by the end doing that in a tandem canoe :shock: , but it definitely sounds like you two now have the taste for whitewater for sure!

And so the journey begins....